Alimony in Hardee County, Florida

Hardee County handles all family law business in one building: the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller's office in Wauchula. File your alimony request there, whether it's part of an initial dissolution or a later modification. The clerk sells Florida Supreme Court approved packets priced from $6.15 to $24.35. These include a support and alimony modification packet along with the standard simplified and contested dissolution forms.

The dissolution filing fee is $408, and the clerk's fee schedule notes this includes a $10.50 judgment fee. Hardee is a small, rural county. Its clerk's site points self-represented filers to the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal for details beyond what a paper packet covers. If the printed instructions aren't enough, call the Family Court Self-Help Program line at 1-800-780-5346, extension 4015.

Florida's alimony law changed statewide on July 1, 2023. Fla. Stat. 61.08 no longer allows permanent alimony anywhere in the state, including Hardee. A judge now awards one of four types: temporary support during the case, bridge-the-gap support capped at 2 years, rehabilitative support tied to a plan and capped at 5 years, or durational support, with length set by how long the marriage lasted.

Before a judge will hear an alimony request, both spouses must file a financial affidavit: Form 12.902(b) for incomes over $50,000 a year, or Form 12.902(c) below that threshold.

Where alimony cases are heard in Hardee County, FL

Alimony matters in Hardee County, FL are handled by the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Hardee County, with the county seat in Wauchula. Because courthouse locations, hours, and local procedures change over time, use the Florida court clerk directory to confirm current details for your case:

Find the Hardee County, FL Clerk of Court (Florida court clerk directory)

How alimony works in Florida

Florida ended permanent alimony in a 2023 reform to Florida Statutes chapter 61 (section 61.08). Today a judge can order bridge-the-gap alimony (short-term, to help a spouse transition, capped at two years), rehabilitative alimony (tied to a specific plan to become self-supporting), durational alimony (a set period, generally not longer than the length of the marriage, except in exceptional circumstances), or temporary alimony while the case is pending. There is no formula the way there is for child support; a judge weighs each spouse's need and ability to pay, the standard of living during the marriage, the length of the marriage, and the factors listed in section 61.08.

Alimony is requested inside a dissolution of marriage case, using each spouse's Financial Affidavit (Florida Supreme Court approved family law form 12.902(b) or 12.902(c) depending on income), and can be resolved by agreement or decided at trial. Temporary alimony while the case is pending is requested by motion; your circuit's procedures determine how that motion gets set for hearing.

Local notes for Hardee County, FL

Hardee is part of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, so contested alimony amounts can be referred to mediation under the circuit's shared self-help and scheduling framework. That framework also publishes tutorials for appearing remotely by Zoom or Teams if your hearing is held that way.

If you cannot afford even the low packet prices or the $408 filing fee, the clerk's office can direct you to an indigency fee waiver application. Staff cannot tell you which packet fits your situation or what amount of alimony to request. They can only tell you which forms exist and what they cost.

Hardee's clerk's office is open weekdays, 8:30am to 4:00pm. That's shorter than some larger Florida counties keep, so confirm the office is open before you make the trip to Wauchula, especially if you're coming from Bowling Green or Zolfo Springs.

Official alimony resources in Hardee County, FL

Hardee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller handles spousal-support filings, located at 417 W. Main Street, Suite 202, Wauchula 33873.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/. The clerk's fee schedule lists Marriage Dissolution/Annulment at $408, which it notes includes a $10.50 judgment fee. Hardee is a small, rural county, and the clerk's site mostly points self-represented filers to the statewide e-filing portal for details beyond paper filing.

Pro Se Packets & Fees Program (https://www.hardeeclerk.com/departments/family-law/pro-se-packets-fees/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Offers Florida Supreme Court simplified and contested dissolution packets and support or alimony modification packets, priced $6.15 to $24.35. Family Court Self-Help Program phone 1-800-780-5346 ext. 4015. Clerk located at 417 W. Main St, Suite 202, Wauchula, FL 33873, Monday through Friday 8:30am to 4:00pm.

• Hardee Clerk - Pro Se Packets & Fees
• Tenth Judicial Circuit Self-Help
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Fla. Stat. 61.08 - Alimony

Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.

Hardee County, FL Alimony FAQs