Alimony in Hendry County, Florida

Hendry County's Clerk collects court costs through a third-party payment portal instead of posting a fee schedule online. So an alimony filer here can't look up the dissolution filing fee the way someone could in a larger county. Call (863) 675-5217 before you go to the Hendry County Courthouse in LaBelle to confirm what you'll owe.

Alimony is requested inside a dissolution of marriage petition. This is one of the case types the Clerk's Family Law page names directly, alongside support. Self-represented filers can bring paper forms to the courthouse or use the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which the clerk's site links as the authorized statewide method.

Florida's alimony law changed for every county, including Hendry, effective July 1, 2023. That's when Fla. Stat. 61.08 was rewritten to remove permanent alimony. A judge in LaBelle now chooses among 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 scaled to how long the marriage lasted.

Both spouses must file a financial affidavit before a judge will hear alimony. Use Form 12.902(b) if annual income is above $50,000, or 12.902(c) if it's below that threshold.

Where alimony cases are heard in Hendry County, FL

Alimony matters in Hendry County, FL are handled by the Twentieth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Hendry County, with the county seat in LaBelle. 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 Hendry 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 Hendry County, FL

Hendry shares duty-judge coverage with neighboring Glades County within the Twentieth Judicial Circuit. Don't assume a judge based only in LaBelle will handle your family hearing, including an alimony hearing. Check your notice of hearing for the specific assignment.

Contested alimony amounts in Hendry fall under the circuit's Admin. Order 1.16 for court-ordered mediation, with cost tied to income under Fla. Stat. 44.108. Charlotte and Collier counties use the same framework. Ask the clerk how Hendry-specific scheduling works, since the circuit's larger counties publish more detail online.

Court costs route through a payment kiosk instead of a public list, so call ahead for an exact total before filing. Ask about the indigency fee waiver process at the same time if cost is a concern.

Official alimony resources in Hendry County, FL

Hendry County Courthouse handles spousal-support filings, located at 25 E. Hickpochee Ave., LaBelle 33935. Phone: (863) 675-5217.

E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/. The Florida Courts E-Filing Portal is linked from the clerk's site as the authorized statewide method; the clerk's own court-costs page routes to a payment kiosk rather than a public fee schedule.

Hendry Clerk Family Law (https://www.ca.cjis20.org/About-The-Court/Locations/) can help with procedure and paperwork. The Hendry Clerk's Family Law page lists case types handled, including dissolution and support, but does not publish a self-help center address or a dissolution filing fee amount. Court costs are handled through a third-party payment portal without a public browsable fee list. Call (863) 675-5217 to confirm current fees. Admin. Order 1.16 (Court-Ordered Mediation in Circuit Civil, Family, Dependency & County Court Civil Cases) applies; see https://www.ca.cjis20.org/Documents/admin-orders.aspx.

• Twentieth Judicial Circuit - Court Locations
• Twentieth Judicial Circuit - Administrative Orders
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• FloridaLawHelp.org
• 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.

Hendry County, FL Alimony FAQs