Alimony in Manatee County, Florida

Filing for a dissolution of marriage in Manatee County costs $397.50, a bit less than the $408 charged in most other Florida counties. That fee covers an alimony request too, when it's asked for as part of the case. You can pay it in person at the Manatee County Judicial Center in Bradenton, by mail to a P.O. box set aside for family law filings, or through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

Manatee doesn't publish a dedicated self-help center webpage, unlike some neighboring counties. Instead, self-help packets covering divorce, custody, and support modification are sold at the Courthouse Cashiering station. The clerk also links to TurboCourt as an online option for preparing dissolution forms.

Fla. Stat. 61.08 eliminated permanent alimony statewide, Manatee included, effective July 1, 2023. A Bradenton family judge weighing a spousal support request now chooses among temporary support during the case, bridge-the-gap support capped at 2 years, rehabilitative support capped at 5 years and tied to a plan, or durational support with a length tied to how long the marriage lasted.

Both spouses must file a financial affidavit before a judge takes up alimony: Form 12.902(b) for income above $50,000 a year, or Form 12.902(c) below it.

Where alimony cases are heard in Manatee County, FL

Alimony matters in Manatee County, FL are handled by the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Manatee County, with the county seat in Bradenton. 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 Manatee 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 Manatee County, FL

Manatee is part of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, along with Sarasota and DeSoto counties. The circuit's Self Help Center and Law Library, based in Sarasota at (941) 861-8191, is the nearest staffed office for broader procedural questions the Courthouse Cashiering station can't answer about your alimony filing.

Contested alimony amounts in Manatee can go to mediation under the same Twelfth Circuit framework used across the circuit. Once a case is open, confirm current mediation eligibility and cost with the clerk or your case manager.

If you're mailing paperwork instead of filing in person, send it to Attn: Family Law, P.O. Box 25400, Bradenton, FL 34206. Confirm the current filing fee with the Cashiering station before mailing payment, since fee schedules change periodically.

Official alimony resources in Manatee County, FL

Manatee County Judicial Center handles spousal-support filings, located at 1115 Manatee Avenue West, Bradenton 34205.

The filing fee is $397.50. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/. Self-represented parties may use TurboCourt or file on paper. Mailing address for family law filings: Attn: Family Law, P.O. Box 25400, Bradenton, FL 34206.

Manatee Clerk Self-Help Packets (https://www.manateeclerk.com) can help with procedure and paperwork. No dedicated self-help center webpage was found; self-help packets covering divorce, custody, and support modification are sold at the Courthouse Cashiering station, and the clerk links TurboCourt for dissolution forms.

• Manatee County Clerk of the Circuit Court
• Twelfth Judicial Circuit Self-Help Center
• 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.

Manatee County, FL Alimony FAQs