Updated August 2026
Alimony in Orange County, Florida
A plain-language guide to alimony in Orange County, FL, from how amount and duration are set to the forms you file at the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Orange County and how to prepare your paperwork without hiring an attorney.
A three-hour family mediation session in Orange County costs $60 per party if combined household income is under $50,000. The cost rises to $120 per party between $50,000 and $100,000. Most contested alimony cases in Orlando go through that Ninth Circuit Dispute Resolution Services program before a final hearing. Above $100,000 combined income, parties use a private mediator instead. Anyone certified indigent by the court pays nothing.
Alimony is not filed as its own lawsuit. It gets requested inside a dissolution of marriage petition at the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando, or later through a supplemental petition to modify an existing order. Self-represented filers can bring paper forms to the courthouse or use the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The filing fee is $408.
Florida rewrote its alimony statute effective July 1, 2023. Permanent alimony no longer exists anywhere, including in Orange County. A judge instead 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 with a length tied to how long the marriage lasted.
Both spouses must file a financial affidavit before a judge will take up an alimony request: Form 12.902(b) for incomes above $50,000 a year, or the shorter 12.902(c) below that. The Orange County Self-Help Center, on the third floor of the courthouse, helps with completing these forms, though staff cannot advise on what amount to ask for.
Where alimony cases are heard in Orange County, FL
Alimony matters in Orange County, FL are handled by the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Orange County, with the county seat in Orlando. 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 Orange 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 Orange County, FL
Orange County's Self-Help Center runs weekdays from 7:30am to 4:00pm. Arrive by 3:00pm if you need same-day help finishing your paperwork, since staff need time to review it before the office closes. The center also handles notarization and copying for a low fee, which matters for a financial affidavit that has to be sworn.
The Ninth Circuit's Family Court Case Management program, based at the same courthouse, helps track deadlines for self-represented litigants and can point you toward instructional videos. It does not give legal advice or predict how a judge will rule. If your alimony dispute is contested, expect mediation scheduling to come up early in the case, since Dispute Resolution Services fields Orange County referrals directly at 407-836-2004.
Some family self-help services also run out of the Winter Park Courthouse. Call the Self-Help Center first to ask which alimony-related matters are handled there compared to the main downtown Orlando courthouse, before you make the trip.
Official alimony resources in Orange County, FL
Orange County Courthouse handles spousal-support filings, located at 425 N. Orange Ave., Orlando 32801. Winter Park Courthouse at Winter Park, FL handles Some family law self-help services alongside the main Orlando courthouse; check with the Self-Help Center for which alimony-related matters are handled there.
The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/. Self-represented parties may file an alimony request in person at the Orange County Courthouse or e-file through the portal; e-filing is mandatory for attorneys.
Orange County Clerk Self-Help Center (https://www.myorangeclerk.com/Divisions/Self-Help-Center/Self-Help-Center) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located at the Orange County Courthouse, Suite 340, 3rd floor, 425 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm; arrive by 3:00pm for same-day filing assistance. Offers form completion help, including financial affidavits, notarization, and copying for a low fee.
- Orange County Clerk Self-Help Center
- Ninth Circuit Dispute Resolution Services
- 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.
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Orange County, FL Alimony FAQs
Where do I file for alimony in Orange County?
Alimony is requested inside a dissolution of marriage petition, or a supplemental petition for modification, filed at the Orange County Courthouse in Orlando or through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The filing fee is $408. The Self-Help Center, on the courthouse's third floor, can help you complete the financial affidavit alimony requires.
How much does mediation cost for an Orange County alimony dispute?
The Ninth Circuit's Dispute Resolution Services charges $60 per party for a 3-hour session if combined household income is under $50,000, and $120 per party between $50,000 and $100,000. Above that, parties need a private or rotation-list mediator. Parties certified as indigent by the court pay nothing. Contact the program at 407-836-2004.
Can an Orange County judge award permanent alimony?
No. Fla. Stat. 61.08 was rewritten effective July 1, 2023, and permanent alimony no longer exists anywhere in Florida, including Orange County. A judge instead awards temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational support, depending on the length of the marriage and the facts of the case.
What is the cap on durational alimony in Orange County?
Durational alimony does not apply to marriages under 3 years. Its length caps at 50 percent of the marriage for marriages under 10 years, 60 percent for marriages of 10 to 20 years, and 75 percent for marriages of 20 years or longer. The amount is capped at the lower of reasonable need or 35 percent of the income gap between the spouses.
Can the Orange County Self-Help Center help with my financial affidavit?
Yes. Staff at the Self-Help Center, on the third floor of the Orange County Courthouse, can help you complete Form 12.902(b) or 12.902(c) and notarize it for a low fee. Arrive by 3:00pm for same-day service. They cannot tell you what income figures to report or what alimony amount to request.
Does the Family Court Case Management program handle alimony hearings in Orange County?
The program, authorized under Fla. Stat. 29.004(10) and Rule 2.545, helps judges and self-represented litigants track pro se family cases at the Orange County Courthouse and points parties to forms and instructional videos. It does not decide cases, give legal advice, or schedule mediation on its own.
This page is general information about Florida alimony procedure in Orange County, FL, not legal advice for your situation. Amounts and duration depend on your specific facts and the judge's discretion; nothing here predicts an outcome in your case. Court locations, forms, and filing details change; always confirm current details with the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Orange County or the official Florida family court self-help program resources. Virdix is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney.
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