Updated August 2026
Alimony in Polk County, Florida
A plain-language guide to alimony in Polk County, FL, from how amount and duration are set to the forms you file at the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Polk County and how to prepare your paperwork without hiring an attorney.
Before you drive to Bartow for a Polk County alimony matter, check your notice of hearing. Some family law hearings have moved to the Northeast Government Center in Lake Alfred instead of the historic Polk County Courthouse. Both locations sell the clerk's self-help packets, but your hearing may not be where you filed.
You request alimony inside a dissolution of marriage petition, or in a support modification packet for an existing order, not as its own filing. Polk's Self-Help Center covers both. Self-represented parties can also use TurboCourt, an interactive online tool the clerk links for preparing dissolution forms, or file through the statewide e-filing portal. The filing fee is $408.
Florida eliminated permanent alimony statewide effective July 1, 2023, when Fla. Stat. 61.08 was rewritten. Polk County judges follow the same framework as the rest of the state: 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 set by how long the marriage lasted.
Both spouses must file a financial affidavit before a judge will hear an alimony request: Form 12.902(b) for annual income above $50,000, or Form 12.902(c) below that.
Where alimony cases are heard in Polk County, FL
Alimony matters in Polk County, FL are handled by the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Polk County, with the county seat in Bartow. 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 Polk 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 Polk County, FL
Polk belongs to the Tenth Judicial Circuit, along with Hardee and Highlands counties. Contested alimony disputes can be referred to mediation under the circuit's shared framework, which also covers remote hearing procedures for Zoom and Teams.
The clerk's Self-Help Center page does not list a phone extension separate from the main office line, (863) 534-4000. Call that number and ask to be routed to Self-Help or DIY Court Resources if you need help identifying which packet fits your situation.
If the $408 filing fee is out of reach, ask Self-Help staff about the indigency fee waiver process. Regardless of where you filed, do not assume your hearing will be at the Bartow courthouse. Polk has been shifting some family hearings to the Northeast Government Center in Lake Alfred, so the printed notice is the only reliable source for your actual hearing location.
Official alimony resources in Polk County, FL
Polk County Courthouse handles spousal-support filings, located at 255 N. Broadway Ave., Bartow 33830. Phone: (863) 534-4000. Northeast Government Center at Lake Alfred, FL handles Some family law hearings, including alimony matters, have been moving here rather than the Bartow courthouse; confirm your hearing location on the notice you receive, not by assumption.
The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/. Polk County Clerk also offers TurboCourt, an interactive DIY tool for preparing Dissolution of Marriage forms, as an alternative to a paper packet.
Polk County Clerk Self-Help Center (https://www.polkclerkfl.gov/272/Self-Help-Center-DRAFT/1000) can help with procedure and paperwork. Covers dissolution of marriage with or without children, with or without property, and simplified dissolution, plus support modification. A dedicated Self-Help Center extension was not confirmed on the clerk's site; call the main Clerk's Office line, (863) 534-4000, and ask to be directed to Self-Help/DIY Court Resources. Packets purchasable at both the Bartow and Northeast office locations.
- Polk County Clerk Self-Help Center
- 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.
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Polk County, FL Alimony FAQs
Where do I file for alimony in Polk County?
You request alimony inside a dissolution of marriage petition, or in a support modification packet, at the Polk County Clerk's office in Bartow or the Northeast office in Lake Alfred. You can also file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. The filing fee is $408. Call the main Clerk's line, (863) 534-4000, to reach Self-Help/DIY Court Resources.
Will my Polk County alimony hearing be in Bartow?
Not necessarily. Some Polk family law hearings, including alimony matters, have been moving to the Northeast Government Center in Lake Alfred instead of the Polk County Courthouse in Bartow. Confirm the courtroom and building on the notice of hearing you receive instead of assuming.
Does Polk County still award permanent alimony?
No. Since Fla. Stat. 61.08 was rewritten effective July 1, 2023, permanent alimony no longer exists anywhere in Florida, including Polk. A judge instead chooses among temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational support, depending on the marriage's length and the facts of the case.
What is the durational alimony cap in Polk 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 10 to 20 years, and 75 percent for 20 years or more. The amount caps at the lower of reasonable need or 35 percent of the income gap between spouses.
Will my Polk County alimony dispute go to mediation?
It can. Polk, part of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, refers contested family cases, including alimony, to mediation. The circuit's self-help site publishes tutorials for appearing by Zoom or Teams if your session is held remotely. Ask the clerk whether mediation applies to your case.
Can TurboCourt help me prepare Polk County alimony paperwork?
TurboCourt is an interactive online tool the Polk County Clerk links for preparing dissolution forms, including the parts that request alimony, as an alternative to buying a paper packet. It walks you through the forms step by step, but it does not advise on what amount to request or predict a judge's ruling.
This page is general information about Florida alimony procedure in Polk 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 Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Polk 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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