Alimony in Sarasota County, Florida

Sarasota has two family court buildings a few miles apart, and mixing them up wastes a trip. The Sarasota County Courthouse on Main Street handles hearings. The Twelfth Circuit's Self Help Center and Law Library, at 2002 Ringling Blvd, handles forms help before you file an alimony request.

Alimony is not its own case in Florida. You request it inside a dissolution of marriage petition, filed at the courthouse or through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, with a $397.50 filing fee. Self-represented filers can also bring forms to Customer Service at the Clerk's Office for review and notarization.

Fla. Stat. 61.08 was rewritten effective July 1, 2023, and permanent alimony no longer exists in Sarasota or anywhere else in Florida. A judge 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 the marriage's length.

Both spouses must file a financial affidavit before a judge will hear the alimony request: Form 12.902(b) for income above $50,000 a year, or 12.902(c) below that.

Where alimony cases are heard in Sarasota County, FL

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

The Sarasota Self Help Center and Law Library is the Twelfth Circuit's largest self-help hub, and it fields mediation questions for the whole circuit, including Manatee and DeSoto counties, not just Sarasota residents. Appointments are recommended, though walk-ins are accepted. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8am to 4:30pm, with a lunch closure from noon to 1pm.

Contested alimony amounts commonly get referred to mediation as part of standard case management in the circuit. Call (941) 861-8191 to ask about scheduling or eligibility before your hearing date gets close.

If the $397.50 filing fee is out of reach, ask Customer Service at the Clerk's Office about the indigency fee waiver application. Bring documentation of income and expenses, since the same financial affidavit that supports an alimony request often gets used to evaluate a fee waiver too.

Official alimony resources in Sarasota County, FL

Sarasota County Courthouse handles spousal-support filings, located at 2000 Main Street, Sarasota 34237.

The filing fee is $397.50. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal; self-represented parties may also bring forms to Customer Service at the Clerk's Office for review and notarization.

Family Court Self-Help (Pro Se) (https://www.sarasotaclerk.com/Courts/Family-Court/Family-Court-Self-Help-Pro-Se) can help with procedure and paperwork. Listed alongside divorce, child support, and other family services on the clerk's site. The Twelfth Circuit's own Self Help Center and Law Library sits at a separate address, 2002 Ringling Blvd, 1st Floor, Sarasota, open Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30pm (closed for lunch noon to 1pm), phone (941) 861-8191, appointments recommended.

• Sarasota Clerk - Family Court Self-Help (Pro Se)
• 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.

Sarasota County, FL Alimony FAQs