Alimony in Seminole County, Florida

The Dorothy Guess Self-Help Center in Seminole County offers something most Florida self-help centers don't: low-cost attorney consultations, not just help with forms. It also runs a separate line for Spanish-language assistance. File an alimony request at the Seminole Civil Courthouse in Sanford as part of a dissolution case; Eighteenth Circuit family judges hear it.

Fla. Stat. 61.08 sets what a Seminole judge can award. The statute, reformed effective July 1, 2023 and used the same way across Florida, eliminated permanent alimony. Four categories remain: temporary support paid while a case is pending, bridge-the-gap support capped at two years, rehabilitative support built around a specific plan and capped at five years, and durational support capped as a percentage of the marriage's length.

Durational alimony also cannot exceed the lesser of demonstrated need or 35 percent of the income gap between the spouses, and it's unavailable for marriages under three years. Seminole's dissolution filing fee is $408.00 plus $10.00 per summons issued, confirmed directly on the Clerk's own Divorce page. Both spouses must also complete a Financial Affidavit, Form 12.902(b) or 12.902(c) depending on income, before a judge rules on alimony.

Seminole prefers e-filing through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Self-represented parties can still file in person at the Sanford courthouse, or by mail to PO Box 8099, Sanford, FL 32772.

Where alimony cases are heard in Seminole County, FL

Alimony matters in Seminole County, FL are handled by the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Seminole County, with the county seat in Sanford. 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 Seminole 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 Seminole County, FL

The Dorothy Guess Self-Help Center offers low-cost attorney consultations, not just procedural help. That gives Seminole filers weighing a contested alimony matter a middle option to check before committing to full representation or going entirely self-represented.

The Eighteenth Circuit, which covers Seminole along with Brevard County, generally refers contested alimony matters to mediation under Fla. Stat. 61.183. Fees are meant to follow the statewide sliding scale in Fla. Stat. 44.108. No Seminole-specific fee table appears on a verifiable official page, so confirm the current cost with the Clerk's office.

Spanish-speaking filers in Seminole can reach dedicated help at SeminoleSelfhelp@flcourts18.org or 407-665-4554. That's a separate contact from the Center's general English-language line, and not every Florida circuit offers this option.

Official alimony resources in Seminole County, FL

Seminole Civil Courthouse handles spousal-support filings, located at 301 N. Park Avenue, Sanford 32771. Phone: 407-665-4300.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. E-filing via the portal is preferred; self-represented parties may still file in person at the Seminole Civil Courthouse or by mail (PO Box 8099, Sanford, FL 32772). E-filing is mandatory for attorneys under Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.525.

Dorothy Guess Self-Help Center (https://flcourts18.org/sem-family-pro-se/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Run via the Clerk's office; assists with family law forms and offers low-cost attorney consultations. prose-shc@seminoleclerk.org or 407-665-4300; Spanish-language help via SeminoleSelfhelp@flcourts18.org, 407-665-4554.

• Dorothy Guess Self-Help Center
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Florida Statutes Section 61.08, Alimony
• FloridaLawHelp.org

Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.

Seminole County, FL Alimony FAQs