Alimony in St. Lucie County, Florida

St. Lucie County's Family Relations Department sits on the second floor of the courthouse in Fort Pierce. It accepts fee payments by cash, money order, personal check, attorney check, or credit card, a wider range than some smaller Florida counties allow. That matters for a dissolution petition requesting alimony, since the filing fee here is $397.50.

You request alimony inside the dissolution petition itself, not as a separate filing. The Nineteenth Circuit's court locator also lists a St. Lucie West Annex in addition to the main Fort Pierce courthouse. Confirm which location applies to your case before assuming the main building is the only option. Filers can also use the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal or mail paperwork to the Family Relations Department's P.O. box.

Fla. Stat. 61.08 was rewritten effective July 1, 2023, and permanent alimony no longer exists anywhere in Florida, St. Lucie included. A judge here 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 set by the marriage's duration.

Both spouses must file a financial affidavit before a judge will hear alimony: Form 12.902(b) for income above $50,000 a year, or Form 12.902(c) below that. The Family Relations Department can point you to the correct downloadable version, but it cannot complete it for you or give legal advice.

Where alimony cases are heard in St. Lucie County, FL

Alimony matters in St. Lucie County, FL are handled by the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, St. Lucie County, with the county seat in Fort Pierce. 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 St. Lucie 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 St. Lucie County, FL

St. Lucie shares the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit with Indian River, Martin, and Okeechobee counties. The circuit's family mediation program, used for contested alimony amounts, runs remotely across all four counties. Combined income eligibility caps at $100,000, and a program representative contacts parties at least 48 hours before each session. Reach the mediation office at (772) 807-4370.

The Family Relations Department is open weekdays, 8am to 5pm, excluding holidays. Forms must be printed one-sided before submission, per the clerk's own guidance, a detail easy to miss if you print at home.

If the $397.50 filing fee is out of reach, ask the Family Relations Department about the indigency fee waiver process. And if you're unsure whether your case belongs at the main Fort Pierce courthouse or the St. Lucie West Annex, call ahead rather than guessing.

Official alimony resources in St. Lucie County, FL

St. Lucie County Courthouse handles spousal-support filings, located at 201 South Indian River Drive, 2nd Floor, Fort Pierce 34950. Phone: 772-462-6900.

The filing fee is $397.50. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, or file in person at the Family Relations Department, or by mail to Clerk and Comptroller, Attn: Family Relations Department, P.O. Box 700, Fort Pierce, FL 34954.

St. Lucie Clerk Family Relations Department (https://stlucieclerk.gov/departments-top-menu/family/divorce) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located on the 2nd Floor at 201 South Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce. Open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, excluding holidays. Provides downloadable family law forms and general procedure information; the clerk's office states it cannot give legal advice or help complete forms. Fees can be paid by cash, money order, personal check, attorney check, or credit card.

• Divorce - St. Lucie Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller
• Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida
• Mediation - Nineteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida
• 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.

St. Lucie County, FL Alimony FAQs