Updated August 2026
Alimony in Walton County, Florida
A plain-language guide to alimony in Walton County, FL, from how amount and duration are set to the forms you file at the First Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Walton County and how to prepare your paperwork without hiring an attorney.
File a Walton County alimony request with the Clerk of Court, either at the main courthouse in DeFuniak Springs or the Annex in Santa Rosa Beach for South Walton residents. First Judicial Circuit family judges hear these cases. The Clerk's divorce page lists costs in detail: a $408.00 base dissolution filing fee, $10.00 to issue summons on each defendant, $40.00 for sheriff service within Florida, and an extra mediation fee for contested cases, which often include a disputed alimony claim.
Florida ended permanent alimony statewide on July 1, 2023. A Walton judge now chooses among temporary support, paid while the case is open; bridge-the-gap support, capped at two years; rehabilitative support, built around a specific plan and capped at five years; or durational support, capped by a percentage of the marriage's length under Fla. Stat. 61.08. Durational alimony cannot exceed the lesser of demonstrated need or 35 percent of the gap between the spouses' net incomes, and it is unavailable for marriages shorter than three years.
Walton offers four divorce packet options, based on whether the couple has property or minor children. Every track still requires the spouse seeking alimony to file a Financial Affidavit: Form 12.902(b) at $50,000 or more in income, or Form 12.902(c) below that. A judge weighs that affidavit against the statutory alimony factors, including age, health, earning capacity, and standard of living during the marriage.
Walton participates in the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, so self-represented spouses in DeFuniak Springs or South Walton can e-file supporting paperwork instead of relying only on the in-person counter.
Where alimony cases are heard in Walton County, FL
Alimony matters in Walton County, FL are handled by the First Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Walton County, with the county seat in DeFuniak Springs. 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 Walton 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 Walton County, FL
A contested alimony claim adds a mediation fee on top of the $408.00 base filing fee, the $10.00-per-defendant summons cost, and the $40.00 sheriff service charge. Budget for more than the bare dissolution fee if you're disputing alimony in Walton. The Clerk's divorce page does not state the mediation dollar figure directly, so call and confirm it before filing.
South Walton residents can handle filing and services at the Annex in Santa Rosa Beach instead of driving to DeFuniak Springs. Hearings in a contested alimony matter are typically calendared through the main DeFuniak Springs courthouse, though, so confirm the specific hearing location with the Clerk's office once a case is assigned.
Walton's four divorce packet options, covering combinations of property and minor children, are built around Florida's statewide Form 12.901 series. The paperwork is the same set of Supreme Court forms used everywhere in the state. What differs locally is the itemized fee structure the Walton Clerk publishes.
Official alimony resources in Walton County, FL
Walton County Courthouse handles spousal-support filings, located at 571 US Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs 32433. Walton County Annex at 31 Coastal Centre Blvd handles South Walton filings and services.
The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Statewide portal covers Walton County along with the rest of the First Circuit.
Walton Clerk Court Self-Help (https://waltonclerkfl.gov/court-self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Confirmed via waltonclerkfl.gov/divorce: dissolution filing fee $408.00, plus $10.00 to issue summons per defendant and any applicable mediation fees; sheriff service within Florida is $40.00. Four divorce packet options are offered depending on children and property.
- Walton Clerk Court Self-Help
- Walton Clerk Divorce Page
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
- Florida Statutes Section 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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Walton County, FL Alimony FAQs
Where do I file for alimony in Walton County?
File alimony requests with the Clerk of Court, either at the main courthouse, 571 US Highway 90 East in DeFuniak Springs, or the Annex, 31 Coastal Centre Blvd in Santa Rosa Beach, for South Walton residents. You can also use the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com.
What does it cost to request alimony in Walton County?
There is no separate alimony filing fee; it's part of the dissolution case. Walton's Clerk publishes a $408.00 base dissolution fee, $10.00 to issue summons per defendant, and $40.00 for sheriff service within Florida, plus a mediation fee, amount unspecified, if the case, including any alimony dispute, is contested.
Can a Walton County judge award permanent alimony?
No. Florida eliminated permanent alimony statewide effective July 1, 2023, and Walton's First Circuit judges follow the same rule as the rest of the state. Available categories under Fla. Stat. 61.08 are now temporary, bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, and durational alimony, each with its own duration limit.
Does Walton County require mediation for a contested alimony claim?
The Clerk's divorce page confirms an added mediation fee applies to contested Walton cases, which often include disputed alimony, though it does not list the dollar amount. Contested family matters in the First Circuit generally go to mediation under Fla. Stat. 61.183, so confirm the current cost with the Clerk's office.
Which Walton County office should South Walton residents use for an alimony filing?
South Walton residents can use the Walton County Annex at 31 Coastal Centre Blvd in Santa Rosa Beach for filing and services, instead of driving to the DeFuniak Springs courthouse. Hearings are typically calendared through the main courthouse, though, so confirm with the Clerk's office which location handles a specific hearing once a case is assigned.
What financial paperwork does Walton County require for alimony?
Both spouses must complete a Florida Family Law Financial Affidavit: Form 12.902(b) for individual income of $50,000 or more a year, or 12.902(c) below that, regardless of which of Walton's four divorce packet options applies. The judge weighs that income and expense information against the factors listed in Fla. Stat. 61.08.
This page is general information about Florida alimony procedure in Walton 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 First Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Walton 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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