Family Law/Domestic Relations
Family Law
The Family Law division of the Clerk’s Office is responsible for the customer service, review, processing, data entry and calendaring of legal documents pertaining to all family law related cases. Family law has jurisdiction over domestic relation matters such as:
- Dissolution of marriage or annulments
- Domestic violence, repeat violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual violence injunctions
- Adoptions
- Emancipation of a minor
- Paternity
- Change of name
- Request for injunction
- Child or spousal support
- Temporary custody and custodial care
- Termination of parental rights
- Department of Children and Family - Children in Need of Services (CINS) & Families in Need of Services (FINS)
- Juvenile delinquency and truancy
- Foreign judgments
Divorce Forms & Collaborative Divorce
The Florida Court webpage offers forms for divorce and information on collaborative divorce (F.S. 61.57). Generally, the Clerk’s Office is not permitted to give legal advice on which forms to use or how to complete forms. Certain forms or form packets are available in our office for a fee. For your convenience, additional information concerning forms, family laws and opinions may be found at Family Law Forms / Domestic Relations Court Resources / Family Courts / Services - - Florida Courts and Practice & Procedures / Resources - - Florida Supreme Court
Domestic/Sexual Violence & Other Restraining Order Injunctions
The Clerk of Court shall provide clerical assistance for the preparation and filing of a temporary injunction for protection against abuse by any person who is not represented by counsel. If you are in immediate danger, please call 911 or the Sheriff’s Office at 850-745-7100.
You may also want to contact Refuge House at 850-926-9005 or https://refugehouse.com/ for assistance with temporary shelter.
To obtain an injunction during weekends and holidays, you may also seek assistance at the Leon County Jail, located at 535 Appleyard Drive, at 8:00 a.m., where a deputy clerk and judge will be present.
Legal assistance may be available to you by visiting Home | Legal Aid Foundation of Tallahassee or Home - Free Legal Help | Legal Services of North Florida. Additionally, law firms sometimes provide “pro-bono” (free) or "low-bono" (reduced fee) legal services.
Yes, you may represent yourself in court (called “Pro Se”) but you must understand family law cases are governed by the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure (Family Rules of Procedure) which must be followed. Additionally, there are general rules of court which must be followed (Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration). As in all matters involving the law, if you do not feel fully comfortable or qualified to represent yourself, you may want to consider obtaining the services of a competent lawyer.
No. If you, your child or someone you care about is a victim of abuse, you may apply for a “Temporary Injunction for Protection” from the Court. An injunction for protection, also referred to as a restraining order, is a court order which places restrictions on a person who has committed acts of violence against another person as defined below. The Injunction for Protection may include, but is not limited to, provisions which restrain the abuser from further acts of violence; order the abuser to leave your household; prevent the abuser from coming to your home, school, business, or place of employment; award custody of minor children and order the abuser to pay support. Completed paperwork will be accepted at the Family Law division of the Clerk’s Office until 5:00 pm. Emergency cases after 5:00 p.m. should be referred to Wakulla County Sheriff’s Department (850-745-7100).
To obtain an injunction during weekends and holidays, you may also seek assistance at the Leon County Jail, located at 535 Appleyard Drive, at 8:00 a.m., where a deputy clerk and judge will be present.
Yes. All records related to Juvenile Dependency cases are confidential and can only be seen by a parent, legal guardian and/or the child with proper picture identification. Court appointed and private attorneys also have access to these court files only if they have filed their notice of appearance in the particular case. The Clerk’s Office does not give information over the telephone since access to these records requires proper identification. Anyone wishing specific information regarding a dependency case must come in to the office with proper picture identification.
Yes. Adoptions are confidential. All papers and records pertaining to the adoption, including the original birth certificate, are confidential and subject to inspection only upon order of the court.
Paternity cases can be filed by any woman who is pregnant or has a child, any man who has reason to believe that he is/is not the father of a child, or any child may bring proceedings in the Circuit Court to determine paternity when paternity has not been established by law or otherwise.