| Where can I obtain blank forms to use in filing for divorce, name change, or custody cases or any other matters associated with Family Law? |
You may obtain blank forms at the Family Law Department, on the 1st floor of the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse. There is a copy fee. If you have access to a computer and printer, you may download and print free copies of blank forms from Florida Family Law Rules, Opinions, and Forms. After arriving at the site, scroll down to the sections containing the forms you need. |
| Is there a fee charged for alimony or child support payments? |
Fees are charged for Non IV-D payments. The fee for a Non IV-D alimony or child support payment is 4% of the court ordered amount, but not more than $5.25. |
| My Driver’s License is suspended for delinquent child support. How do I get my license back? |
If your case is enforced through the Department of Revenue, you will need to contact DOR at 1-800-622-5437. If the Driver’s License suspension was initiated by the petitioner and your case is not enforced through DOR: You will be required to pay the delinquency in full. This includes all delinquent back child support, clerk's fees, delinquency fees, etc. Once all fees have been paid you will be given a form to take to the DMV to reinstate your license.
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| How do I find out if I have a court date coming up? |
You can follow your case online through the Court Progress Dockets Menu from our website. Click on the link and select Case Number Search. Type in your case number and click the search button. When your case appears in the search window, click the case number which will be underlined in blue. Select the “All Parties” bubble in the center of the page. You will be able to track all documents filed in your case as well as the Notice of Hearing.
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| How do I file for Emancipation? |
Emancipation, also known as Removal of Disabilities of Nonage on Minors, is the act by which a minor gains all privileges as an adult. We do not currently sell the paperwork to file such a case. You should either contact an attorney or refer to the Florida Statutes Chapter 743 for information on what to include in the petition.
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| I have a judgment against me for Child Support, what is that and how do I take care of it? Or I am trying to buy/refinance a house and my title company says I have a judgment against me. |
For a child support request, you can request a payoff statement in writing or at the courthouse at 800 E. Twiggs Street, room 101. There is a fee of $25.00 for the payoff statement pursuant to Florida Statute 61.14(6)(f)1. The fee must be received prior to the calculation of the payoff. Once the payoff statement is calculated, you must pay off the total amount due before a Satisfaction can be issued and recorded in the public record. |
| How do I start getting child support? |
Either contact an attorney or the Department of Revenue – Child Support Enforcement at 1-800-622-5437. You can also research the Florida Statutes for more information. Any forms needed can be purchased from the Family Law office or downloaded from the 13th judicial website.
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| How do I get a copy of my payment history? |
You can order a Payment History by mail or in person. To order in person please go to the Family Law Department, 800 East Twiggs Street, Room 101, Tampa, FL 33602. To order by mail, send a check or money order made payable to Clerk of Circuit Court. Mail to Clerk of Circuit Court, Attn: Family Law Department, P.O. Box 3450, Tampa, FL 33601. Payment Histories cost $2.00 per year requested. There is an additional $2.00 charge to have the Payment History certified.
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| How do I get a copy of my final judgment, and how much is it? |
You can order a copy of your Final Judgment online at: myfloridacounty.com Click on "Order Official Records" and follow the onscreen instructions. This is an outside vendor where you can purchase copies of official records for all counties in Florida. They will charge additional fees for their service as well as shipping fees. If you have any problems with your order you will need to contact them directly for refunds or questions. You can also request a copy by mail. We charge $1.00 per page of the order and an additional $2.00 if you need the document to be certified. For example, if your Final Judgment was 12 pages long and you needed it to be certified, you will need to send payment for $14.00 ($12.00 for copies and $2.00 for certification). Please make a check or money order payable to Clerk of the Circuit Court and include a self-addressed stamped envelope along with your request. Mail your request to: Clerk of the Circuit Court Attn: Copy Clerk P.O. Box 3450 Tampa, FL 33601 You can also purchase a copy in person at one of the following locations: Clerk of Circuit Court
George E. Edgecomb Courthouse
800 Twiggs Street, Room 101
Tampa, FL 33602 Monday - Friday (8 AM - 5 PM) Brandon Office Clerk of Circuit Court
Brandon Regional Service Center
311 Pauls Drive
Suite 110
Brandon, FL 33511 Monday - Friday (8 AM - 5 PM) SouthShore Office Clerk of Circuit Court
SouthShore Regional Service Center
410 30th St. S.E.
Ruskin, FL 33570 Monday - Friday (8 AM - 5 PM) Plant City Office Clerk of Circuit Court
Plant City Courthouse
302 North Michigan Avenue
Plant City, FL 33563 Monday - Friday (8 AM - 5 PM)
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| How do I get a copy of my final Judgment if my case is sealed? (Example: Adoption or TPR) |
Sealed cases are special cases and a handled very delicately. In order to obtain copies of a sealed order you must one of the following: 1. The attorney of record can come to the office and request copies from the court file. 2. You can purchase a Motion and order at the Clerk of Circuit Court, Family Law Department or download them for free at the 13th Judicial website, requesting the Judge to allow you to obtain copies from your sealed case. There is a $50.00 filing fee to file this motion.
Once you have your order please get as many copies at that time. Once the file is resealed you must repetition to court to obtain more copies.
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| I received a delinquency notice saying I am behind on my child support payments. I believe that my case is current. Why did I receive this notice and how should I proceed? |
In order for a Notice of Delinquency to be issued, the depository records of the Clerk of the Court must reflect that a payment is more than 15 days late and the delinquency amount is greater than the periodic payment amount. If you feel the Notice of Delinquency was issued in error, you may file a motion to contest within 15 days from the mailing of the delinquency notice. You are eligible to file this response if you believe it is a case of mistaken identity or if you do not agree with the balance. See Florida Statues s.61.14(c). There are a number of reasons why the depository records may not coincide with yours. These are just a few of the reasons: You have made payments directly to the custodial parent after the court ordered payments through the depository. Direct payments can be considered a gift and you may not be given the credit. You did not realize that you were responsible for making the payments until your employer started the deductions. Your employer has two weeks from the time they receive the court order until they have to start the deductions. That also applies when you change jobs. You must make the payments until your new employer starts deducting it from your check. There may be a change in circumstances that the depository is not aware of, such as a change in custody or the emancipation of a child. Always make the depository aware of any new court orders that affect your support payments.
A payment has been remitted to the State Disbursement Unit but it is not posted on the depository records. Under these conditions the depository will request that the State Disbursement Unit research the payment. The Notice of Delinquency will be put on hold until the research has been completed. If speaking with the depository has not resolved the issue, you can contest the Notice of Delinquency and have a hearing before the judge assigned to your case. Some Clerk's offices offer a pleading packet for a small fee for your convenience.
Please keep in mind that your motion to contest must be filed within 15 days of the date of the Notice of Delinquency. If it is not filed and your case still reflects a delinquent balance, a Judgment by Operation of Law will be entered into the public records.
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| I used to pay child support through the Clerk's office for my two children. Why does it have to go through the State Disbursement Unit now? |
In 1994, the Federal Government passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, a federal law requiring all states to have in operation by October 1, 1999, a centralized receipting and disbursing unit for cases being enforced by the Title IV-D agency and private cases with an income deduction order dated on or after January 1, 1994. Having a single address for payments made the system more efficient for payors and made it easier to track payments for parents and the courts. To pay by mail, make sure your payment has the right case number, the county name and your social security number. Mailed payments should be sent to the Florida State Disbursement Unit at:
FLSDU
P.O. BOX 8500
TALLAHASSEE, FL 32314-8500 In 2001, an Internet payment option was put into place. In keeping with the technological opportunities afforded us these days, parents who pay child support may pay on-line at myfloridacounty.com. While payments now go to a single address, the official case records still reside with the Clerk of Court.
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