Family Matters FAQ's

How do I find out if my spouse has been served yet or if he/she has filed a response?
You may contact the Clerk of Court at (321) 637-5413 for assistance.  You must be prepared to give the Clerk your case number.
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How do I get information out of my court file.
You may contact the Clerk of Court at (321) 637-5413 and request that the file be forwarded to a courthouse located near you.  Please be prepared to give the Clerk your case number.  You may purchase copies from the file.
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I am going into the military and want to give custody of my child/children to my mother (father, sister, etc). What do I do?
The Self Help Program can only assist with information and procedures regarding custody between the parents of a child.  We cannot assist with custody of a child by other family members. You will need to contact a private attorney or research the law in the Law Library.
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How can I obtain a copy of a Birth or Death Certificate?
To obtain a copy of your birth certificate, you can contact Vital Statistics at (321) 690-3435 or visit the VitalChek website at www.vitalchek.com.  If you have any further questions, please call (321) 637-5413 and we can instruct you about how to obtain a copy of your birth certificate from any state.
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I filed for a name change. What is the next step?
Contact the assigned Judge's Judicial Assistant to schedule a hearing.
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Do I need to file a separate name change petition for each person in my family?
No, you do not have to file a separate petition for each person whose name is being changed.  There are forms available to change the names of all the persons in a family (adults and children) which allows the petitioner to include all the names to be changed.
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Is there a fee for family mediation?
Yes.  For information about mediation, contact family mediation at (321) 690-6834. Return to Top
Can I choose the Judge that I want for my case?
No.  Judge's are randomly assigned to cases and cannot be picked by the parties.
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How do I get custody or guardianship of my grandchildren (niece, nephew, etc.)?
The Self Help Program can only assist with information and procedures regarding custody between the parents of a child.  We cannot assist with custody of a child by other family members or guardianship matters.  You will need to contact a private attorney or research the law in the Law Library.
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