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Unified Family Court

Unified Family Court is a fully integrated, comprehensive approach to handling all cases involving children and families, while at the same time resolving family disputes in a fair, timely, efficient, and cost effective manner.

Family Court can mean different things to different people. In Florida, the Supreme Court has recognized Unified Family Court as the best way to handle cases that involve children and families. The idea behind Unified Family Court (or UFC for short) is that a family should be able to have all of their disputes resolved in the most effective and efficient way possible. Since 1991, a series of Florida Supreme Court opinions have been instrumental in establishing UFC throughout the state. Click the links below to view the full versions of the opinions.

In re: Report of the Commission on Family Courts, 588 So. 2d 586 (Fla. 1991)(“Family Courts I”)


In re: Report of the Commission on Family Courts, 633 So. 2d 14, 16 (Fla. 1994)(“Family Courts II”)

In re: Report of the Commission on Family Courts, 646 So. 2d 178, 179 (Fla. 1994)(“Family Courts III”)

In re: Report of the Family Court Steering Committee, 794 So. 2d 518 (Fla. 2001)(“Family Courts IV”)

For additional links to further information about Unified Family Courts, please visit the Unified Family Court Additional Links page.

 

See the list below for the types of cases that comprise UFC.

Family Court Jurisdiction:

  • dissolution of marriage
  • division & distribution of property arising out of dissolution of marriage
  • annulment
  • custodial care / access to children
  • adoption
  • support unconnected with dissolution of marriage
  • child support
  • paternity
  • URESA / UIFSA
  • declaratory judgment actions related to premarital, marital, or post marital agreements
  • name change
  • juvenile delinquency
  • emancipation of a minor
  • CINS / FINS
  • truancy
  • juvenile dependency
  • termination of parental rights
  • civil domestic & repeat violence
  • modifications and enforcement of orders

For people who need assistance with their individual cases, please contact a local Self-Help Center or click here for more information.

 

For a list of Unified Family Court publications, please visit the Unified Family Court Publications page.