Filing in Palm Beach County — Key Numbers
Palm Beach County Courthouse — 15th Judicial Circuit
Palm Beach County family law matters are handled by the 15th Judicial Circuit Court. The main courthouse in West Palm Beach serves the majority of the county, with branch courthouse locations for residents in the northern and southern portions.
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Main Courthouse 205 N. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33401 · Family Division, 4th Floor
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Filing Hours Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM · Closed on Florida state holidays
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Clerk of the Circuit Court (561) 355-2996 · mypalmbeachclerk.com for online access
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E-Filing Portal Florida e-Portal at myflcourtaccess.com — self-represented parties can e-file without visiting the courthouse
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Law Library Self-Help Room 4.2400 — form completion assistance, free legal resources for self-represented litigants
High-Asset Divorces in Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County has one of the highest concentrations of high-net-worth individuals in Florida. If your case involves significant real estate, business interests, investment portfolios, retirement accounts, or trusts, thorough financial documentation is especially critical.
Why Documentation Quality Matters More Here
In high-asset cases, the 10 statutory factors under §61.075 — particularly contributions to the marriage, enhancement of assets, and economic circumstances — carry enormous weight. Judges scrutinize financial affidavits carefully. An incomplete or inconsistent Form 12.902 can undermine your credibility at a critical moment.
- Real estate: current appraisals, mortgage statements, deeds — especially important in high-value Palm Beach markets
- Business interests: valuation reports, 3 years of business tax returns, operating agreements, shareholder records
- Investment portfolios: 12 months of statements, cost basis documentation for inherited vs. acquired assets
- Trusts and inheritances: trust documents, distribution records — to establish nonmarital character
- Mixed-character assets: tracing documentation is essential when premarital funds were commingled with marital funds
Mediation Requirements in Palm Beach County
The 15th Judicial Circuit mandates mediation in all contested family law cases. The court assigns mediators or parties can jointly select a private mediator. Palm Beach County also has a Citizen Dispute Settlement Center that provides low-cost mediation services for qualifying cases.
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Court-Ordered Mediation Issued automatically in contested cases — typically scheduled within 45–90 days of a contested filing
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Citizen Dispute Settlement Center Low-cost option for cases that meet income guidelines — contact (561) 355-6364 for eligibility
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Private Mediators Many Palm Beach attorneys are also certified mediators — rates typically $350–$600/hour for high-asset cases
All Florida Rules Apply in Palm Beach
Palm Beach County operates under Florida's statewide family law rules. The Form 12.902 financial affidavit, Rule 12.285 mandatory disclosure, equitable distribution under §61.075, and all other state requirements apply identically here.