The court: the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Family Law Division

Family law cases in Hillsborough County — dissolution of marriage, paternity, time-sharing, child support, and domestic violence injunctions — are handled by the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit's Family Law Division at the courthouse complex in downtown Tampa. The circuit serves Hillsborough County exclusively, and its Family Law Division judges handle the full family docket.

How a typical case moves

  1. Filing. One party files a petition (dissolution, paternity, or modification) and the other party answers. Florida uses standardized statewide family law forms.
  2. Mandatory disclosure. Both parties exchange financial affidavits and required documents early in the case.
  3. Temporary orders. Either party can ask for temporary time-sharing, support, and related relief while the case proceeds. Supervised visitation is often first ordered at this stage.
  4. Mediation. Florida circuits, including the Thirteenth, routinely require parents to attempt mediation of parenting disputes before trial. Many parenting plans — including supervision terms — are finalized here.
  5. Parenting course. Florida law requires divorcing and paternity-case parents to complete an approved parenting course.
  6. Trial or settlement. Cases that don't settle proceed to a final hearing where the judge adopts a parenting plan based on the child's best interest.
  7. Modification. Parenting plans can be modified when circumstances change substantially — including moving from supervised to unsupervised time-sharing.

Where supervised visitation fits

Family Law Division judges order supervised time-sharing when the facts call for a neutral third party during parenting time — safety concerns, substance abuse, domestic violence, long absence, or reunification. The order or parenting plan may name a provider, set session length and frequency, and spell out conditions the supervisor must enforce.

The supervisor's written reports become part of the record the court reviews at status hearings and modification proceedings. Objective, timestamped, professionally formatted documentation — the standard every TruVisit Tampa report meets — is often what moves a case from supervised to unsupervised time.

Practical notes for Hillsborough County parents

  • Use the self-help resources. The circuit and the Clerk of Court offer self-help services and standardized forms for self-represented parents.
  • Deadlines matter. Missing a response deadline can result in default. Calendar everything.
  • Show the court a plan. Judges respond well to parents who arrive with a workable supervision plan — a named provider, a schedule, and a location.
  • Keep records. Attend every session, be on time, and let the reports accumulate.

How TruVisit Tampa fits in

TruVisit Tampa provides court-accepted supervised visitation and monitored exchange throughout the Tampa metro — $150 one-time intake, $65/hour, court-formatted reports delivered within 48–72 hours. Submit a case inquiry online and a coordinator will respond within 24 hours.