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New family law division coming to Polk County
The exploding population in Polk County isn't just evident on the roads, but also in the court system. There's now an additional "family court division" at Florida's 10th Judicial Circuit Court in Bartow. FOX 13's Carla Bayron reports.
BARTOW, Fla. - Chief Judge James Yancey established a sixth family division at Florida's 10th Judicial Circuit Court on Monday to address an exploding population and a surging caseload in Polk County.
Polk County court expansion
What we know:
Polk County ranks as one of the fastest-growing areas in both the state and the nation. This population boom has translated into a 16% increase in all court filings during the first six months of this year compared to 2025.
To handle the influx, an administrative order added a sixth family division to the 10th Judicial Circuit Court, expanding it from five.
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Stacy Butterfield detailed the types of cases moving through the system.
"The most common family law cases would be domestic violence, dissolution of marriage—which are divorce cases—name changes, adoptions, paternity cases, and any modifications to existing family law cases," Butterfield stated.
Hearings will take place at the Northeast Government Center in Haines City based on the zip codes of the filers. Butterfield noted the change brings the legal system closer to the community.
"If you're a petitioner filing—if you have a residential zip code [nearby]—it's closer for you, so it's more convenient for those seeking the services of the court," Butterfield said.
Previously, judges managed an average workload of 868 cases. The new division reduces this workload by an average of 124 cases per judge, which helps people get their hearings heard sooner.
Haines City hearings
What's next:
The administrative order officially went into effect on Monday.
Any family law hearings scheduled on or after that date will now take place at the Northeast Government Center.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Stacy Butterfield, who explained how the court system is expanding through an administrative order, as well as a broadcast script from FOX 13 reporter Carla Bayron.