Fernandina Beach · Nassau County, FL

Fernandina Beach Divorce Attorney.
Nassau County & Amelia Island Family Law.

Steven C. Fraser handles family law cases for Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Yulee, Callahan, and Hilliard. Nassau County’s mix of affluent Amelia Island households, working-class Fernandina, and rural inland communities produces a wide range of family-law matters — from high-asset divorce involving Plantation properties to RYAM and WestRock pension division for paper-mill workers.

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Quick Answer

Steven C. Fraser, Esq. — FL Bar No. 625825, DC Bar No. 460026, FL Supreme Court Certified Mediator (Cert. No. 37256 CFR) — serves Fernandina Beach (32034, 32035), Amelia Island, Yulee (32097), Callahan, Hilliard, and Bryceville. Most Nassau family matters are heard at the Nassau County Judicial Annex, 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee — Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida. Free consultation: 877-862-7188.

Family Law in Fernandina Beach

Nassau County, the Fourth Circuit & Amelia Island Practice

Nassau County is part of the Fourth Judicial Circuit alongside Duval and Clay, but it has its own distinct character. Amelia Island households face the equitable-distribution issues common to affluent communities — vacation rentals, Plantation and Sea Side properties, multi-state real estate. Inland Fernandina families and the Yulee/Callahan/Hilliard rural communities frequently bring more straightforward divorce and custody cases tied to the area’s paper-mill economy (RYAM/Rayonier, WestRock).

Most Nassau County family law is heard at the Nassau County Judicial Annex in Yulee — not the historic courthouse on Centre Street in Fernandina Beach. The bridge to Amelia Island via A1A is a planning consideration for parenting plans where parents live on opposite sides.

Practice Areas Served from Fernandina Beach

Full-Service Nassau County Family Law

Divorce

Contested and uncontested dissolution under Fla. Stat. § 61.001 et seq.

Divorce overview →

Child Custody

Parenting plans, 20 best-interest factors, § 61.13001 relocation, A1A logistics.

Custody overview →

Military Divorce

USFSPA, SCRA, TRICARE for service-connected Nassau households (Kings Bay/Mayport adjacent).

Military divorce →

Alimony

2023 reform (SB 1416) — durational caps, 35% income-difference cap.

Alimony overview →

Family Mediation

FL Supreme Court Certified Mediator (Cert. No. 37256 CFR). Mandatory in Fourth Circuit.

Mediation →

Fees

Flat fee uncontested; hourly with retainer for contested matters.

Fee schedule →
Frequently Asked Questions

Fernandina & Nassau County Family Law Questions

How do I file for divorce in Nassau County?
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Florida residency for 6 months is required under Fla. Stat. § 61.021. The petition is filed with the Nassau Clerk through the Florida E-Portal. Most family law matters are heard at the Nassau County Judicial Annex in Yulee, with some matters at the historic courthouse in Fernandina Beach.
Where is the Nassau County family courthouse?
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Most Nassau family law is heard at the Nassau County Judicial Annex, 76347 Veterans Way, Yulee, FL 32097 — about 25 minutes west of Fernandina Beach. The historic Centre Street courthouse in Fernandina is generally used for civil/criminal not family.
What about RYAM/paper-mill pension division in divorce?
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Pension benefits earned during marriage are marital assets under Fla. Stat. § 61.075. RYAM (formerly Rayonier) and WestRock pensions, 401(k)s, and stock-based plans are typically divided by QDRO. Coverage depends on plan type — defined-benefit, defined-contribution, ERISA, non-qualified — and valuation usually requires the plan administrator's statement and actuarial calculation.
What if my spouse lives in Yulee but I live on Amelia Island?
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Both are in Nassau County, so the case is filed in Nassau regardless of which side of the A1A bridge each spouse lives on. Parenting-plan logistics need clear language about the bridge crossing — schools, after-school care, and emergency contacts.
How are Amelia Island vacation properties handled in equitable distribution?
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Amelia Island vacation rentals — ocean-front, Plantation, Sea Side — are marital if acquired during marriage. Valuation considers fair market value, rental income, and LLC/trust ownership structure. Pre-marital purchases improved or refinanced during marriage may have a marital component for equity gains, requiring tracing.

Fernandina Free Consultation

Speak directly with Attorney Fraser. Phone or video. Same-week appointments.

Schedule via Calendly →📞 877-862-7188