Florida divorce at a glance
Official source: Florida court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in Florida: step by step
Florida offers a fast Simplified Dissolution for agreed, no-children cases, plus a standard uncontested track. Here is the path from petition to a Final Judgment of Dissolution.
- Confirm you can file in Florida
At least one spouse must have lived in Florida for 6 months. If you have no minor children and agree on everything, you can use the faster Simplified Dissolution; otherwise you use the regular uncontested forms.Source: Fla. Fam. L. R. P. Form 12.901 - Generate your dissolution forms
Use LawCat to complete the Petition for Dissolution (the 12.901(b) series), a Financial Affidavit (12.902(b) or (c)), and a Marital Settlement Agreement (12.902(f)).Source: Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms (12.900 series) - File with the Circuit Court
File with the clerk of the Circuit Court in your county (about $408 plus a small summons fee). Florida has one statewide e-filing portal, or you can request a fee waiver (Civil Indigent Status).Source: myflcourtaccess.com; Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status - Serve your spouse (or sign together)
Your spouse must be served with the petition — unless you are filing a Simplified Dissolution, in which case both spouses sign the petition together before the clerk or a notary.Source: Fla. Fam. L. R. P. - Handle children (if any)
If you have minor children, complete the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (12.902(e)) and a Parenting Plan (12.902(j)), and finish the required parenting course.Source: F.S. § 61.30; Form 12.902(e)/(j) - Attend the final hearing and get your judgment
At least 20 days after filing, attend a short final hearing; the judge signs your Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage. Keep a certified copy.Source: Final Judgment of Dissolution
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in Florida?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. In Florida you have the right to file your own divorce, and the court publishes the official forms for you to use. The large majority of uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree the marriage is over and can agree on the terms, are handled pro se every day.
Filing pro se is usually a good fit when: you both agree on the divorce, you can agree on splitting property and debts, and any parenting time and support are worked out. It’s worth talking to a lawyer when: you disagree about custody or money, one spouse hides assets or won’t cooperate, there’s a business or significant property to divide, or there has been any abuse.
LawCat prepares your Florida pro-se divorce documents for free and walks you through every filing step — so doing it yourself never means doing it alone.
How child support is calculated in Florida
Income-shares model based on both parents’ combined net income. (F.S. § 61.30)
Because Florida uses an income-shares approach, the exact number comes from an official table based on both parents’ combined income. Use your court’s official child-support calculator for a precise figure.
How long does a Florida divorce take?
At least 20 days between filing and the final hearing (a judge can waive this only to avoid injustice). After that, the timeline depends on the court’s calendar and how quickly each step is completed. An uncontested, pro-se divorce is typically the fastest path — most of the wait is the statutory period, not paperwork.
Common reasons Florida divorce filings get rejected
- Missing signatures, or forms that aren’t notarized where the court requires it.
- Skipping the financial disclosure both spouses are required to exchange.
- Filing before meeting the residency requirement.
- Mistakes serving the other spouse, or forgetting to file the proof of service.
- Not following local county rules. Moderate. The Supreme Court forms are accepted everywhere, but some circuits add case-management or parenting-course certificate forms; a parenting course is required when children are involved.
LawCat’s guided questions and filing checklist are built to prevent exactly these — the errors that send self-represented filers back to the clerk’s window.
Florida document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Florida. In the meantime, the official Florida court forms are linked below.
Official Florida forms → See how it worksWhy LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
Florida divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Florida?
No. Florida allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Florida divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in Florida to file for divorce?
Check Florida’s residency requirement with the official court source before filing.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Florida?
~$408-409 dissolution filing fee + ~$10 summons issuance; fee waiver: Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status (clerk form). With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.