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 has simplified and regular divorce procedures with different requirements. LawCat currently prepares selected simplified drafts; check the official instructions and actual case facts before choosing that route.
- Confirm you can file in Florida
Review every condition in the current simplified-petition instructions, including residency, children and pregnancy, property and debts, no alimony, personal rights waivers and both spouses’ participation. Agreement alone does not establish that this procedure fits your case.Source: Fla. Fam. L. R. P. Form 12.901 - Prepare the forms for your actual case path
LawCat currently offers selected simplified-divorce drafts, including the joint petition, cover sheet, property agreement, qualifying affidavit-filing waiver and proposed judgment. Regular petitions, financial affidavits and other required papers need separate preparation. Check the workspace’s exact supported choices.Source: Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms (12.900 series) - File with the Circuit Court
Confirm the actual filing county, required documents and current fees with the circuit-court clerk. Follow the clerk’s filing instructions; ask for the Civil Indigent Status application if you cannot afford the fees.Source: myflcourtaccess.com; Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status - Serve your spouse (or sign together)
Both spouses personally sign the current simplified petition as its instructions require. For a regular case, follow the applicable service procedure. Downloading drafts does not supply signatures, complete filing or accomplish service.Source: Fla. Fam. L. R. P. - Handle children (if any)
Cases involving minor or dependent children use a different preparation path from this simplified interview. Follow the current official requirements for support, parenting, disclosures and any required education; those child-case papers are not generated by this simplified flow.Source: Florida court family-law forms and current petition instructions - Attend the final hearing and get your judgment
Follow the court’s scheduling instructions. Both spouses attend the simplified final hearing. Confirm whether your court prepares the judgment or asks you to bring a proposed one. Only the court can approve and enter the judgment; a draft does not end the marriage.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. Check the linked court resources for the self-represented filing paths and forms available where you will file. Local requirements and the issues in your case determine which documents you need.
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 helps you organize your case information and find official court resources. Available generated drafts depend on your state and case path; review the court’s complete checklist before filing.
Child support resources for Florida
Florida child support calculator → An itemized estimate from Florida’s official guideline, figures effective 2011-01-01. The court’s worksheet controls.
Use the current official worksheet and instructions for your case. Income definitions, parenting arrangements, deductions, other obligations and additional expenses can affect the result. A simple percentage of the higher earner’s income does not establish an obligation.
Official court forms and guidance →
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.
Prepare selected Florida divorce drafts
Prepare the unsigned 12.901(a) petition using both spouses’ reviewed answers. This limited path requires confirming the simplified procedure’s conditions, including no minor or dependent children, no pregnancy, no alimony and an actual agreement on property and debts. Separate interviews prepare the 12.928 cover sheet, the 12.902(k) financial-affidavit filing waiver when its actual exchange and timing prerequisites are met, the 12.902(f)(3) simplified property agreement, a bounded proposed 12.990(a) final judgment where the actual court asks the parties to prepare one, and an optional 12.902(i) residency-witness affidavit based on an independent witness’s actual knowledge. The witness affidavit remains unsigned and unsworn until the required actual execution; it is one possible proof route, not a requirement for everyone. The agreement requires explicit allocations and each party’s separate personal elections; signatures and notarization remain blank. Your filing-county choice identifies the circuit; it does not establish venue. The proposed judgment uses only a supported actual settlement branch; it does not substitute a waiver for a printed statement that affidavits were filed. Executing the agreement, financial affidavits, residency proof, hearing, judicial approval and local requirements remain separate. A waiver drafted after an agreement cannot cure incorrect timing. A separate regular petition interview prepares 12.901(b)(3) when there are no minor or dependent children, no marital assets or liabilities, and neither spouse seeks alimony. It requires the petitioner’s actual permanent waiver and a separately completed Social Security notice. That petition does not require the simplified procedure’s joint consent. The same workspace also prepares a bounded 12.901(b)(1) petition for cases with one to six minor common children, with separate saved answers. This children path requires both spouses’ actual personal alimony waivers, an agreed parenting plan and the applicable completed financial papers; it does not calculate child support. Required outside papers are identified in the checklist but are not embedded in the download. More complex child, parentage or dependent-adult situations need further preparation. A separate private interview now prepares the unsigned 12.902(d) UCCJEA affidavit for up to three children and six complete residence periods per child. Its answers are not saved. Other proceedings, claims, protective-address concerns or overflow require further preparation; an affidavit does not decide jurisdiction. Any required Rule 2.420 notice is prepared separately. Actual oath, service, remaining companions and finalization are still separate.
Organize your case →Why LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat’s document preparation is free, with no subscription and no card on file.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
Florida divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Florida?
No lawyer is required: Florida courts accept divorce filings from self-represented (pro se) people, and the official court resources linked on this page explain the forms and steps. Many people talk to a lawyer when custody, support or property is disputed. LawCat prepares selected Florida form drafts free of charge; it does not give legal advice.
How long do I have to live in Florida to file for divorce?
At least one spouse must have lived in Florida for 6 months before filing (proved by a Florida driver license/ID or a corroborating witness). Confirm the current rule with the official Florida court source before filing.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Florida?
The court filing fee is about $408–$409 for the dissolution filing, plus about $10 to issue the summons. Ask the clerk for an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status to have the fee waived. LawCat’s available drafts have no document-preparation charge; court costs, service and other expenses are separate.