Florida Divorce Cost, Filing Fees & Process
Researched by the LawLintel Data Team · Sources verified 2026-08-24
- Filing fee
- $408$397.50 filing + $10.50 judgment fee — statutory, essentially uniform statewide
- Waiting period
- 20 days from filingcourt may shorten to avoid injustice
- Residency requirement
- 6 months in Florida
- Where to file
- Circuit Court
Florida sets divorce ('dissolution of marriage') filing fees by statute, so the cost to open a case is essentially the same in every county: $408 — a $397.50 filing fee plus a $10.50 judgment fee — paid to the clerk of the circuit court. Summons issuance and service are extra.
Florida requires one party to have lived in the state for six months before filing, and imposes a short 20-day waiting period between filing and final judgment. The Supreme Court's Form 12.901 family-law series covers every standard scenario, and couples with no children, no pregnancy and agreed property terms can use the streamlined simplified dissolution procedure — both spouses file together and can be divorced in about a month.
Costs & fees
| Item | Amount | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Petition filing fee | $397.50 + $10.50 judgment fee | Official fee |
| Summons issuance | $10 | Official fee |
| Service of processsheriff or certified process server | $40–$100 per respondent | Estimate |
| Parenting course (if minor children)required in dissolutions involving minor children | $20–$60 per parent | Estimate |
| Contested — attorney representation | $4,000–$20,000+ | Estimate |
The filing fee is set by Fla. Stat. § 28.101 and collected identically by every circuit clerk. Estimates are market figures, not government fees.
Requirements
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Residency | One party must have resided in Florida for 6 months before filing (F.S. 61.021) |
| Grounds | No-fault — marriage irretrievably broken |
| Waiting period | 20 days from filing before final judgment (F.S. 61.19) |
| Fee waiver | Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status |
The process, step by step
- Choose the right petition. Simplified dissolution (both spouses file together, no minor children, agreed terms) or regular dissolution using the Form 12.901 series.
- File with the circuit clerk. Pay $408 or file the civil indigent status application for a fee waiver.
- Serve your spouse. Sheriff or certified process server delivers the papers (not needed in a joint simplified filing).
- Financial disclosures. Exchange financial affidavits (Form 12.902(b)/(c)); mandatory disclosure under Rule 12.285 in regular dissolutions.
- Final hearing. After the 20-day waiting period, the court holds a short final hearing and enters the final judgment of dissolution.
Forms & where to file
Circuit Court in the county where you and your spouse last lived together, or where either resides (file with the Clerk of the Circuit Court).
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Florida?
$408 statewide — $397.50 filing fee plus a $10.50 judgment fee — because Florida sets clerk fees by statute. Service of process and the parenting course (if you have minor children) add modest extra costs.
How fast can a Florida divorce be final?
The statute requires 20 days between filing and final judgment (waivable to prevent injustice). In practice, simplified dissolutions are commonly finalized in about 30 days; regular uncontested cases in 1–3 months.
What is simplified dissolution?
A joint procedure for couples with no minor children, no pregnancy, agreed property division and both spouses willing to appear together. It uses shorter forms and skips financial-affidavit exchange if both agree.
Is Florida a no-fault state?
Yes — the only ground normally used is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Fault can still matter to specific issues like alimony.
Related information
Sources & verification
- Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers — How Do I File for a Divorce?
- Florida Statutes ch. 61 (residency § 61.021, judgment § 61.19)
- Florida Courts — Family Law Forms
Official fees and statutory rules above are traceable to the listed authorities; figures marked as estimates are LawLintel editorial estimates, not government fees. Laws and fees change — last verified 2026-08-24. See our methodology and legal disclaimer.
LawLintel provides general legal information, not legal advice. Laws, rules, procedures and fees change and can depend on your specific facts and county. Verify important information with the applicable court or a qualified attorney before acting.