Florida divorce at a glance
Confirm with your county before filing — fees and rules can vary.
Divorce in Florida: fast and form-driven
Florida is built around standardized family law forms, and the whole process starts with Form 12.901, the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, filed with the Circuit Court in the county where you or your spouse resides. The 20-day waiting period under Fla. Stat. § 61.19 is among the shortest in the country, so an uncontested divorce with both spouses in agreement can move quickly.
Eligibility is straightforward: six months of Florida residency before filing. The state is a no-fault jurisdiction — the only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Florida also uses its own vocabulary: custody is called “time-sharing” and parental responsibility, not custody and visitation, and alimony is simply called alimony.
Property is divided equitably, and child support follows the Florida Child Support Guidelines under Fla. Stat. § 61.30. Because the forms are designed for self-represented filers, many couples complete the entire case without a lawyer. Filing runs roughly $408 to $419, and the forms come from Florida Courts.