What Is the Cheapest Way to Get a Divorce in Florida? (2026 Guide)

What Is the Cheapest Way to Get a Divorce in Florida?

Quick Answer: The cheapest divorce in Florida is a DIY uncontested divorce costing approximately $500-$600 total (just filing fees and forms). For couples who agree on everything, an attorney-handled uncontested divorce adds professional document preparation and filing for a predictable flat fee — our firm charges a flat $750 attorney fee — far below the $5,000-$7,500 of a traditional litigation retainer.

Florida Divorce Cost Comparison (2026)

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Option 1: DIY Divorce (Cheapest)

Cost: ~$500-$600 total

What You'll Pay

• Court filing fee: $408-$410
• Forms (free online or $20-$50 for packets)
• Copies and notarization: $20-$50
• Process server (if needed): $40-$75

How DIY Divorce Works

DIY Works Best When

• Both spouses agree on everything
• No children or a simple parenting arrangement
• Minimal assets and debts
• No retirement accounts to divide
• No real estate or straightforward home division
• Both parties are cooperative
• Neither spouse has an attorney

DIY Risks

Mistakes are common and costly:

• Incorrect forms can be rejected, causing delays
• Missing deadlines can harm your case
• Property division errors are hard to fix later
• Child support miscalculations affect your kids
• Parenting plans with gaps cause future conflicts
• No legal advice = no one protecting your interests

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Option 2: Online Divorce Services

Cost: $300-$500 + $409 filing fee = $700-$900 total

What Online Services Provide

• Questionnaire to gather your information
• Computer-generated forms (not attorney-reviewed)
• Filing instructions
• Some include e-filing

Popular Online Divorce Services

• LegalZoom: $499 + filing fees
• DivorceWriter: $137 + filing fees
• 3StepDivorce: $299 + filing fees
• MyDivorcePapers: $159 + filing fees

Online Service Limitations

These are NOT attorneys:

• Cannot give legal advice
• Cannot represent you in court
• Cannot negotiate with your spouse
• Cannot review your spouse's responses
• Forms are template-based, not customized

When Online Services Work

• Truly uncontested (no disputes)
• No children or a simple parenting arrangement
• You understand legal terminology
• You're comfortable reviewing documents yourself
• Your spouse is cooperative

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Option 3: Flat-Fee Attorney (Best Value)

Cost: our flat $750 attorney fee + ~$408 filing fee ≈ $1,160 total

Why Flat-Fee Is Often the Best Value

For only a few hundred dollars more than DIY, you get:

• A licensed Florida attorney preparing your documents
• Legal guidance tailored to your situation
• Error prevention — the attorney catches mistakes before filing
• A predictable flat fee with no hourly surprises
• Peace of mind that it is done correctly

The Math Makes Sense

Is a few hundred dollars worth avoiding costly mistakes? For most people, yes.

What the Flat Fee Covers

Our $750 flat-fee uncontested divorce includes:

• All divorce paperwork prepared
• Marital Settlement Agreement drafted
• With minor children: the parenting plan, child support guidelines worksheet, and UCCJEA affidavit (same $750 price)
• E-filing with the court
• 100% remote process, available statewide
• Your questions answered throughout the process

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Option 4: Simplified Dissolution (If You're Eligible)

Cost: Similar to DIY or our flat fee, but a faster court process

Simplified Dissolution Requirements

Florida offers a faster "simplified" divorce if ALL of these apply:

• No minor children (and wife not pregnant)
• Both parties agree the marriage is irretrievably broken
• Property and debts already divided
• Neither party seeks alimony
• Both parties will attend the final hearing together

Benefits

• Faster processing (can be finalized in weeks)
• Less paperwork required
• Single hearing with both spouses present

Downside

• Very limited eligibility
• Must waive rights to trial, alimony, and appeals
• Not ideal if any future disputes are possible

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Option 5: Mediation + Flat-Fee (For Minor Disagreements)

Cost: $1,600-$2,400 total

When to Use This Option

If you and your spouse agree on most things but have a few sticking points:

• Can't agree on an exact time-sharing schedule
• Disagree on one asset's value
• Unsure about a support amount

How It Works

Cost Breakdown

• Mediation: $450-$1,200 (your half)
• Flat-fee uncontested divorce: $750
• Filing fee: ~$408
• Total: $1,600-$2,360

Still far cheaper than contested litigation ($10,000-$25,000+).

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What About Free Divorce?

Legal Aid (Income-Qualified)

If your income is below 200% of federal poverty guidelines, you may be eligible for free legal assistance:

• Florida Legal Services: 1-800-405-1417
• Legal Aid Society: County-specific offices
• Florida Bar Lawyer Referral: Some pro bono programs

Law School Clinics

Florida law schools offer supervised legal clinics:

• FIU Law (Miami)
• UM Law (Miami)
• UF Law (Gainesville)
• FSU Law (Tallahassee)

Fee Waiver

If you can't afford filing fees, you can request an "Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status." If approved, the court waives the $409 filing fee.

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Cost Comparison by Situation

No Kids, No Property, Both Agree

Cheapest option: DIY ($500-$600)

Best value: our flat-fee uncontested divorce ($750 + filing fee)

Kids, Both Agree on Time-Sharing

Cheapest option: DIY ($500-$600) — but risky

Best value: our flat-fee uncontested divorce ($750, same price with children) — the fee includes the parenting plan, child support guidelines worksheet, and UCCJEA affidavit

Some Disagreements, Not Hostile

Best option: mediation to reach agreement, then a flat-fee uncontested divorce ($1,600-$2,400)

Contested, Spouse Won't Cooperate

Only option: hourly attorney ($5,000-$25,000+). There is no cheap path through litigation. Our firm handles only uncontested divorces — if your case is contested, consult a Florida family law attorney who handles litigation.

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Warning: "Cheap Divorce" Scams

Red Flags

• "Divorce for $99" — the filing fee alone is $409
• "Guaranteed 30-day divorce" — no one controls court timelines
• "No attorney needed" — true for some, risky for many
• Unlicensed "document preparers" — cannot give legal advice

What Cheap Ads Actually Mean

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Our Flat-Fee Uncontested Divorce

We handle uncontested divorces for a flat $750 attorney fee — the same price whether or not you have minor children. When there are minor children, the flat fee also includes the parenting plan, child support guidelines worksheet, and UCCJEA affidavit. Both spouses must agree on all terms and be willing to sign.

The process is 100% remote and available statewide. Uncontested cases typically finalize about one to three weeks from the day you hire the firm, though timing depends on the court and is never guaranteed. Why so affordable? Our technology handles much of the document preparation, which lets us keep the fee low.

Learn more at /services/uncontested, or ask Victoria your Florida divorce questions anytime at /ask-victoria.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the absolute cheapest divorce in Florida?

DIY self-filing costs approximately $500-$600 (filing fee plus forms and copies). However, this only works for completely uncontested cases with no children and minimal assets. Any mistakes can cost more to fix than hiring an attorney.

Is it worth paying for a lawyer for an uncontested divorce?

Often yes. A flat-fee uncontested divorce from our firm costs $750 (plus the court filing fee) — only a few hundred dollars more than DIY — but provides legal guidance, error prevention, and peace of mind. For divorces involving children, property, or retirement accounts, professional help is strongly recommended.

Can I get divorced for free in Florida?

If you are eligible for legal aid (low income) or a court fee waiver, yes. Contact Florida Legal Services (1-800-405-1417) or your county's Legal Aid office. You can also request indigent status to waive the $409 filing fee.

How can I reduce my divorce costs?