How to File Uncontested Divorce in Florida: 2026 Steps

To file an uncontested divorce in Florida, one spouse must have lived in the state for at least 6 months (F.S. 61.021), then file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the circuit court clerk through the E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. Court filing fees run about $408-$410. Divorce Law PLLC prepares uncontested divorces for a $750 flat attorney fee statewide (court costs and notary separate).

What Is an Uncontested Divorce in Florida?

An uncontested divorce in Florida is a dissolution of marriage where both spouses agree on every issue: division of property and debts, time-sharing and parental responsibility for any minor children, child support, and alimony. Florida is a no-fault state under Florida Statute F.S. 61.052, meaning the only ground is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken" — you do not prove adultery, abandonment, or cruelty.

Because the spouses already agree, there is no trial, no contested discovery battle, and usually only one short final hearing. This is the fastest and most affordable way to end a marriage in Florida. If spouses cannot agree on even one issue — for example, who keeps the house or how holidays are split — the case becomes contested, and a different, more involved process applies. Florida has no mandatory waiting period after filing (0 days), so an uncontested case can move as quickly as the court's calendar allows.

If your situation is more complicated, our guides on contested divorce in Florida and divorce mediation in Florida explain those paths.

How to File an Uncontested Divorce in Florida: Step-by-Step

Here is the complete process to file an uncontested divorce in Florida, from confirming eligibility to receiving your Final Judgment. Each step is self-contained so you can follow them in order.

For a deeper walkthrough of the entire court process, see our Florida divorce process step-by-step guide.

Simplified Dissolution vs. Regular Uncontested Dissolution

Florida offers two uncontested paths. The simplified route is faster but more restrictive, while the regular uncontested route handles children and alimony. The table below compares them.

The simplified path trades speed for the loss of certain rights — you give up the right to a trial and to compel financial disclosure from your spouse. For many spouses with children or any support question, the regular uncontested path is the safer fit even though it involves a few more forms.

Which Florida Divorce Forms Do You Need?

Florida uses standardized Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms, all available free at flcourts.gov. The exact form you need depends on your path and whether you have children. Here are the core forms for an uncontested case.

Filing itself is done electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. Self-represented filers can register for a free portal account, and attorneys who file on your behalf submit through the same system.

Where Do You File for Divorce in Florida?

You file your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in the circuit court of the county where either spouse resides. Florida has 67 counties grouped into 20 judicial circuits, and each county clerk handles filings for its circuit court. For example, a Miami-Dade resident files in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, while a Jacksonville resident files in the Fourth Judicial Circuit (Duval County).

You do not have to file in the county where you married — residency is what matters. If you and your spouse live in different Florida counties, you may generally file in either spouse's county of residence. Our firm represents clients in all 67 Florida counties statewide, and the $750 flat attorney fee is the same in every county.

For county-specific guidance, see our local guides for Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Orange County (Orlando).

How Much Does It Cost to File an Uncontested Divorce in Florida?

The total cost of an uncontested divorce in Florida has two main parts: court costs (paid to the clerk) and attorney fees (if you hire a lawyer to prepare your documents). The county filing fee for a dissolution of marriage typically runs about $408-$410, with a small additional fee in some counties when minor children are involved.

Divorce Law PLLC prepares a complete uncontested divorce for a $750 flat attorney fee — the same price in all 67 Florida counties (court costs ~$408-$410 and notary ~$50/session are separate). That flat fee covers preparing and reviewing your petition, Marital Settlement Agreement, and Parenting Plan, and answering your legal questions through the process. Additional possible costs include a process server ($40-$75) if your spouse must be formally served.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may file a Motion to Defer Filing Fees (Form 12.902(a)). For a fuller cost breakdown, see our guides on the uncontested divorce cost in Florida and the flat-fee divorce in Florida.

Court filing fees are set by each county clerk and are separate from our flat attorney fee. As of June 2026, verify the current amount with your local clerk.

How Long Does It Take to File and Finalize?

Florida has no mandatory waiting period after filing (0 days), so the timeline depends mostly on the court's calendar and how quickly the paperwork is completed and served. A simplified dissolution where both spouses cooperate can sometimes finalize in as little as 4-5 weeks, though many counties take longer to set a final hearing.

A regular uncontested dissolution typically takes a bit longer — often 6-12 weeks — because of the 20-day Answer period (when service is required) and the 45-day financial disclosure window (unless waived via Form 12.902(k)). The court controls scheduling, so no firm can guarantee an exact date.

For a detailed timeline, read how long an uncontested divorce takes in Florida.

Can You File an Uncontested Divorce Yourself?

You can file an uncontested divorce yourself using the free forms at flcourts.gov — Florida designed its self-help forms for exactly that purpose. Many people successfully complete a simplified dissolution on their own when there are no children, no alimony, and a clean asset split.

The risk is in the substance, not the typing. The Marital Settlement Agreement is a binding contract; an incomplete or ambiguous MSA, a defective Parenting Plan, or a child support figure that does not follow the F.S. 61.30 guidelines can be rejected by the judge or cause problems later. Non-lawyer document-preparation or "typing" services can fill in forms but cannot give legal advice or catch substantive errors.

Full representation by a licensed Florida attorney means your documents are prepared and reviewed by a lawyer who ensures the MSA and parenting plan are complete and answers your legal questions. That is the value our firm offers at a flat $750 fee — not that self-help is forbidden, but that an attorney-prepared uncontested divorce removes the guesswork. To compare your options, see the cheapest way to get a divorce in Florida and online divorce in Florida.

What Goes Into the Marital Settlement Agreement?

The Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) is the centerpiece of most uncontested cases — the standard form is Form 12.902(f)(3). It is the written contract that resolves every issue so the judge can approve your divorce without a trial. A complete MSA must address:

• Division of marital property under equitable distribution (F.S. 61.075) — who keeps the home, vehicles, bank accounts, and retirement assets.
• Division of marital debts — credit cards, loans, and the mortgage.
• Time-sharing and parental responsibility for any minor children, consistent with the Parenting Plan and the equal time-sharing presumption (F.S. 61.13, effective July 1, 2023).
• Child support calculated under the F.S. 61.30 guidelines.
• Alimony — bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational under F.S. 61.08, or an agreed waiver of alimony.

Because permanent alimony was eliminated by SB 1416 effective July 1, 2023, any support terms must fit the current statutory framework. A poorly drafted MSA is the most common reason an otherwise uncontested case stalls.

A Note From the Author

I have practiced Florida family law since 2006, including a period as a prosecutor before focusing on divorce. In that time, the uncontested cases that go smoothly almost always share one trait: the paperwork was right the first time. The cases that drag on usually have a Marital Settlement Agreement that left a gap — a forgotten retirement account, a vague holiday schedule, or a child support number that did not match the guidelines. Getting those details right up front is the whole point of the flat-fee uncontested service. — Antonio G. Jimenez, Esq., Florida Bar No. 21022, Divorce Law PLLC.

Frequently Asked Questions

See the FAQ section below for answers to the most common questions about how to file an uncontested divorce in Florida.

Legal Disclaimer

This article provides general information about Florida divorce law and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Divorce Law PLLC can prepare your uncontested divorce for a $750 flat attorney fee (court costs and notary separate); contact our office to confirm whether your case qualifies as uncontested.