Orlando Divorce Court: Where & How to File (2026 Guide)

To file for divorce in Orlando, you submit a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage to the Orange County Clerk of Courts, which serves the 9th Judicial Circuit. The base filing fee is $408 (plus a $10 summons), separate from our $750 flat attorney fee. Florida requires 6-month residency under F.S. 61.021, with no waiting period.

Where Is the Orlando Divorce Court?

Orlando divorce cases are handled by the Circuit Court for Orange County, which sits within Florida's 9th Judicial Circuit. The family law division processes every dissolution of marriage petition filed in the county. The main courthouse — the Orange County Courthouse — is located at 425 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801.

The Orange County Clerk of Court (branded as My Orange Clerk) is the office that accepts your paperwork, collects filing fees, assigns your case number, and maintains the official record. The clerk is a separate office from the judge: the clerk manages the file, while a circuit judge in the family division reviews and signs your Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage.

Even though our virtual office address sits in another circuit, the Law Office of Antonio G. Jimenez represents clients in all 67 Florida counties. Wherever you file — Orange County or anywhere statewide — the flat $750 attorney fee is the same.

How Do You File for Divorce in Orange County?

Florida uses standardized family law forms available at flcourts.gov, and nearly all filings run electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. Attorneys file through the portal on your behalf; self-represented parties can register directly.

The basic sequence for an uncontested case in the Orlando divorce court:

For a detailed walkthrough of the steps, see our guide on how to file an uncontested divorce in Orlando FL.

What Does It Cost to File Divorce in Orlando?

The Orange County Clerk charges a base fee of $408 to file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, plus roughly $10 to issue a summons — about $418 for the initial filing. These court costs are set by the local clerk and are entirely separate from attorney fees. As of July 2026, verify the current amount with the Orange County Clerk before filing, because clerk fees change.

Beyond the base filing fee, common Orlando divorce court costs include:

• Service of process: about $40 for sheriff service, or $65–$225 for a private process server, depending on speed.
• Parenting course: divorcing parents of minor children must complete a court-approved parenting course under F.S. 61.21 — typically under $50 per person.
• Notary fees: separate and paid by the client (many documents must be signed before a notary).
• Certified copies of the Final Judgment: a small per-page and per-certification charge.

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you can request a fee deferral using Form 12.902(a) (Motion to Defer Filing Fees). Our firm handles the entire uncontested matter — preparing and reviewing your documents — for a $750 flat attorney fee (court costs ~$408–$410 and notary are separate). For a full breakdown, see our Orlando uncontested divorce cost guide.

Which Divorce Forms Does the Orlando Court Require?

Florida has two uncontested paths, and the Orange County divorce court expects the form set that matches your situation. Choosing the wrong petition is one of the most common reasons a self-filed case gets rejected or delayed.

Supporting documents most uncontested Orlando cases need:

• Marital Settlement Agreement — covers property, debts, time-sharing, child support, and alimony. Form 12.902(f)(3) is the standard MSA for simplified dissolution.
• Family Law Financial Affidavit — Form 12.902(b) (short) or 12.902(c) (long), generally due within 45 days of service, unless waived by Form 12.902(k).
• Parenting Plan — required when minor children are involved, specifying the time-sharing schedule and parental responsibility.
• Final Disposition Form and Notice of Social Security Number, as required by the clerk.

Under Florida law, courts use "time-sharing" and "parental responsibility," not "custody" (F.S. 61.13). Since July 1, 2023, there is a rebuttable presumption that equal time-sharing is in the child's best interest.

Simplified vs. Regular Uncontested Dissolution in Orlando

Both are uncontested, but they are not interchangeable. A simplified dissolution is faster but waives certain rights; a regular uncontested dissolution is more flexible.

Because a simplified dissolution waives your right to trial and to full financial disclosure from your spouse, it is best suited to short, simple marriages with no children and no support claims. If you have children, alimony, or one spouse cannot attend the hearing, the regular uncontested path is the safer route. Our office reviews your facts and files the correct path so the Orlando divorce court accepts your paperwork the first time.

Does Orange County Require a Final Hearing?

For most uncontested and simplified dissolutions, Florida circuits schedule a brief final hearing where a judge confirms the marriage is irretrievably broken (F.S. 61.052) and approves the settlement before entering the Final Judgment. In Orange County, at least one spouse — and both spouses in a simplified dissolution — generally appears at this short hearing.

Some uncontested cases without minor children can be finalized without a live hearing when the paperwork is complete and unopposed, at the judge's discretion. Because the court — not the parties — controls scheduling, timelines vary. A well-prepared, fully agreed case typically moves in a matter of weeks rather than months, but no attorney can guarantee a specific date. Florida has a 6-month residency requirement (F.S. 61.021) but no mandatory waiting period after filing.

Why Use a Florida Attorney Instead of a Form Service?

Online "divorce form" and document-typing services can hand you blank forms, but they cannot give legal advice, cannot tell you which petition path fits your case, and cannot catch a substantive gap in your Marital Settlement Agreement. A missing parenting-plan provision or an incomplete property clause can lead the Orlando divorce court to reject the filing or leave issues unresolved after judgment.

As a licensed Florida attorney, we prepare and review your documents, confirm your case truly qualifies as uncontested, ensure the MSA and (if needed) parenting plan are complete, and answer your legal questions — all for a flat, transparent $750 attorney fee that is the same in every one of Florida's 67 counties. If your case turns out to be too complex or genuinely contested, we tell you honestly rather than forcing an uncontested filing that will not hold up.

Antonio G. Jimenez has practiced Florida family law since 2006 and files uncontested dissolutions statewide, including throughout the 9th Judicial Circuit.

Frequently Asked Questions

See the FAQ section below for detailed answers on Orlando filing fees, forms, residency, and our flat fee.

Legal Disclaimer

This article provides general information about Florida divorce law and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. The Law Office of Antonio G. Jimenez 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.