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

To file an uncontested divorce in Tampa divorce court, you submit a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage to the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court (13th Judicial Circuit) at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse or online via myflcourtaccess.com. The county filing fee is about $408. Our firm prepares your uncontested divorce for a $750 flat attorney fee (court costs ~$408-$410 and notary are separate).

Where Is the Tampa Divorce Court for Filing?

Dissolution of marriage cases in Tampa are handled by the Circuit Court for the 13th Judicial Circuit of Florida, which serves all of Hillsborough County. The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court accepts and processes divorce filings, and family law matters are heard in the Circuit Civil/Family Law Division.

The main filing location is the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse at 800 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602. The Clerk's family law office (Room 101) is open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Under Florida Statute 61.043, a dissolution action is filed in the circuit court of the county where either spouse resides, so if you or your spouse live in Hillsborough County, Tampa divorce court is the correct venue.

You do not have to appear in person to file. Florida requires e-filing through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (myflcourtaccess.com) for most documents, which lets you submit your petition, pay the fee, and track the case online.

How Much Does It Cost to File Divorce in Tampa?

The Hillsborough County Clerk of Court charges approximately $408 to file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. This filing fee is set by each county clerk under Florida statute and is separate from any attorney fee. As of July 2026, verify the current amount with your local clerk at hillsclerk.com, because clerk fees are periodically adjusted.

Here is how the typical out-of-pocket costs break down for an uncontested Tampa divorce:

Our $750 flat attorney fee is the same statewide in all 67 Florida counties, and it covers preparing and reviewing your uncontested divorce documents. If you cannot afford the county filing fee, you may file a Motion to Defer Filing Fees (Florida Family Law Form 12.902(a)) and provide proof of indigence for the court to review. For a fuller cost breakdown, see our guide to uncontested divorce cost in Tampa, FL.

What Are the Two Uncontested Paths in Tampa Divorce Court?

Florida offers two routes for spouses who agree on everything. Choosing the right one before you file at Tampa divorce court saves time and avoids refiling.

Simplified dissolution is authorized under Florida Statute 61.052(2). You file Form 12.901(a) (Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage). It is available only if you have no minor or dependent children, neither spouse seeks alimony, you agree on dividing property and debts, and both spouses appear together at a brief final hearing. It is faster, but you waive your right to a trial and to financial disclosure from your spouse.

Regular uncontested dissolution uses Form 12.901(b)(1) (property but no dependent or minor children) or Form 12.901(b)(2) (with children). This path is used when there are minor children, one spouse wants alimony, or one spouse cannot appear at the hearing. It resolves through a written Marital Settlement Agreement and, if children are involved, a Parenting Plan under Florida Statute 61.13.

What Documents Do You File at the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court?

An uncontested divorce in Tampa is built around a small set of standardized Florida family law forms, all available at flcourts.gov. The Marital Settlement Agreement is the centerpiece of most cases, spelling out how you and your spouse divide property, debts, time-sharing, child support, and alimony.

Core documents for a regular uncontested Tampa filing include:

• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Form 12.901(b)(1) or (b)(2))
• Marital Settlement Agreement (for simplified cases, Form 12.902(f)(3))
• Family Law Financial Affidavit — short form 12.902(b) (income under $50,000/year) or long form 12.902(c)
• Notice of Social Security Number (Form 12.902(j))
• Parenting Plan and Child Support Guidelines Worksheet (Form 12.902(e)) if there are minor children
• Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage for the judge to sign

Under Florida Family Law Rule 12.285, both spouses must generally provide mandatory financial disclosure within 45 days of service. Spouses may agree to waive filing the financial affidavits by filing Form 12.902(k) (Notice of Joint Verified Waiver of Filing Financial Affidavits). Our firm prepares and reviews each of these documents so the settlement agreement and parenting plan are complete before you submit them through the Tampa clerk of court divorce portal.

Do You Have to Meet Residency Requirements to File in Tampa?

Yes. Under Florida Statute 61.021, at least one spouse must have lived in Florida for at least 6 months immediately before filing the petition. This is a statewide requirement, not a Hillsborough County or Tampa-specific one. You prove residency with a Florida driver's license, Florida voter registration, or a sworn corroborating affidavit from a witness who knows you are a Florida resident.

Florida is a no-fault state under Florida Statute 61.052. The only ground for divorce is that the marriage is "irretrievably broken" — you do not prove adultery, abandonment, or cruelty, and you do not need your spouse's consent. Florida also has no mandatory waiting period after filing, though the responding spouse has 20 days to file an answer after being served.

What Happens at the Final Hearing in Tampa Divorce Court?

Most uncontested divorces in the 13th Judicial Circuit conclude with a short final hearing where a judge reviews the Marital Settlement Agreement and enters the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage. For simplified dissolutions under Florida Statute 61.052(2), both spouses must attend. For regular uncontested cases, sometimes only the petitioner appears.

The hearing is typically brief — often just a few minutes — because the judge is confirming that the residency requirement is met, that the marriage is irretrievably broken, and that both spouses freely entered the agreement. The court controls its own calendar, so scheduling depends on the division's docket; we cannot promise a specific date. If you want to understand the hearing step by step, read our guide to the uncontested divorce final hearing in Florida.

While you can obtain and complete the standardized forms yourself, a non-lawyer document-preparation service cannot give legal advice or catch a substantive error in your settlement agreement. Full representation by a licensed Florida attorney means we prepare and review your documents, confirm the parenting plan and MSA cover every required issue, and answer your legal questions — for a flat $750 attorney fee.

How Property, Alimony, and Time-Sharing Work in an Agreed Case

Even when spouses agree, the Marital Settlement Agreement must resolve issues consistent with Florida law. Property is divided under equitable distribution (Florida Statute 61.075), which means fairly — not automatically 50/50 — though spouses in an uncontested case are free to agree on their own split.

Alimony follows Florida Statute 61.08. The 2023 reform (SB 1416) eliminated permanent alimony; the remaining forms are bridge-the-gap (maximum 2 years), rehabilitative (maximum 5 years), and durational (capped by the length of the marriage). Spouses may agree to waive alimony entirely in the MSA.

For parents, Florida Statute 61.13 requires a Parenting Plan that sets out the time-sharing schedule and parental responsibility (decision-making). Since July 1, 2023, Florida applies a rebuttable presumption that equal time-sharing is in the child's best interest. An agreed parenting plan still must be approved by the judge as being in the children's best interests.

FAQs

See the frequently asked questions below for specifics on cost, timing, and where to file in Tampa.

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.