Central Florida · Tenth Judicial Circuit
Highlands County Uncontested Divorce Lawyer — $750 Flat Fee
For Highlands County couples who agree, we remove the expensive parts of divorce while keeping the attorney-drafted settlement agreement. Same flat $750 attorney fee with or without children — 100% remote, attorney-prepared and attorney-reviewed before filing.
$750 flat attorney fee
Same price with or without children. No retainer, no hourly billing.
Court filing fee — separate
About $425 (includes the card convenience fee), paid to the Highlands County Clerk of Court.
Remote notary — separate
Remote online notarization is separate and paid directly to the independent notary.
Filing your divorce in Highlands County
Highlands County is part of Florida's Tenth Judicial Circuit. Your uncontested dissolution is filed with the Highlands County Clerk of Court through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal — you never have to visit the courthouse. Court procedures and judicial review can vary by county. After filing, the clerk issues your case number and routes the case according to local procedure.
You don't need litigation pricing for a non-litigation divorce — but you still need attorney-drafted documents. Every document is reviewed by Antonio G. Jimenez, Esq. · Florida Bar #21022 before filing. The firm represents the purchasing spouse; your spouse may sign as an unrepresented party and may seek independent legal advice.
By Antonio G. Jimenez | Florida Bar No. 21022 | Last Reviewed: June 2026
# Uncontested Divorce in Highlands County, Florida (2026 Guide)
FloridaDivorce.law handles a flat-fee $750 uncontested divorce for Highlands County residents, entirely remotely, with your documents attorney-prepared and reviewed before they are filed. You and your spouse must agree the marriage is irretrievably broken under Fla. Stat. §61.052. The Highlands County court filing fee is $400 and is paid separately. No office visit is required at any point.
Does Your Highlands County Divorce Qualify as Uncontested?
Your divorce qualifies as uncontested when you and your spouse agree on every issue, including property, debts, and any children. An uncontested case is not about whether you have assets or kids. It is about whether you agree on how to handle them. When you agree on everything, the case moves quickly and cleanly through the Tenth Judicial Circuit.
| Your situation | Likely uncontested? |
|---|---|
| No children and no shared property | Yes, this is the simplest path |
| Children or property, but full agreement on all terms | Yes, agreement is what matters, not complexity |
| Spouse is non-responsive or cannot be located | Maybe, this needs a different filing approach |
| Active disagreement on support, time-sharing, or assets | No, this is a contested matter |
In my experience, most Highlands County couples who think their situation is too complicated actually qualify. Two spouses who have already decided how to split a Sebring home and a retirement account usually have an uncontested case. The agreement is the deciding factor, not the size of the estate.
How Much Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost in Highlands County?
The total out-of-pocket cost for a Highlands County uncontested divorce is the firm's flat fee plus a small number of fixed court costs. There is no hourly billing and no surprise charges. Here is the full breakdown.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee (paid to the Clerk) | $400 |
| Service of process (if spouse must be served) | Varies, often waived when spouses cooperate |
| Parenting course (only if you have minor children) | Approximately $20 to $40 per parent |
| Flat-fee attorney (FloridaDivorce.law) | $750 |
The flat $750 covers document preparation, attorney review, e-filing with the Highlands Clerk of the Circuit Court, and guidance through to your final judgment. The $750 is the same whether or not you have minor children. When children are involved, the package simply adds a parenting plan, a child support guidelines worksheet, and a UCCJEA affidavit at no extra cost.
What Are the Residency Requirements to File for Divorce in Highlands County?
At least one spouse must have lived in Florida for six months before you file. This requirement comes directly from Fla. Stat. §61.021. You do not both need to meet it, and you do not need to have lived in Highlands County for any set period, only in the state of Florida. Proof can be a Florida driver's license, a voter registration card, or the testimony of a corroborating witness.
What if I just moved to Highlands County?
You can still file in Highlands County as long as one spouse meets the six-month Florida residency requirement under Fla. Stat. §61.021. If you recently moved here from Tampa or Orlando, your prior months living in Florida count toward the six months. If you both just arrived from out of state, you will need to wait until one of you reaches the six-month mark before filing.
How Do You File for an Uncontested Divorce in Highlands County? (Step-by-Step)
Filing an uncontested divorce in Highlands County follows a clear, predictable sequence. Here is the path your case takes from start to final judgment.
FloridaDivorce.law completes steps two through four for you and guides you through the rest, so you never have to interpret a form or navigate the portal alone.
What Forms Do You Need for an Uncontested Divorce in Highlands County?
The forms you need depend on whether you have children and whether you file a simplified or regular dissolution. These are the Florida Supreme Court approved family law forms used statewide, including in Highlands County.
| Form number | Form name | When required |
|---|---|---|
| Form 12.901(a) | Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage | No minor children, no support, both spouses file together |
| Form 12.901(b)(1) | Petition for Dissolution with Dependent or Minor Children | Regular dissolution involving minor children |
| Form 12.901(b)(2) | Petition for Dissolution with Property but No Children | Regular dissolution with property but no minor children |
| Form 12.902 series | Family Law Financial Affidavit and Waiver | Financial disclosure under Rule 12.285, or its waiver |
| Form 12.913 | Documents related to service of process | When a spouse must be formally served |
| Form 12.990 series | Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage | Entered by the court to finalize your divorce |
You can review the official versions of these forms at flcourts.gov. Choosing the wrong form is one of the most common reasons a Highlands County case gets rejected by the clerk, which is why having an attorney select and prepare them matters.
Not sure if your divorce qualifies as uncontested? Ask Victoria a free question and get an answer in minutes.
How Long Does an Uncontested Divorce Take in Highlands County?
Most uncontested divorces in Highlands County finalize within a few weeks of filing, driven mainly by the statutory waiting period. Court timing varies by county and by the judge's calendar, so the ranges below are realistic estimates rather than guarantees.
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Document preparation | 1 to 3 business days |
| Filing with the Highlands Clerk | Same day once documents are ready |
| 20-day waiting period (Fla. Stat. §61.19) | 20 days minimum from filing |
| Final hearing or judicial review | 1 to 4 weeks after the waiting period |
| Total realistic range | Roughly 4 to 8 weeks |
The 20-day waiting period under Fla. Stat. §61.19 is the general rule, and the court may enter judgment sooner for good cause. Your timeline depends largely on how quickly the Tenth Judicial Circuit schedules your final hearing or reviews your file.
What Happens at the Final Hearing for an Uncontested Divorce in Highlands County?
The final hearing in an uncontested Highlands County divorce is short and straightforward. The judge confirms that one spouse meets the Florida residency requirement, that the marriage is irretrievably broken under Fla. Stat. §61.052, and that both parties understand and agree to the settlement terms. If everything is in order, the judge signs your final judgment and your marriage is legally dissolved that day.
Can the final hearing be waived in Highlands County?
In some uncontested cases, the court will finalize the divorce on the documents alone without requiring you to appear, especially in a simplified dissolution where both spouses have signed off. Whether a hearing is waived depends on the judge and the specifics of your case. FloridaDivorce.law prepares your file so it is ready for the cleanest possible path the court will allow.
Why Highlands County Residents Choose FloridaDivorce.law
We handle your entire divorce remotely, so you never set foot in an office or courthouse. You communicate with us by phone, email, and secure upload from your home in Sebring, Avon Park, or Lake Placid. Everything from intake to final judgment happens without a single in-person meeting, which matters when your time and travel are limited.
You pay one flat fee of $750 with no surprise billing and no hourly clock running in the background. You know the total attorney cost before we begin, and it does not change because your case took an extra phone call. That predictable cost is the opposite of an hourly retainer that can climb into the thousands.
Our AI assistant, Victoria, helps prepare your documents in minutes by gathering your information through a simple guided conversation. A licensed Florida attorney then reviews every document before it is filed with the Highlands Clerk of the Circuit Court. You get the speed of modern technology with the judgment of a real attorney behind it.
The flat $750 is the same with or without minor children, it is attorney-prepared and attorney-reviewed, it is 100% remote, and it serves all 67 Florida counties. That is a sharp contrast with do-it-yourself form sites that leave you alone with the paperwork and with hourly-billing firms that meter every minute. For Highlands County's many retirees managing fixed incomes, that predictable, no-travel approach is a genuine relief.
Highlands County sits in Florida's quiet lake region, and many of the couples we help here are retirees who would rather not make the drive into Sebring or sit in a waiting room to end a marriage they both agree is over. We handle the entire matter remotely, from preparing your petition to guiding you through your final judgment, so the courthouse comes to you instead of the other way around. If you and your spouse are ready to move forward cleanly and affordably, we are ready to handle it for you. When you are ready, we are here.
About the Author: Antonio G. Jimenez is a Florida-licensed family law attorney (Bar No. 21022) and founder of FloridaDivorce.law. He handles flat-fee uncontested divorces for clients throughout all 67 Florida counties. All filings are handled remotely, so clients never need to appear at a courthouse or law office.
This article was written by Antonio G. Jimenez, Florida Bar No. 21022, and is intended for general informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Florida law and court procedures may change. Verify all procedural requirements with the Highlands Clerk of the Circuit Court or a licensed Florida attorney before filing.
Significant assets, but you agree?
Large dollar amounts don't make a case contested — disagreement does. Your marital settlement agreement can cover the home, mortgage payoff or refinance deadlines, deed/title transfer, bank and investment accounts, retirement (QDRO referral if needed), vehicles, debts, and agreed obligations.
How agreed asset division worksThis isn't the right service if…
- your spouse won't sign, or you're still negotiating
- there is domestic violence, coercion, or fear
- you need discovery, an injunction, or emergency relief
- you disagree about parenting, support, alimony, property, or debt
- you want one attorney to represent both spouses
Not sure? Ask Victoria before checkout.
Highlands County Uncontested Divorce — FAQ
How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Highlands County?
Our flat attorney fee is $750 for an uncontested divorce in Highlands County — the same price whether or not you have minor children. The court filing fee (about $425, including the card convenience fee) and the remote online notary are separate. The remote notary is paid directly to the independent notary.
Do I have to go to the Highlands County courthouse?
No — the process is 100% remote. In many uncontested cases, no final hearing is required when the court accepts the signed paperwork. Court procedures and judicial review can vary by county; after filing, the Highlands County Clerk of Court issues your case number and routes the case according to local procedure.
Is this attorney representation or a DIY forms service?
This is attorney representation. Your documents are attorney-prepared and reviewed by Antonio G. Jimenez, Esq. (Florida Bar #21022) before anything is signed or filed — not DIY forms.
We have significant assets but we agree. Can it still be uncontested in Highlands County?
Yes. Large dollar amounts don't make a case contested — disagreement does. If you both agree, your marital settlement agreement can cover the home, mortgage payoff or refinance deadlines, deed/title transfer, bank and investment accounts, retirement (with a QDRO referral if needed), vehicles, debts, and agreed obligations.
Which court handles my Highlands County divorce?
Highlands County is part of Florida's Tenth Judicial Circuit. Your dissolution is filed with the Highlands County Clerk of Court through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.
Start your Highlands County uncontested divorce
Flat $750 attorney fee, attorney-reviewed before filing. Not sure if you qualify? Ask Victoria first.