Divorce Lawyer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Affordable flat-fee divorce services for Fort Lauderdale residents. No $5,000 retainers. No hourly billing surprises. A complete uncontested divorce — with or without children — for a $750 flat fee.
$750
Uncontested Divorce
2 weeks or less
Typical Timeline
$0
Retainer Required
Divorce Attorney Serving Fort Lauderdale & Broward County
Fort Lauderdale's waterfront lifestyle and thriving business community mean many divorces involve boats, vacation properties, and business valuations requiring experienced legal guidance.
Fort Lauderdale sits at the center of Broward County's marine and international economy, a coastal community shaped by tourism, the yachting trade, international commerce, and finance. The people who live and work here often build their financial lives around those industries, which means a divorce in Fort Lauderdale rarely looks like a textbook case. When a marriage ends, the couple frequently has to account for assets that reflect the city's character: boats, business interests that reach beyond Florida, and property tied to a lifestyle that the tourism and yachting sectors support. Those realities give local divorces a specific texture that a generic, one-size-fits-all process tends to miss.
The most common complications I see in this area come from three sources. High-net-worth couples often hold luxury assets, from waterfront homes to investment accounts, that require careful attention under Florida's equitable distribution framework. Yacht and boat ownership adds a valuation layer that many couples do not anticipate, because a vessel is not simply worth its sticker price and may carry its own financing, dockage, and maintenance obligations. And with Fort Lauderdale's role in international trade, one or both spouses may hold interests in businesses that operate across borders, which raises questions about how those interests are characterized and valued when the couple divides what they own.
Here is the key point that surprises people: none of that requires a contested courtroom fight. When both spouses already agree on how to divide their property and, where children are involved, how to share time and responsibility, the disagreement that drives up legal costs simply is not there. That is exactly where a $750 flat-fee uncontested process fits Fort Lauderdale residents. An AI-efficient intake gathers the details of your agreement accurately the first time, the documents are prepared to reflect what the two of you have already decided, and a Florida attorney reviews the work before it goes to the court. You get precision on the assets that matter here without paying for litigation you do not need.
If you and your spouse are on the same page and simply want the paperwork handled correctly, it is worth taking a few minutes to see whether an uncontested divorce is the right path for your situation. You can start by answering a few questions about your circumstances, with no obligation, to find out whether your case fits this flat-fee process.
Unique Divorce Challenges in Fort Lauderdale
High-net-worth divorces in Fort Lauderdale often involve luxury assets such as waterfront homes, investment portfolios, and high-value personal property, all of which must be identified and divided under Florida's equitable distribution rules rather than glossed over in a rushed filing.
Yacht and boat ownership is common in a city built around the marine industry, and valuing a vessel takes more than a quick estimate because financing, dockage, insurance, and maintenance costs all factor into what the asset is truly worth to a divorcing couple.
Because Fort Lauderdale is a hub for international trade, one or both spouses may hold interests in businesses with dealings outside Florida, which raises questions about how those interests are characterized and accounted for when the couple divides what they own.
Couples whose finances are tied to tourism and seasonal income sometimes need to be thoughtful about how variable earnings and business assets are reflected in their agreement, so the final documents match the reality of how they actually built their financial life together.
Even when significant assets are on the table, spouses who have already reached agreement on how to divide everything can keep their divorce uncontested, avoiding the expense and delay that come with disputing those luxury and business assets in court.
Broward County Court Filing Fees
| Document/Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (total with 4% card fee) | $425.16 |
| Answer/Response Filing | $295 |
| Motion Filing | $50 |
| Subpoena Issuance | $10 |
| Certified Copies (per page) | $2 |
* Fee waivers available for qualifying individuals based on income
How to File for Divorce in Broward County
File Petition for Dissolution at Broward County Family Court (online or at 201 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301)
Pay $425.16 total filing fee (includes 4% convenience fee for card payments; fee waiver available)
Serve your spouse via waiver of service (uncontested cases)
Spouse has 20 days to respond after service
Exchange mandatory financial disclosures within 45 days
Complete Parent Education Course if children are involved (4 hours)
Attend mediation, which is required before trial if any issues remain unresolved
No court appearance required for uncontested cases — your divorce is finalized by filing
Divorce Timeline in Fort Lauderdale
2-3 weeks
Simplified Dissolution
No children, minimal assets, full agreement
2 weeks or less
Uncontested Divorce
Agreement on all terms
6-12 months
Contested Divorce
Disputes requiring litigation
Broward County Family Court Information
Broward County Family Court
201 SE 6th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
By Antonio G. Jimenez | Florida Bar No. 21022 | Last Reviewed: June 2026
# Uncontested Divorce in Fort Lauderdale, Florida (2026 Guide)
FloridaDivorce.law handles a flat-fee $750 uncontested divorce for Fort Lauderdale couples, prepared and reviewed by a licensed attorney before anything is filed, entirely remotely. You and your spouse never visit an office. The court filing fee is $409, paid to the Broward County Clerk. Your marriage qualifies once one of you confirms it is irretrievably broken under Fla. Stat. §61.052.
Does Your Fort Lauderdale Divorce Qualify as Uncontested?
Your divorce is uncontested when you and your spouse agree on every issue and both are willing to sign. That single fact, not the size of your estate, decides whether this path fits. Plenty of Fort Lauderdale couples with a home, a boat, or retirement accounts still qualify, because agreement is what matters, not simplicity.
| Your situation | Likely uncontested? |
|---|---|
| No children and no shared property | Yes, this is the cleanest path |
| Children or property, but you fully agree on everything | Yes, agreement is what counts |
| Your spouse will not respond or sign | No, this becomes a contested matter |
| You actively disagree on assets, support, or time-sharing | No, the disagreement must be resolved first |
In my experience, the biggest misconception in Fort Lauderdale is that owning real assets, a condo on the Intracoastal, a vessel, or an interest in a business, automatically makes a case complicated. It does not. If the two of you have already decided who keeps what and you put that in writing, the court treats it as uncontested no matter how valuable the property is.
How Much Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost in Fort Lauderdale?
Your total cost is the flat $750 attorney fee plus a handful of fixed court charges, with no hourly billing and no surprise invoices. Knowing the full number before you start is the point of a flat fee.
| Cost item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee (Broward Clerk) | $409 |
| Service of process (if spouse is served, not waiving) | ~$40-$50 |
| Parenting course (only if minor children) | ~$25-$50 per parent |
| FloridaDivorce.law flat attorney fee | $750 |
The $750 covers document preparation, attorney review, e-filing, and guidance all the way to your final judgment. The court filing fee and any service or parenting-course charges are paid to third parties and are separate. If both spouses sign a waiver of service, you can skip the service cost entirely.
What Are the Residency Requirements to File for Divorce in Fort Lauderdale?
At least one spouse must have lived in Florida for six months before filing, under Fla. Stat. §61.021. This is a hard requirement, and the court will dismiss a petition that cannot prove it. You satisfy it with a Florida driver's license, voter registration, or a sworn corroborating affidavit from someone who knows your residency.
You file in Broward County because that is where Fort Lauderdale sits, served by the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit. You do not need to have lived in Broward for any set period, only in Florida for six months.
What if I just moved to Fort Lauderdale?
If you recently relocated, the six-month clock counts your time anywhere in Florida, not just in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County. If neither spouse has yet reached six months of Florida residency, you must wait until one of you does before filing. Time spent living elsewhere in the state still counts toward the requirement under Fla. Stat. §61.021.
How Do You File for an Uncontested Divorce in Fort Lauderdale? (Step-by-Step)
Filing follows a fixed sequence through the Broward County Clerk of the Circuit Court, and the right form depends on your situation. Here is the path most Fort Lauderdale uncontested cases take.
What Forms Do You Need for an Uncontested Divorce in Fort Lauderdale?
The core forms are the petition, the financial disclosure, the service paperwork, and the final judgment. The exact set depends on whether you use the simplified or regular process and whether you have minor children.
| Form number | Form name | When required |
|---|---|---|
| 12.901(a) | Petition for Simplified Dissolution | No children, no property dispute, both spouses file together |
| 12.901(b)(1) / (b)(2) | Petition for Dissolution (regular) | Standard uncontested cases, with or without children |
| 12.902 series | Financial Affidavit / Waiver | Disclosure under Rule 12.285, or an agreed waiver |
| 12.913 | Service forms (waiver/acceptance) | When your spouse waives or accepts service |
| 12.990 series | Final Judgment of Dissolution | Submitted for the judge to sign and finalize |
The official, current versions of every form are available at flcourts.gov. Using the wrong version or an outdated form is the most common reason a Fort Lauderdale filing gets bounced back by the Clerk, which is one of the things attorney review is meant to catch.
Ask Victoria a question about your Fort Lauderdale divorce.
How Long Does an Uncontested Divorce Take in Fort Lauderdale?
Many Fort Lauderdale uncontested cases finalize in about two weeks once both spouses sign promptly, though court scheduling varies. The statutory floor is the 20-day wait after filing, and the rest of the timeline depends on how quickly documents come back signed.
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Document preparation and attorney review | 1-3 business days |
| Filing with the Broward Clerk | Same day once signed |
| 20-day waiting period (Fla. Stat. §61.19) | 20 days minimum |
| Final review and judge's signature | Varies by court calendar |
| Realistic total | About 2 weeks to a few weeks |
The 20-day period under Fla. Stat. §61.19 is the general rule, and a court may enter judgment sooner for good cause in limited situations. We never guarantee a specific date, because final timing rests with the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit's calendar, not with us.
What Happens at the Final Hearing for an Uncontested Divorce in Fort Lauderdale?
Many uncontested cases finish without you ever appearing in a courtroom. When a hearing is held, it is brief, often a few minutes, where the judge confirms the marriage is irretrievably broken, verifies residency, and reviews that your settlement agreement is complete before signing the final judgment.
For cases that do require a short appearance, Fort Lauderdale's circuit increasingly allows it by video, which fits the remote nature of how we handle your file from start to finish.
Can the final hearing be waived in Fort Lauderdale?
Often yes. In a simplified dissolution under Form 12.901(a), both spouses generally appear together, but in many regular uncontested cases with a complete marital settlement agreement, the judge can enter the final judgment on the paperwork alone. Whether a hearing is needed depends on your specific facts and the judge assigned, which is one of the things we evaluate and guide you through.
Why Fort Lauderdale Residents Choose FloridaDivorce.law
We handle your entire uncontested divorce remotely, which means no driving downtown, no waiting room, and no taking a day off work. From the first conversation to your final judgment, everything happens online and on your schedule, which suits busy professionals across the South Florida metro.
The fee is a flat $750, the same whether or not you have minor children. When children are involved, that price simply adds a parenting plan, a child support guidelines worksheet, and a UCCJEA affidavit. You see the full cost up front, and you are never billed by the hour or surprised by an invoice.
Victoria, our AI assistant, gathers your information and prepares your documents quickly, and then a licensed Florida attorney reviews every page before it is filed. That combination, a flat $750, attorney-prepared and reviewed, 100% remote, serving all 67 Florida counties, is a sharp contrast to do-it-yourself form sites that leave you guessing and hourly firms that meter every call.
Fort Lauderdale couples often own assets that make them nervous about a DIY route, a vessel, a waterfront condo, or an interest in a tourism or trade business, and attorney review gives you confidence those are addressed correctly in your agreement.
If you and your spouse in Fort Lauderdale agree the marriage is over, you do not need to spend thousands of dollars or set foot in the courthouse on SE 6th Street to end it cleanly. We prepare and file everything for you remotely, keep the cost fixed at $750, and guide you through the Broward County process to final judgment. When you are ready, reach out and we will tell you honestly whether your case is a fit.
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 provides general legal information and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney-client relationship. Florida law and court procedures may change. Verify current requirements with the Broward County Clerk of the Circuit Court or a licensed Florida attorney before filing.
Divorce Services in Fort Lauderdale
Flat-fee pricing for all family law matters. No hourly billing, no surprises.
Uncontested Divorce
$750 flat
Parenting Plan
Included
Child Support Worksheet
Included
Marital Settlement Agreement
Included
Frequently Asked Questions: Divorce in Fort Lauderdale
How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Fort Lauderdale?
Our flat fee is $750 for an uncontested divorce in Fort Lauderdale, regardless of whether you have minor children. This covers attorney preparation of all required court documents. The court filing fee ($425.16 total, including the 4% card processing surcharge) is paid separately to the clerk of court.
How long does an uncontested divorce take in Fort Lauderdale?
Most uncontested divorces in Fort Lauderdale are finalized in 2 weeks or less once both spouses have signed the required documents and the 20-day response period (or waiver of service) has been satisfied. Cases involving minor children may take slightly longer to accommodate the mandatory Parent Education Course.
What if my spouse and I don't agree on everything?
Our $750 flat-fee service covers uncontested divorces only — cases where you and your spouse already agree on property division, time-sharing, and support. If you're not fully in agreement, we can refer you to an experienced Florida family law attorney better suited to a contested matter.
Do I need to appear in court for an uncontested divorce in Fort Lauderdale?
No. Florida law allows uncontested divorces to be finalized without a court appearance when both spouses have signed the settlement agreement and all required disclosures have been exchanged. The judge reviews and signs the final judgment based on the filed paperwork.
My spouse and I own a boat together. Can we still file an uncontested divorce in Fort Lauderdale?
Yes. Boat and yacht ownership is common here, and owning a vessel does not by itself make your divorce contested. What matters is whether the two of you agree on how the boat and its associated obligations, such as any loan, dockage, or maintenance costs, will be handled. If you have reached that agreement, the uncontested process simply documents your decision so it is reflected accurately in your paperwork. If you have not yet decided, that is a conversation to have with your spouse first, and this flat-fee service is designed for couples who have already worked out those details between themselves. I do not represent contested cases, so if there is a genuine dispute over the vessel's value, that would fall outside this service.
We have business interests connected to international trade. Does that keep us from qualifying for the $750 uncontested divorce?
Not necessarily. Fort Lauderdale's role in international trade means many local couples have business interests that reach beyond Florida, and holding such interests does not automatically make a divorce contested. The deciding factor is agreement: if you and your spouse have already settled how those business interests will be characterized and divided between you, an uncontested filing can document that. Under Florida's equitable distribution framework, how an interest is treated depends on the specifics of your situation, so it is worth being clear with each other before you file. If you both agree, this flat-fee process can move forward; if the treatment of those interests is genuinely in dispute, that is a contested matter and outside the scope of what this service handles.
Why Fort Lauderdale Residents Choose FloridaDivorce.law
Transparent Pricing
Know exactly what you'll pay before you start. No retainers, no hourly billing, no surprise invoices. Just flat fees that save Fort Lauderdale residents thousands.
AI-Powered Efficiency
Our Victoria AI OS technology prepares documents in days, not weeks. Fort Lauderdale clients get their cases resolved faster than traditional law firms.
Every document is prepared and reviewed by a Florida Bar licensed attorney practicing family law since 2006.
Also Serving the Broward County
Ready to Move Forward in Fort Lauderdale?
Get your complete uncontested divorce — with or without children — for a $750 flat fee, finalized in 2 weeks or less. Not sure where to start? Ask Victoria, our free AI assistant, about your options.