Residency, grounds, and basics
Florida requires at least one spouse to have lived in Florida for the 6 months immediately preceding the petition. Florida is a no-fault state under Florida Statute 61.052 — the petition need only allege that the marriage is irretrievably broken (or, in rare cases, mental incapacity of one spouse for at least 3 years).
Timelines
The 20-day waiting period under Florida Statute 61.19 applies to every dissolution. Most uncontested cases finalize between 30 and 90 days from filing. Simplified dissolutions often finish in 30 to 45 days. Contested cases routinely take 6 to 18 months.
Money — property, debts, and alimony
Florida divides marital property under equitable distribution (Florida Statute 61.075). Non-marital assets — those owned before the marriage or received as a gift or inheritance — generally stay with the original spouse. Alimony, when awarded, takes one of three forms: bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational. Permanent alimony was eliminated by the 2023 reform.
Children
When minor or dependent children are involved, Florida requires a parenting plan, a timesharing schedule, child support calculated under the statutory guidelines, and completion of a parent education course by both parents before the final judgment.
Costs
The Florida clerk's filing fee is typically near $409. Document preparation costs depend on the service used. The Quick Divorce charges flat fees and does not bill hourly.