How to file for divorce in Florida

There are two main parts to the legal process of divorce: the first is filing for divorce, and the second is completing or finalizing your divorce.

A great deal of emphasis is placed on filing for divorce; however, the most important step is finalizing your divorce. Finalizing your divorce is the part of the process that includes the final orders that determine who gets what property; who gets what debts; whether alimony will be paid; the timesharing schedule for the children; and the amount of child support, as well as other issues. Only once the divorce is finalized or completed will you actually be divorced.

Filing for divorce simply begins your divorce case with the court. The clerks do not review your initial documents for accuracy. You present your paperwork, and you pay your filing fee (or present your fee waiver request). That’s it. Then, you have to take on the responsibility of identifying what documents you need to finalize your case, and then you need to fully and accurately complete those documents.

Finalizing your divorce is more challenging because your paperwork must lay out all of the particulars of your specific situation, and the documents are examined by the Judge. Even if you and your spouse agree on the information in your final documents, a judge must still approve them.

Many “divorce online” websites focus on helping you prepare to file the paperwork, and they only guarantee their paperwork will be accepted for filing. Make sure that any online service you use will also guarantee the paperwork prepared to finalize your divorce.

At Fast Florida Divorce we guarantee that the paperwork we prepare for you will be accepted by the court for filing and finalizing your divorce in Florida.

Complete Guide - how to file for Divorce in Florida

To file for divorce in Florida you must submit a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage to the Circuit Court. To determine which court you should file your divorce case with you must ask yourself a few questions. First, are you or your spouse a resident of Florida? Have you or your spouse been a resident for more than six months? Which party is a Florida resident? Answering these questions will help you determine where to file your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.
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Each Circuit Court may have their own requirements to include their own unique forms and documents that they require to be filed along with the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. But, before you file any Petition for Dissolution of Marriage there are many other considerations. For example, will your divorce be contested or uncontested? Will your spouse be cooperative? Do you know the whereabouts of your spouse? These questions will determine how your case will be processed through the court. There are various legal and case processing requirements you must complete based upon your answers to the above questions. For example, if you do not know the whereabouts of your spouse you will have to take additional steps to try to locate your spouse and to provide notice to your spouse before the Judge will finalize your divorce.

Finalizing Your Divorce in Florida

Finalizing your divorce is the ultimate goal. However, reaching this goal can be tedious, time-consuming, and expensive unless you have the proper knowledge. As noted above, there may be multiple steps between filing your divorce and finalizing it. The additional steps in between may be due to many factors such as your spouse not cooperating with you, or your spouse and you asking the court to make some or all the decisions for you.
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Even in a simple, uncontested divorce case finalizing your divorce can be a headache if your Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage is not properly drafted or not determined to be satisfactory and legally sufficient. Many people obtain the services of website companies or non-attorney service providers who help with document preparation. In Florida, judges will not sign off on an insufficient or poorly drafted Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage. Some will not sign off if you paid anyone other than a duly licensed Florida attorney to prepare your documents, and you do not properly disclose that to the court.
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Because the average person places the emphasis on filing (starting the divorce with the court) this is how non-attorney website companies exploit consumers because it is logical to think that starting the divorce is the most important step. A careful review of such websites reveals that they only guarantee their documents will be accepted for filing. However, it is the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage that actually ends your marriage; this is the step of the process that involves the Judge. After reading this page, hopefully you realize that FINALIZING your divorce is what’s most important.

At Fast Florida Divorce, we can help you to not only file your divorce, but we will make sure you finalize it, too.

Avoid the headache use Fast Florida Divorce

You can use Fast Florida Divorce to complete your divorce 100% online, or you can use it to receive all your paperwork that you and your spouse sign and mail to the court. Either way, you can be assured your paperwork is prepared by a duly licensed Florida attorney and that your paperwork will be legally accurate and complete. You will not have to make any visits to the courthouse or have to appear before a Judge when you choose to have us E-file your case for you. You do not have to appear before a Judge to finalize your divorce. We utilize a Circuit Court whose judges will approve your properly prepared, agreed divorce without a hearing or court appearance.
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The website process is easy. You answer a series of questions online and a Fast Florida Divorce attorney reviews your answers and prepares all your divorce paperwork for you. If additional information is needed, then we let you know. Once we have all of the information, we prepare your divorce documents. The paperwork we prepare includes not only the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (and all other documents required for initiating/starting your divorce), and also your Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (and all other documents required for finalizing your divorce).

In addition, we provide you with step-by-step instructions to use to finalize your uncontested divorce. Alternatively, you and your spouse can choose our Virtual Divorce Process option to sign and notarize your paperwork online, and then have us electronically file your case with the court.

When you choose our Virtual Divorce Process option, you will not have to print a single piece of paper, you and your spouse can sign and notarize your Florida divorce from anywhere, and then we take care of the filing and finalization part of your case for you.

What are the costs?

The total cost of the Fast Florida Divorce service is $195 or two payments of $99. This online service is available at a lawyer-free price but provided by a duly licensed Florida attorney. Our Virtual Divorce Process is available for $160 -- $80 per spouse – and covers all required notarizations for both spouses, as well as the management of the e-fiing of the case, monitoring of the process, and completion of your divorce.

For a more detailed explanation of all our services and divorce costs see: Here