Divorce in Florida: Types & Where to File - Questions

The filing fee for divorce in Florida varies from county to county, however it generally runs around $400. When your documents are filed, the clerk will offer you a date-stamped copy as evidence of filing. Be sure to make a copy of the files on your own, in addition to an additional copy for your spouse.

There are a couple of ways to serve your files in Florida. Your spouse can accept accept service of the dissolution petition by finishing and submitting a notarized "Answer and Waiver of Service." Without a waiver, the petition will need to be served through the sheriff's workplace of the county where your partner lives.

(Fla. Stat. 48. 021 (2021).)There are alternative guidelines and techniques of service if you're not able to locate your spouse or your partner is either in the military or incarcerated. Read More Here with your court clerk about these different types of service. Financial Disclosures Early in the divorce case, both spouses will need to offer comprehensive info about their earnings, costs, properties and liabilities.

You'll have to file this affidavit with the court, and serve a copy on your partner. If you do not include this affidavit when you submit the petition (or response), you need to serve it on your partner 45 days after service of the petition. As the guidelines on the kind explain, you might not have to file the monetary affidavit in certain circumstances, such as when you have no minor children, no support issues, and have filed a composed settlement contract that resolves all monetary matters.

It's important that you are thorough and sincere in your monetary disclosures. A spouse who stops working to divulge all accounts, financial obligations, or properties could face penalties in a divorce case, such as fines and possible jail time. A Word of Caution While filing for divorce by yourself is possible, it may not always be the very best idea.

However in situations where you have custody concerns or a considerable quantity of residential or commercial property, you might be better off hiring a lawyer. Divorce laws can be rather complicated. A qualified divorce lawyer will understand the intricacies of the law, in addition to the ins-and-outs of the court system. Keep in mind, you're likely going to need to live with the outcomes of your case well after the divorce is over.

So it pays to get it right the very first time.