Florida's dissolution of marriage cases all end the same way: a circuit judge signs a Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage. Which of the four 12.990 series forms you use depends on whether your case is a joint simplified dissolution and whether you have minor or dependent children or property to divide.
Quick Answer: The 12.990 series has four Florida Family Law Forms: 12.990(a) for a joint simplified dissolution, 12.990(b)(1) for an uncontested case with minor or dependent children, 12.990(b)(2) for an uncontested case with property but no children, and 12.990(b)(3) for an uncontested case with no property or children. Whichever one matches your case is the order a judge reviews, signs, and dates at your final hearing to legally end your marriage.
What Is a Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage?
A Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage is the court order that actually ends a marriage under Florida law. Everything that comes before it, the petition, the financial affidavits, the marital settlement agreement, the parenting plan, is preparation. The final judgment is what a circuit judge signs, and it is what makes the divorce legally final.
Florida publishes four separate final judgment forms in the 12.990 series, each written for a different case type. Using the wrong one, or leaving a required section blank, can hold up your hearing.
The Four 12.990 Final Judgment Forms
- **Form 12.990(a), Final Judgment of Simplified Dissolution of Marriage.** Used only with a Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage (Form 12.901(a)), where both spouses file together, have no minor or dependent children, and have already divided their property by agreement.
- **Form 12.990(b)(1), Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with Minor Child(ren) (Uncontested).** Used for uncontested cases where the parties have minor or dependent children together and have agreed on a Marital Settlement Agreement and Parenting Plan.
- **Form 12.990(b)(2), Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with Property but No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (Uncontested).** Used for uncontested cases with no minor or dependent children, but with property or debts the parties have agreed to divide.
- **Form 12.990(b)(3), Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with No Property or Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (Uncontested).** Used for uncontested cases with no minor or dependent children and no marital property or debts to divide.
Links to the current, official versions of each form:
- Form 12.990(a), Final Judgment of Simplified Dissolution of Marriage (PDF, Florida Courts)
- Form 12.990(b)(1), Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with Minor Child(ren) (Uncontested) (PDF, Florida Courts)
- Form 12.990(b)(2), Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with Property but No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (Uncontested) (PDF, Florida Courts)
- Form 12.990(b)(3), Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with No Property or Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (Uncontested) (PDF, Florida Courts)
Which Form Applies to Your Case
Two questions decide which 12.990 form matches your case:
- Did you file a joint simplified dissolution? If you and your spouse filed Form 12.901(a) together, your final judgment is Form 12.990(a). This is the only path that uses the (a) form.
- If not, do you have minor or dependent children, and do you have property or debts to divide? For every other uncontested case, the answer to that question points to (b)(1), (b)(2), or (b)(3), as shown in the checklist above.
If your case is contested, meaning you and your spouse have not reached agreement on every issue, the court will not use one of these fill-in-the-blank uncontested judgment forms. A contested case is resolved through trial, and the judge (often with the help of your attorney, if you have one) drafts a final judgment specific to the rulings made in your case.
See our companion guides on Form 12.901(a), Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage and Form 12.901(b)(3), Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with No Children or Property for how the underlying petitions map to these final judgment forms.
What the Final Judgment Actually Says
All four 12.990 forms follow the same basic structure: findings of fact, then an order. Based on the official form language, each judgment generally includes:
- A finding that the court has jurisdiction over the case and the parties
- A finding that at least one party has been a Florida resident for more than 6 months before filing
- A finding that the marriage is irretrievably broken (Florida's no-fault standard)
- For cases with children, a finding on the children's names and that the Parenting Plan is in the children's best interests
- A ruling on the Marital Settlement Agreement, either approving and incorporating it as an exhibit, or, in a simplified case with no written agreement, confirming the parties already divided their property
- For cases with children, a ruling approving and incorporating the Parenting Plan
- An order that the marriage is dissolved and the parties are restored to the status of being single
- An optional restoration of a party's former legal name, only if requested on the form
- A statement that the court reserves jurisdiction to enforce, and in cases with children, to modify, the final judgment
- The judge's signature and the date, and a certificate showing how copies were served on the parties
The 12.990(b)(1) form (with minor children) additionally incorporates the Parenting Plan by reference and reserves jurisdiction to modify it later, since child-related provisions can be revisited as circumstances change. Our guide to Form 12.995(a), Parenting Plan walks through what that plan covers. Our guide to Form 12.902(f), Marital Settlement Agreement covers the property and debt agreement the judgment ratifies.
Who Prepares the Final Judgment Before the Hearing
In most Florida circuits, the petitioner, or both parties together in a simplified case, fills out a proposed final judgment on the matching 12.990 form ahead of time and brings it to the final hearing. If the judge is satisfied that every requirement is met, the judge signs it on the spot. Some circuits instead have the clerk or the court prepare the judgment for the hearing. Because this varies, confirm the expected practice with your specific circuit or the clerk of court before your hearing date.
Whichever form applies to your case, every blank on it needs to be completed accurately and consistently with your petition, Marital Settlement Agreement, and Parenting Plan (if you have one). A judgment that does not match the underlying agreements on file is one of the most common reasons a hearing gets continued.
What Happens at the Final Hearing
At the final hearing, the judge reviews the case file and hears testimony, typically brief testimony confirming residency, that the marriage is irretrievably broken, and that any agreement was entered voluntarily. For a simplified dissolution under Form 12.901(a), both spouses must attend together. For the other uncontested tracks, requirements on who must appear can vary by circuit, so confirm with your clerk of court what your specific hearing will require.
If everything in the file is in order and matches the proposed final judgment, the judge can sign the judgment at the hearing, and the marriage is dissolved on that date.
After the Judge Signs: What Happens Next
Once the judge signs and dates the final judgment, your marriage is legally dissolved as of that date. Each 12.990 form includes a certificate of service section showing whether the judgment was mailed, e-mailed, faxed, or hand-delivered to the parties, so you should receive a copy through one of those channels.
For anything that requires proof your marriage ended, such as updating your name with the Social Security Administration, the DMV, or a passport, you will typically need a certified copy of the final judgment. The clerk of the circuit court where your case was filed keeps the signed judgment on record and can issue certified copies, generally for a fee set by that clerk's office.
If your final judgment restored a former name, that restoration is only effective as stated in the judgment itself, so keep a certified copy on hand when you go to update your identification documents.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the wrong 12.990 form for your case, for example filing (b)(3) when you actually have property or debts to divide
- Leaving blanks in the findings or order sections that do not match your Marital Settlement Agreement or Parenting Plan
- Forgetting to check the box requesting a former name be restored, if that is something you want
- Assuming the final judgment is automatically mailed to you without confirming how and when you will receive your copy
- Not requesting a certified copy of the final judgment before you need one for a name change or other update
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Florida Form 12.990?
Form 12.990 is not a single form. It is a series of four Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms, all titled "Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage," that a circuit judge signs to legally end a marriage: 12.990(a) for a simplified dissolution, and 12.990(b)(1), (b)(2), and (b)(3) for uncontested cases with minor children, with property but no children, and with no property or children.
Which 12.990 form applies to my Florida divorce?
It depends on your case. Form 12.990(a) is used only for joint simplified dissolutions filed with Form 12.901(a). Form 12.990(b)(1) is used for uncontested cases with minor or dependent children. Form 12.990(b)(2) is used for uncontested cases with property or debts to divide but no minor or dependent children. Form 12.990(b)(3) is used for uncontested cases with no property, debts, or minor or dependent children to address.
Do I fill out the final judgment myself, or does the judge?
In most Florida circuits, the petitioner (or both parties, in a simplified case) fills out a proposed final judgment on the matching 12.990 form and brings it to the final hearing for the judge to review and sign. Practice can vary by circuit, so always check your local circuit or clerk's website for its specific procedure.
Is my marriage over as soon as the judge signs the final judgment?
Yes. Each 12.990 form orders that the marriage between the parties is dissolved and the parties are restored to the status of being single, effective on the date the judge signs and dates the judgment.
Can the final judgment restore my former name?
Yes. Every 12.990 form includes a section where a party can ask the court to restore a former legal name as part of the final judgment. You must request it on the form; the court does not do this automatically.
How do I get a copy of my final judgment after the hearing?
The clerk of the circuit court where your case was filed keeps the signed final judgment on record and can issue certified copies, generally for a fee. You will likely need a certified copy for tasks like updating your Social Security card, driver's license, or passport after a name change.
Can Virdix help me prepare the right 12.990 final judgment form?
Yes. Virdix asks about your case, including whether you have minor or dependent children and property or debts to divide, and prepares the matching Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage form from your answers. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.
How Virdix Helps
Virdix asks about your case, including whether you have minor or dependent children and property or debts to divide, and prepares the matching Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure forms from your answers, including the correct 12.990 final judgment form. Start free. Pay once, only when your documents are ready. See Divorce in Florida on Virdix for the full picture of what Virdix covers in Florida today.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Forms, fees, and procedures can change, and practice can vary by circuit; always confirm current information with the Florida Courts or your circuit court clerk. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Florida attorney.
Sources: Florida Courts (flcourts.gov), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms 12.990(a), 12.990(b)(1), 12.990(b)(2), and 12.990(b)(3), Chapter 61, Florida Statutes