Form 12.901(a) is Florida's Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, the fastest uncontested divorce track the state offers, and it only works if both spouses agree on everything and have no minor or dependent children together.
Quick Answer: Form 12.901(a) is a joint petition, filed and signed by both spouses together, available when you have no minor or dependent children, have already divided your property and debts by agreement, neither spouse wants alimony, and you are both willing to skip trial and appeal and attend one final hearing together. If any of that is not true, Florida's standard petition applies instead.
What Is Form 12.901(a)?
Form 12.901(a), Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, is a Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure form published by the Florida Courts. It is the paperwork that opens a "simplified dissolution" case, Florida's streamlined path for couples who already agree on every issue and meet a specific set of eligibility requirements.
Unlike Florida's standard divorce petition, where one spouse (the Petitioner) files and the other (the Respondent) is formally served, Form 12.901(a) is a joint petition: both spouses sign it together and both must appear at the final hearing.
Download the official Form 12.901(a) (PDF, Florida Courts)
Who Qualifies for a Simplified Dissolution
You may file a simplified dissolution of marriage in Florida if all of the following are true:
- You and your spouse agree that the marriage cannot be saved
- You have no minor or dependent child(ren) together, the wife has no minor or dependent children born during the marriage, and the wife is not currently pregnant
- You have worked out how to divide your assets and liabilities, and you both agree with that division
- Neither of you is seeking alimony from the other
- You are both willing to give up your right to trial and appeal
- You are both willing to attend the final hearing together
If even one of these is not true, you must file a regular petition for dissolution of marriage instead. See our companion guide, How to Fill Out Florida Form 12.901(b)(3), for the standard petition used when a couple has no children or property but does not want the joint simplified process.
What the Petition Asks For
Form 12.901(a) is short by design. Both spouses, under penalty of perjury, certify to the court that:
- You are both asking the court for a dissolution of your marriage
- Where the Petitioner and Respondent each live, and how long
- When and where you were married
- Your marriage is irretrievably broken
- You have no minor or dependent children together, and the wife is not pregnant
- You have divided your assets and liabilities by agreement, either attaching a signed Marital Settlement Agreement (Form 12.902(f)(3)) or confirming the agreement was oral, and stating whether you are filing Financial Affidavits or waiving them
- Whether either spouse wants to resume a former legal name
- That you were not threatened or pressured into signing
- That you both understand you must appear at the hearing to testify
- That you understand you may be giving up legal rights by signing
- That you are asking the court to end the marriage and approve your settlement agreement, if one is filed
Other Forms Filed With Form 12.901(a)
Depending on your situation, a simplified dissolution case generally also involves:
- Marital Settlement Agreement, Form 12.902(f)(3), if you documented your property agreement in writing. See our guide to Florida Form 12.902(f): Marital Settlement Agreement.
- Family Law Financial Affidavit, Form 12.902(b) or (c), unless you and your spouse both sign a Notice of Joint Verified Waiver of Filing Financial Affidavits (Form 12.902(k)). See our guide to Florida Form 12.902: Family Law Financial Affidavit.
- Cover Sheet for Family Court Cases, Form 12.928, filed with your first pleading. See our guide to Florida Form 12.928: Cover Sheet for Family Court Cases.
- Proof of Florida residency, such as a valid Florida driver's license, state ID, or voter registration card issued at least 6 months before filing, or an Affidavit of Corroborating Witness (Form 12.902(i)) if neither spouse has that documentation.
Proving Residency and the Filing Fee
One spouse must have lived in Florida for at least 6 months before you file. You can prove this with a Florida driver's license, state ID card, or voter registration card issued at least 6 months before filing, the testimony of someone who can confirm your residency in court, or a signed Affidavit of Corroborating Witness (Form 12.902(i)).
The statewide circuit court filing fee for a Florida dissolution of marriage is $295 (Fla. Stat. § 28.241). If you and your spouse cannot afford it, you can file an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status along with your petition, and the clerk will determine whether you qualify to have the fee waived or deferred.
The Final Hearing
After filing, you generally either get a hearing date and time from the clerk of court or the court provides one to you, depending on your circuit. Both spouses must attend the final hearing together. Depending on your circuit, you either bring a completed Final Judgment of Simplified Dissolution of Marriage (Form 12.990(a)) with you, or the court prepares it at the hearing. If everything is in order, the judge can grant the final judgment on the spot.
If you fail to complete the process, including showing up to the scheduled hearing, the court can dismiss your case.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Filing the joint simplified petition when you actually have a minor or dependent child, or the wife is pregnant, which disqualifies the case
- Leaving out proof of Florida residency
- Not deciding, in writing on the form itself, whether you are filing financial affidavits or waiving them
- Assuming only one spouse needs to sign or appear; both signatures and both appearances are required
- Skipping the Cover Sheet for Family Court Cases (Form 12.928), which must be filed with your first pleading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Florida Form 12.901(a)?
Form 12.901(a), Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, is the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure form that starts the state's fastest uncontested divorce track. Both spouses sign it together, and it is available only when you meet every eligibility requirement: no minor or dependent children, assets and debts already divided by agreement, no alimony request, and both spouses willing to attend one final hearing together.
Who can use the Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage?
You qualify if you and your spouse agree the marriage cannot be saved, have no minor or dependent children together (and the wife is not currently pregnant), have already divided your assets and liabilities by agreement, neither of you is seeking alimony, you are both willing to give up your right to trial and appeal, and you are both willing to attend the final hearing together. If any of those is not true, Florida's standard petition (Form 12.901(b) series) applies instead.
Do both spouses have to sign Form 12.901(a)?
Yes. Unlike the standard Florida divorce petition, which one spouse (the Petitioner) files and the other (the Respondent) is served with, the Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution is filed by both spouses together, and both must sign it.
Is there a filing fee for a simplified dissolution in Florida?
Yes, the same statewide circuit court filing fee that applies to any Florida dissolution of marriage, a $295 base fee (Fla. Stat. § 28.241); most county clerks collect somewhat more than the base fee due to add-on charges (commonly around $408 total), so confirm the exact amount with your county clerk. If you and your spouse cannot afford it, you can file an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status with your petition, and the clerk will determine whether you qualify to have the fee waived.
Do we need financial affidavits for a simplified dissolution?
Not necessarily. On Form 12.901(a) you and your spouse check whether you are filing Financial Affidavits (Form 12.902(b) or (c)) with the petition, or instead signing a Notice of Joint Verified Waiver of Filing Financial Affidavits (Form 12.902(k)). Because a simplified dissolution requires you to have already agreed on your full asset and debt division, many couples waive the affidavits, but this is a choice you make on the form itself.
Can Virdix help me prepare Florida Form 12.901(a)?
Yes. Virdix checks your eligibility for the joint simplified track and prepares the matching Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure forms from your answers. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.
How Virdix Helps
Virdix checks whether you and your spouse qualify for Florida's joint simplified dissolution track and prepares the matching Family Law Rules of Procedure forms from your answers, whether that is the simplified petition or the standard petition for your situation. 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; 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), Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.901(a) (06/25), Chapter 61, Florida Statutes