"No court appearance" and "easiest divorce" are not the same question in Florida, and the answer depends on which uncontested track applies and which spouse is asking. Simplified dissolution is fast but requires both spouses in the courtroom together. A regular uncontested dissolution can let one spouse, the respondent, skip the hearing entirely.
Quick Answer: Florida's simplified dissolution of marriage (Form 12.901(a)) requires both spouses to attend the final hearing together, with no waiver option. In a regular uncontested dissolution, a respondent who will not contest the case can file an Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Judgment (Form 12.903(a)) and typically does not need to appear, while the petitioner generally still attends.
Can You Get an Uncontested Divorce in Florida With No Court Appearance?
For one spouse, often. For both spouses at once, only in specific circumstances that depend on the circuit. The clearest, officially documented no-appearance option applies to the respondent in a regular (non-simplified) dissolution case. According to the official instructions for Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage, this form is used "when you have been served with a petition for dissolution of marriage and you do not wish to contest it or appear at a hearing," and by filing it a respondent states they do not need to be notified of or appear at the final hearing, instead requesting a mailed copy of the judgment.
This is different from simplified dissolution, covered below, which builds attendance by both spouses into its eligibility requirements rather than allowing either spouse to waive it.
What's the Easiest Way to File for Divorce in Florida?
"Easiest" generally means fewest moving parts: no separate service of the other spouse, no contested issues to resolve, and the shortest realistic path to a final hearing. For couples who qualify, that is simplified dissolution, since it is a single joint petition both spouses file and sign together. For couples who do not meet every simplified requirement, a fully agreed regular uncontested dissolution, where both spouses sign a Marital Settlement Agreement and the respondent files an Answer and Waiver, is the next most direct path, even though it involves formal service of the respondent, unlike the joint simplified filing.
Either path still runs into Florida's fixed minimum timeline: no final judgment can be entered until at least 20 days after the petition is filed, under Fla. Stat. 61.19. See our guide to Florida's Divorce Waiting Period for how that floor works.
Requirements for a Simplified Dissolution of Marriage
According to the official instructions for Form 12.901(a), a couple may use simplified dissolution only if all of the following are true:
- Both spouses agree the marriage cannot be saved
- No minor or dependent children together, and the wife is not currently pregnant
- Assets and liabilities have already been divided by agreement
- Neither spouse is seeking alimony from the other
- Both spouses are willing to give up the right to trial and appeal
- Both spouses sign the petition
- Both spouses are willing to attend the final hearing together, at the same time
If even one of these is not met, most commonly because the couple has minor children or one spouse wants alimony, the case must proceed under a regular petition for dissolution of marriage instead. For the full walkthrough of the simplified process specifically, including forms and the final hearing itself, see Simplified Dissolution of Marriage in Florida.
Regular Uncontested Dissolution: The Broader Option
A regular dissolution of marriage covers every couple who does not meet the simplified track's requirements, including couples with minor children, couples where one spouse wants alimony, or couples who have not finished dividing property before filing. It is "uncontested" whenever both spouses agree on the outcome, even though the filing mechanics differ from simplified dissolution: one spouse files and formally serves the other, rather than filing one joint petition together.
Once served, a respondent who agrees with the petition and does not want to contest it has two main options: sign and file the Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Judgment (Form 12.903(a)), avoiding a hearing appearance, or, if the respondent wants specific relief the petition did not request, such as alimony, file an Answer and Counterpetition instead. See our guide to Counter-Petitions for Dissolution of Marriage in Florida for that second scenario.
Which Track Actually Gets You Out of Appearing?
- **Simplified dissolution:** neither spouse can skip the final hearing; both attendance is a stated eligibility requirement
- **Regular uncontested dissolution, respondent's side:** the respondent can generally avoid appearing by filing Form 12.903(a)
- **Regular uncontested dissolution, petitioner's side:** the petitioner is typically still expected to attend the final hearing; some circuits offer remote or shortened options for fully agreed cases, so confirming with the clerk of the circuit court where the case is filed is the reliable way to know what a specific circuit allows
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming simplified dissolution lets either spouse skip the final hearing; it specifically requires both spouses to attend
- Filing an Answer and Waiver (Form 12.903(a)) when you actually want the court to order alimony, which requires a counterpetition instead
- Assuming the petitioner can also waive appearance in a regular uncontested case without checking the local circuit's practice
- Confusing "uncontested" with "no appearance required"; they are related but not the same thing
- Missing that both an uncontested case and simplified dissolution still cannot be finalized before the 20-day floor under Fla. Stat. 61.19
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get an uncontested divorce in Florida with no court appearance?
It depends on which track and which role. Florida's simplified dissolution (Form 12.901(a)) requires both spouses to attend the final hearing together; there is no appearance waiver in that track. In a regular uncontested dissolution, a respondent who does not want to contest the case can file an Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Judgment (Form 12.903(a)) and generally does not need to attend. The petitioner in a regular case typically still needs to appear or confirm their circuit's specific hearing requirements.
What's the easiest way to file for divorce in Florida?
For couples who qualify, simplified dissolution under Form 12.901(a) is generally the fastest path: one joint petition, both spouses sign, one final hearing, no separate service of the other spouse. For couples who do not meet every simplified eligibility requirement, most often because they have minor children or one spouse wants alimony, a fully agreed regular uncontested dissolution is the next most direct path.
What are the requirements for a simplified dissolution of marriage in Florida?
Both spouses must agree the marriage cannot be saved, have no minor or dependent children together and the wife must not be pregnant, have already divided assets and liabilities by agreement, not be seeking alimony from each other, be willing to give up the right to trial and appeal, both sign the petition, and both be willing to attend the final hearing together. If even one requirement is not met, a regular petition for dissolution of marriage applies instead.
Does the respondent have to go to court in a regular Florida uncontested divorce?
Not necessarily. A respondent who was served with a regular dissolution petition and does not wish to contest it can file Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Judgment, which states that the respondent does not need to be notified of, or appear at, the final hearing, and asks that a copy of the final judgment be mailed instead.
Does the petitioner have to appear at the final hearing in a Florida uncontested divorce?
Generally, yes, in a regular dissolution case; the petitioner is typically the one who appears to complete the hearing, even when the respondent has waived their own appearance. Some circuits allow remote or shortened uncontested hearings in limited circumstances. Confirm current hearing requirements with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the case is filed.
Can both spouses avoid appearing in a simplified dissolution?
No. Simplified dissolution specifically requires that both spouses be willing to attend the final hearing at the same time; this is one of the stated eligibility requirements for using Form 12.901(a), and there is no waiver-of-appearance option within the simplified track.
How Virdix Helps
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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. Statutes and procedures can change; always confirm current information with the Florida Courts, the Florida Statutes, or your circuit court clerk. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Florida attorney.
Sources: Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Forms 12.901(a) and 12.903(a) (Florida Courts, flcourts-media.flcourts.gov); Fla. Stat. 61.19 (Florida Senate, flsenate.gov)