Florida divorce timelines range from about a month for the simplest, fully agreed cases to well over a year for contested ones, and the biggest factor is not how fast the paperwork moves, but which track your case is on.
Quick Answer: A Florida simplified dissolution can conclude in around a month in many counties. An uncontested regular dissolution typically takes several weeks to a few months. A contested dissolution, with discovery, disclosure, and possibly a trial, commonly takes many months and can run well over a year. Every Florida divorce, regardless of track, is also subject to a minimum 20-day gap between filing and final judgment under Fla. Stat. § 61.19.
Short Answer: It Depends on the Track
"How long does a divorce take" is really three different questions, because Florida offers meaningfully different processes depending on whether you and your spouse agree, and on whether you qualify for the simplified track. Broadly:
- Simplified dissolution (both spouses agree on everything, no minor or dependent children): the fastest option
- Uncontested regular dissolution (spouses agree, but do not qualify for or choose not to use the simplified track): moderate
- Contested dissolution (spouses disagree on custody, support, property, or other issues): the longest, and least predictable
The rest of this guide walks through each track, plus the one statutory rule that applies no matter which path you take.
The 20-Day Floor That Applies to Every Florida Divorce
Before getting into the different tracks, one rule applies to every Florida dissolution case, simplified or not: Florida Statute § 61.19 sets a hard floor on how quickly a case can be finalized.
"No final judgment of dissolution of marriage may be entered until at least 20 days have elapsed from the date of filing the original petition for dissolution of marriage; but the court, on a showing that injustice would result from this delay, may enter a final judgment of dissolution of marriage at an earlier date." (Fla. Stat. § 61.19)
In practice, this means no Florida divorce, no matter how cooperative both spouses are, can be finalized in fewer than 20 days from the date the petition was filed, unless a court specifically finds that following the normal timeline would cause an injustice. This is a floor, not a target: as the next sections cover, most cases take longer than 20 days in practice, because of scheduling, service, and required paperwork.
Simplified Dissolution: The Fastest Track
Florida's simplified dissolution of marriage process, using Form 12.901(a), is available only when both spouses agree the marriage is over, have no minor or dependent children together, have already divided their property and debts by agreement, neither wants alimony, and both are willing to attend one final hearing together. See our guide to Form 12.901(a): Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage for the full eligibility list.
For couples who qualify, this is Florida's fastest path. According to the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts, the final hearing in a simplified dissolution case is typically scheduled approximately 30 days after the filing date. Timing varies by circuit and by how each county's family court calendar is run, so treat "about a month" as a general expectation rather than a guarantee for every county. What stays constant everywhere is the 20-day statutory floor above; some circuits schedule hearings close to that floor, while others need more lead time.
Uncontested Regular Dissolution: Weeks to a Few Months
If you and your spouse agree on the outcome but do not qualify for, or choose not to use, the simplified joint petition (for example, because you have minor children, or one spouse wants to file individually rather than jointly), the standard dissolution process applies instead. This generally takes longer than simplified dissolution because it involves more required steps:
- Filing the petition and, if there are minor children, related documents such as a parenting plan and child support guidelines worksheet
- Formally serving the other spouse, unless both spouses sign a written waiver of service
- A response window for the served spouse
- Mandatory disclosure of financial information between spouses, generally supported by a Financial Affidavit
- The Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course, required for both parents in cases involving minor children
- A final hearing, once all required paperwork is in order
For a fully cooperative case with no property or custody disputes, this generally takes several weeks to a few months, depending on how quickly both spouses complete required paperwork and courses, and how the circuit schedules uncontested hearings. It is still subject to the same 20-day minimum under Fla. Stat. § 61.19.
Contested Dissolution: Months to Over a Year
A contested Florida divorce, where spouses disagree about custody, support, property division, or other significant issues, follows a much less predictable timeline. Contested cases typically involve:
- Full discovery between both spouses, beyond the baseline mandatory disclosure
- Mediation, which many Florida circuits require before a contested family law matter proceeds to trial
- Potentially, a trial if the spouses cannot resolve every disputed issue
- More court hearings along the way, on temporary support, temporary custody, or other interim issues
There is no standard timeline for a contested Florida divorce. Depending on the complexity of the assets involved, how many issues remain disputed, and how busy a particular circuit's family court docket is, contested cases commonly take many months and can run well over a year. This guide cannot predict how long any specific contested case will take.
What Slows a Florida Divorce Down
- Any disputed issue: custody, support amount, or how to divide property or debt
- Difficulty locating or formally serving the other spouse
- Missing or incomplete mandatory financial disclosure or a Financial Affidavit
- Either parent not completing the required Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course when there are minor children
- A crowded family court docket in a particular circuit or county
- Paperwork rejected by the clerk for missing signatures or incomplete forms
What Keeps a Florida Divorce on the Fast Track
- Genuine agreement between both spouses on every issue before filing
- Qualifying for and using the simplified dissolution track when eligible
- A signed Marital Settlement Agreement in hand before or shortly after filing
- Both spouses waiving financial affidavits when they qualify to do so, or completing them promptly
- Complete, consistent paperwork the first time, avoiding clerk rejections and refiling delays
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming a Florida divorce can be finalized before the 20-day statutory minimum in every case
- Filing for simplified dissolution while a disputed issue, like custody or property, still exists between the spouses
- Not budgeting time for the Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course when minor children are involved
- Assuming an uncontested case will move as fast as a simplified one, when it actually involves more required steps
- Underestimating how much a single contested issue, even one, can extend a case's timeline
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a divorce take in Florida?
It depends heavily on which track your case follows. A simplified dissolution, available to couples who agree on everything and have no minor or dependent children, can conclude in roughly a month in many counties. An uncontested regular dissolution typically takes several weeks to a few months. A contested dissolution, where spouses disagree on custody, support, or property, can take many months to well over a year, depending on the circuit and how much is in dispute.
What is the fastest way to get divorced in Florida?
The simplified dissolution of marriage process, available when both spouses agree on every issue, have no minor or dependent children together, have already divided assets and debts, and are both willing to attend one final hearing together. In many counties the final hearing is scheduled about 30 days after filing, though this varies by circuit and no case can be finalized before the 20-day statutory minimum in Fla. Stat. § 61.19.
Is there a mandatory waiting period for divorce in Florida?
Yes, but it is shorter and works differently than some people expect. Fla. Stat. § 61.19 provides that no final judgment of dissolution of marriage may be entered until at least 20 days have elapsed from the date the original petition was filed, unless the court finds that this delay would cause an injustice. This 20-day floor applies to simplified and regular dissolutions alike; it is not a separate waiting period spouses have to live apart before filing.
How long does a contested divorce take in Florida?
There is no fixed timeline. A contested Florida divorce involves discovery, mandatory disclosure of financial information, often mediation, and potentially a trial if the spouses cannot resolve every issue. Depending on how much is disputed, how complex the assets are, and how busy the circuit's family court docket is, contested cases commonly take many months and can run well over a year.
Can a Florida divorce be finalized in less than 20 days?
Only in narrow circumstances. Fla. Stat. § 61.19 allows a court to enter a final judgment earlier than the 20-day floor if the court finds that the standard delay would result in an injustice. This is a decision the court makes on the facts of the case, not something either spouse can simply request as a matter of course.
Does having minor children slow down a Florida divorce?
It generally adds steps rather than automatically lengthening the case. Cases involving minor children require both parents to complete a Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course, and typically involve a parenting plan and child support guidelines worksheet. Whether this meaningfully extends the timeline depends more on whether the parents agree on custody and support than on the mere presence of children.
Can Virdix speed up my Florida divorce?
Virdix cannot change any Florida statutory timeline, including the 20-day minimum under Fla. Stat. § 61.19, or how quickly a particular circuit schedules hearings. What Virdix does is prepare complete, consistent Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure forms from your answers, which helps avoid the kind of clerk rejections and missing-document delays that can slow a case down.
How Virdix Helps
Virdix checks your eligibility for Florida's simplified dissolution track and prepares the matching Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure forms from your answers, whether that means the simplified petition or the standard petition for your situation. Complete, consistent paperwork on the first try helps avoid the clerk rejections and missing-document delays that can add weeks to a case. Start free. Pay once, only when your documents are ready.
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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. Timelines vary by county and circuit and 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), Chapter 61, Florida Statutes, including § 61.19, Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts