An uncontested divorce means both spouses agree on every issue: property, debt, support, and custody. A contested divorce means at least one issue is unresolved and a judge has to decide it, sometimes after a trial. Uncontested divorce is also called a no contest divorce, and it usually overlaps with a no-fault divorce, where neither spouse has to prove the other did something wrong to get divorced. This guide covers what a no-fault, uncontested case costs, how to file one, and what changes once you look at California or Florida specifically.
Key Takeaway: Uncontested and no-fault are related but not identical. No-fault means neither spouse has to prove wrongdoing, which is the law in every state. Uncontested means both spouses agree on every term. Most uncontested divorces are also no-fault, and that combination is generally the cheapest and fastest path through the court system, though speed is still limited by your state's mandatory waiting period.
What Is a No-Fault Divorce?
A no-fault divorce means the spouse filing does not have to prove the other spouse did anything wrong, such as adultery or abandonment, to get divorced. Every state now allows a no-fault filing, typically citing irreconcilable differences or a similar standard. However you search it, how to file a no-fault divorce, how to get a no-fault divorce, how to apply for a no-fault divorce, the answer is the same: you file a petition citing the no-fault ground, pay the filing fee or file a fee waiver, and formally notify your spouse.
No-fault divorce cost, the cost of a no-fault divorce, and no-fault divorce costs all refer to the same number: your state's court filing fee, generally a few hundred dollars, plus anything you spend on document preparation or serving your spouse. A cheap no-fault divorce and a quick, cheap no-fault divorce usually mean the same combination: a no-fault, uncontested filing where neither spouse pays attorney hourly rates. Some services also advertise a no-fault divorce online application or call themselves a no-fault divorce service, meaning software that prepares your forms; none of that changes the underlying court process or the filing fee itself.
Uncontested vs. Contested: The Core Difference
An uncontested divorce, also called a no contest divorce, a not contested divorce, or divorce with no contest, means both spouses agree on how to divide property and debt, support, and custody if there are children. Nothing is left for a judge to decide at a hearing, so the case moves through mostly on paperwork.
A contested divorce means at least one issue is unresolved. How to get a contested divorce is really a question of what happens once your spouse disagrees: your spouse formally responds to the petition (in California, Form FL-120), and the case can then involve financial disclosure disputes, settlement conferences, and, if the spouses still cannot agree, a trial where a judge decides. Contesting a no-fault divorce does not mean disputing whether the divorce happens; no state requires the other spouse's agreement for a no-fault filing to proceed. It means disputing one or more of the terms, such as how property gets split or what the parenting schedule looks like.
How Much Does an Uncontested, No Contest Divorce Cost?
People search this cost question a lot of ways: average cost of an uncontested divorce, average cost of a no contest divorce, average cost for uncontested divorce, cost of a non contested divorce, no contest divorce cost. The answer is the same regardless of phrasing. The main cost is your state's court filing fee, typically a few hundred dollars, plus a modest amount if you use document-preparation software, and a small fee to serve your spouse if a waiver of service is not an option. A low cost uncontested divorce and a cheap uncontested divorce online generally describe the same thing: an uncontested, no-fault case where both spouses skip attorney hourly rates by preparing their own paperwork. Our cheap divorce options guide breaks down fee waivers and other savings.
How to File a No-Fault, Uncontested Divorce
Filing a no-contest divorce, however you phrase it (how to file a no contest divorce, how to file for no contest divorce, how to get a no contest divorce, a do it yourself no-fault divorce), follows the same basic steps everywhere. One spouse files a petition citing the no-fault ground, then formally notifies the other spouse. If your spouse agrees and cooperates, you can generally use a waiver of service (sometimes searched as waiver of service uncontested divorce) instead of paying a process server; your spouse signs a form acknowledging the case, which is faster and cheaper than formal service. Both spouses then exchange financial information, put the agreed terms in writing, and submit final paperwork for a judge to sign.
Some document-preparation services organize their paperwork into a packet with an internal name, sometimes searched as divorce set 1 uncontested. The label varies by provider, but the underlying documents are the same everywhere: a petition, a summons, financial disclosure forms, and a final judgment. What you actually file with the court are your state's official, numbered forms, not a generically named "set." Our divorce papers explained guide walks through each form.
Filing a Quick, Cheap, or Online Uncontested Divorce
An online no-fault divorce, an online no-contest divorce, or a no-contest divorce online all describe using software to fill out your forms and, where your county allows it, e-file them. None of that skips the court itself; a judge still reviews and signs the final judgment, and your state's mandatory waiting period still applies no matter how fast the paperwork gets done. A quick no-contest divorce, a quick cheap uncontested divorce, and a quick cheap no-fault divorce are realistic only within that limit, since speed depends on your state's minimum wait, not on how quickly you and your spouse cooperate.
Claims of a genuinely free uncontested divorce online free should be read carefully. The court filing fee is separate from whatever a service charges, and it disappears only through an actual fee waiver, not a promotional price. A no lawyer uncontested divorce simply means neither spouse hired an attorney, which is allowed in every state for an uncontested case, though that is a separate question from whether the case is fast or free.
Uncontested Divorce in California
California calls a no-fault filing a dissolution of marriage based on irreconcilable differences, and it always carries the same minimum timeline: at least 6 months from the date your spouse is served, whether the case is agreed or contested. You start with Form FL-100 (Petition) and Form FL-110 (Summons). If your spouse agrees with every term, you can move toward judgment using Form FL-170, Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution or Legal Separation, instead of a contested Response. If your spouse disagrees with any term, they file Form FL-120, Response, which formally contests the case. The statewide filing fee is $435, though Form FW-001 can waive it if you qualify by income or certain public benefits.
Our guide to uncontested divorce in California walks through the full checklist.
Uncontested Divorce in Florida
Florida moves faster than California by law: a final judgment cannot be entered until at least 20 days after the petition is filed, whether or not the case is agreed. Couples who agree on everything, have no minor children, and have already divided their property can file together using the Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, Form 12.901(a), which is built specifically for an uncontested case and skips the separate response step entirely. Couples who do not qualify for the joint petition file a regular petition, and the other spouse then has an opportunity to respond and contest any term. The statewide base filing fee is $295, commonly closer to $400 once county add-on charges are included.
Our Florida uncontested divorce checklist covers the full form list.
Uncontested Divorce Rules Vary by State
Every state allows a no-fault, uncontested filing, but two things always vary: the residency requirement before you can file, and the waiting period before a judgment can be entered. A handful of states offer a simplified or summary process built specifically for short, property-free marriages with no children, similar to Florida's joint petition, while others use the same forms for every case regardless of whether it is agreed. Confirm your specific state's rules, forms, and fee with its court self-help website before filing. Our divorce by state directory is a starting point.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an uncontested divorce and a contested divorce?
An uncontested divorce means both spouses agree on every issue: property, debt, support, and custody. A contested divorce means at least one issue is unresolved, which can lead to financial disclosure disputes, settlement conferences, and sometimes a trial before a judge decides. Both types use the same starting forms in most states; what changes is whether a response contests any term.
Is a no-fault uncontested divorce the same thing as what people search as a no contested divorce?
Yes, both describe the same overlap. No-fault means neither spouse has to prove wrongdoing, which is the law in every state now. Uncontested (sometimes searched as no contested divorce) means both spouses agree on every term. Most no-fault filings are also uncontested, since agreeing on the terms is what keeps a no-fault case from turning into a contested one.
How much does a cheap, no contest divorce cost?
The main cost is your state's court filing fee, typically a few hundred dollars, plus a modest amount for document preparation and, if needed, serving your spouse. A fee waiver can make the filing fee itself free if you qualify by income or certain public benefits. Keeping the case uncontested avoids the added cost of hearings, discovery, or attorney time spent litigating disputed terms.
How fast can I get a quick no-fault divorce?
It depends entirely on your state's mandatory waiting period, which no amount of agreement can shorten. California requires at least 6 months from the date your spouse is served. Florida requires at least 20 days from filing. An uncontested case removes delays caused by disputes and hearings, but it does not remove your state's built-in minimum wait.
What does a no-fault divorce service actually cost me?
A document-preparation service that advertises itself as a no-fault divorce service charges its own flat fee for filling out your forms; that fee is separate from your state's court filing fee, which still applies unless a fee waiver is granted. Compare both numbers together, since a promotional software price alone does not tell you the total cost of your case.
Can my spouse still contest a no-fault divorce?
Your spouse cannot stop a no-fault divorce from happening; no state requires the other spouse's agreement for the divorce itself to proceed. Your spouse can contest the terms, such as property division, support, or custody, by filing a formal response, which moves the case from uncontested to contested and can add hearings and cost.
Is a free, uncontested divorce online actually real?
A completely free filing exists only through your state's fee waiver process, based on income, certain public benefits, or an inability to afford basic needs and court fees at the same time. A promotional price from a document-preparation service is a separate charge from the court filing fee, so "free" claims that ignore the court fee are not accurate on their own.
How Virdix Helps
Virdix fills in the official California or Florida court forms from your answers, keeps every form consistent with the others in your case, and flags a contradiction before it can turn an agreed case into a contested one. Pricing is $79 through October 31, 2026.
Virdix does not replace an attorney for a contested case, a dispute over custody or support, or any situation involving your safety.
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. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed family law attorney in your state.
Sources: California Courts Self-Help Center (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov), California Family Code Section 2320 (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov), Florida Statutes Sections 61.19 and 28.241 (flsenate.gov), Florida Family Law Forms (flcourts.gov)