Filing for Divorce in Clay County, Florida

Clay County divorce cases are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court and heard by circuit judges at the Judge William A. Wilkes Judicial Complex in Green Cove Springs. The complex sits at 825 North Orange Avenue. It houses the county's only circuit civil counter, so every dissolution of marriage petition for Clay County passes through that building, whether filed on paper or through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

Florida calls a divorce a dissolution of marriage, governed by Chapter 61 of the Florida Statutes. To file in Clay County, at least one spouse must have lived in Florida for the six months before filing. The petition must state that the marriage is irretrievably broken. Couples with no minor or dependent children, no pregnancy, and full agreement on dividing property and debts can use the simplified dissolution process under Florida Supreme Court Form 12.901(a). Both spouses sign that form together in front of a deputy clerk.

Clay County's fee schedule lists a range for Chapter 61 filings, $408.00 to $411.50, rather than one flat number. A self-represented filer should call Civil Court Services at (904) 284-6302 to confirm the exact total for a standard petition before showing up with a check or money order. People who cannot afford the fee can apply for a waiver under Florida Statute 57.082, through the clerk's Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status.

Attorneys must e-file through myflcourtaccess.com, the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. A self-represented spouse can still bring paper documents to the counter in Green Cove Springs, or mail them in.

Where you file in Clay County, FL

Divorce cases in Clay County, FL are handled by the Fourth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Clay County. Because courthouse locations, hours, filing fees, and electronic filing options change over time and can differ between branches, use the Florida court clerk directory to confirm the current address and filing details for your case:

Find the Clay County, FL Clerk of Court (Florida court clerk directory)

The Florida divorce process, step by step

Florida calls divorce "dissolution of marriage," governed statewide by Florida Statutes chapter 61. At least one spouse generally must have lived in Florida for six months before filing (Fla. Stat. 61.021). The core steps are:

1. File a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the circuit court.
2. Serve your spouse, or, if you are filing together and agree on all terms, file jointly and skip service.
3. Exchange mandatory financial disclosure, including a Financial Affidavit (Florida Supreme Court approved family law form 12.902(b) or 12.902(c) depending on income).
4. Reach a Marital Settlement Agreement, or ask the court to decide contested issues.
5. Attend a mandatory parenting course if you have minor children and your circuit requires one, then submit your final paperwork for the judge to enter a Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage.

The clerk's filing fee to open a dissolution case is generally around $409, and an application for civil indigent status is available if you cannot afford it (Fla. Stat. 57.082). Florida does not use a fixed statewide waiting period from filing to final judgment the way some states do; timing depends on your circuit's calendar, whether the case is contested, and how quickly required steps like financial disclosure are completed. Couples who agree on every term, have no minor children, and meet certain conditions may qualify for Florida's simplified dissolution of marriage process, which is faster.

Local notes for Clay County, FL

Clay County shares its self-help resources with Duval and Nassau counties through the Fourth Judicial Circuit's Family Court Services Self-Help page. That page posts checklists and form packets; it does not run a walk-in office inside the Clay courthouse. The Clay County Clerk also sells ready-made dissolution-of-marriage packets over the counter, built around the same Florida Supreme Court forms, for filers who want the paperwork bundled together.

If the case is contested, expect a referral into the Fourth Circuit's Alternative Dispute Resolution Unit for mediation. The circuit's own materials describe litigants as court ordered into the program, not merely asked. The unit's Clay County contact line is (904) 529-3783. The office does not publish its mediation fee online, so confirm cost at intake rather than assume it matches Duval's rate.

Parents of minor children must complete a state-approved parenting course before the court enters a final judgment. Pick a provider from the Department of Children and Families' statewide list; Clay County does not run its own. The courthouse in Green Cove Springs is the only circuit civil location in the county, so build in drive time from Fleming Island or Orange Park for any in-person hearing.

Official divorce resources in Clay County, FL

Judge William A. Wilkes Judicial Complex handles divorce filings, located at 825 North Orange Avenue, Green Cove Springs 32043. Phone: (904) 284-6302.

E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal is mandatory for attorneys; self-represented parties may still file paper documents at the Clay County Clerk's civil counter in Green Cove Springs.

Fourth Judicial Circuit Family Court Services Self-Help (https://www.jud4.org/family-court-services/self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Serves Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties; the Clay County Clerk also sells prepared dissolution-of-marriage packets over the counter for self-represented filers.

• Clay County Clerk of Court
• Clay Clerk Circuit Court Civil Fees
• Fourth Circuit Family Court Services Self-Help
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• DCF Parenting Course Providers

Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.

Clay County, FL Divorce FAQs