Filing for Divorce in Franklin County, Florida

Franklin County divorce cases go through the Franklin County Clerk of Court at the county courthouse, 33 Market Street, Suite 203, in Apalachicola, the small Gulf-coast city that serves as the county seat. Franklin does not post a dissolution of marriage filing fee anywhere on the clerk's website, so anyone planning to file should call the Clerk's Civil Division directly to confirm the current amount before showing up with payment.

The clerk's Family Law page describes the dissolution process in general terms and points self-represented litigants to the statewide Florida Supreme Court-approved forms on flcourts.org, along with self-help packets available for purchase in person at the Clerk's Civil Division rather than as a download from the county's own site.

Franklin is one of Florida's smallest and most rural counties by population, spread across Gulf-coast communities including Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Eastpoint, and St. George Island. That size means the clerk's office runs a leaner set of online resources than larger circuits, which is part of why several details here, including the filing fee, are marked unverified instead of stated as confirmed numbers.

Franklin is part of the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com, so self-represented filers across the county's coastal communities can submit paperwork electronically instead of driving to Apalachicola for every step.

Where you file in Franklin County, FL

Divorce cases in Franklin County, FL are handled by the Second Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County, FL

Fla. Stat. 61.21 applies in Franklin just as it does statewide: both parents in a case involving minor children must complete an approved parenting course and file proof of completion before a judge enters a final judgment covering those children.

Contested Franklin divorces generally fall under Florida's mediation referral rule, Fla. Stat. 61.183, with fees set by the state's income-based scale in Fla. Stat. 44.108, but no current, published fee table specific to Franklin County or the Second Circuit turned up on the official sites. Ask the clerk's office what the current mediation cost is once a case gets referred.

Since Franklin's own website doesn't publish a fee schedule, the most reliable way to get an exact current dissolution filing fee is a phone call to the Clerk's Civil Division at the Apalachicola courthouse, rather than relying on any number found online, including third-party estimates not sourced from the clerk directly.

Official divorce resources in Franklin County, FL

Franklin County Courthouse handles divorce filings, located at 33 Market Street, Suite 203, Apalachicola 32320.

E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, statewide.

Franklin Clerk Family Law (https://www.franklinclerk.com/courts/family-law/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Describes the dissolution of marriage process and points self-represented litigants to Florida Supreme Court-approved forms on flcourts.org and to self-help packets purchasable at the Clerk's Civil Division.

• Franklin County Clerk of Court
• Family Law
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• FloridaLawHelp.org

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

Franklin County, FL Divorce FAQs