Updated July 2026
Filing for Divorce in Highlands County, Florida
A plain-language guide to divorce in Highlands County, FL, from the forms you file at the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Highlands County to costs, timeline, and how to prepare your paperwork without hiring an attorney.
The Pro Se Law Library sits in Room 102 of the Highlands County Courthouse at 430 S. Commerce Avenue in Sebring. It stocks more than 16 self-help checklists for family law filings, including a Dissolution with Children packet at $49.05 and a Simplified Dissolution packet at $18.50. The court filing fee for a dissolution of marriage petition is $408.
The Highlands Clerk's website also links TurboCourt, an online tool that walks self-represented filers through preparing dissolution paperwork step by step. It's an alternative to buying a printed packet in person. E-filing through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal remains available either way, though only attorneys must use it.
Simplified dissolution in Highlands applies only to couples with no minor or dependent children together, no property left to divide, and no alimony request; both spouses must attend one joint final hearing. Cases involving minor children require both parents to finish a state parenting course first.
Call the Pro Se Law Library at (863) 402-6565 if you're unsure which checklist fits your situation. Staff can point you to the right packet but can't fill it out for you.
Where you file in Highlands County, FL
Divorce cases in Highlands County, FL are handled by the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Highlands 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 Highlands 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:
- File a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the circuit court.
- Serve your spouse, or, if you are filing together and agree on all terms, file jointly and skip service.
- 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).
- Reach a Marital Settlement Agreement, or ask the court to decide contested issues.
- 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 Highlands County, FL
Highlands belongs to the Tenth Judicial Circuit along with Hardee and Polk counties, and shares the circuit's mediation referral process and virtual hearing setup. The circuit's self-help website lists Zoom and Teams tutorials for anyone with a remote hearing.
The Pro Se Law Library's checklist system is more detailed than in some neighboring counties, with separate packets and fees for dissolution with or without children, name change, paternity, custody, and modification of support or alimony. Fees are generally not refundable, so buying the wrong packet wastes money. Confirm the right one with library staff before you buy.
Highlands' packet fees are modest next to the $408 filing fee: Simplified Dissolution runs $18.50, and Dissolution with Children runs $49.05, reflecting the larger set of forms required when children are part of the case.
Official divorce resources in Highlands County, FL
Highlands County Courthouse handles divorce filings, located at 430 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring 33870. Phone: (863) 402-6565.
The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/. The clerk's site also links TurboCourt, an interactive online tool for self-preparing dissolution forms with or without dependent children, as an alternative to buying a paper packet.
Pro Se Law Library (https://www.highlandsclerkfl.gov/clerk_to_the_court/pro_se____law_library/self_help_checklists_and_forms.php) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located at the Highlands County Courthouse, Room 102, 430 S. Commerce Ave, Sebring. Offers more than 16 self-help checklists covering simplified and contested dissolution, name change, paternity, custody, and support or alimony modification, plus a packet fee schedule, for example Dissolution with Children $49.05 and Simplified Dissolution $18.50. Phone (863) 402-6565.
- Highlands Clerk - Pro Se Law Library
- Tenth Judicial Circuit Self-Help
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
- DCF Parent Education Course Providers
Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.
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Highlands County, FL Divorce FAQs
Where do I file for divorce in Highlands County?
File your dissolution of marriage petition with the Highlands County Clerk at the Highlands County Courthouse, 430 S. Commerce Avenue, Sebring, FL 33870. The Pro Se Law Library in Room 102 sells the matching self-help packet; reach them at (863) 402-6565. The court filing fee is $408, and packet fees are separate, varying by case type.
How much is a simplified divorce packet in Highlands County?
The Highlands Clerk's Simplified Dissolution packet costs $18.50 at the Pro Se Law Library, separate from the $408 court filing fee. It fits only couples with no minor or dependent children together, no property left to divide, and no alimony request, where both spouses attend the final hearing together.
What does a Highlands County divorce with children cost to file?
The Dissolution with Children packet at the Highlands Clerk's Pro Se Law Library costs $49.05, on top of the $408 court filing fee. Any case with minor children also requires both parents to complete a state-approved parenting course and file proof of it before a judge enters the final judgment.
Can I prepare Highlands County divorce forms online?
Yes. The Highlands Clerk's website links TurboCourt, an interactive tool that walks self-represented filers through preparing dissolution of marriage forms, with or without dependent children, no courthouse visit needed first. You can still e-file the finished forms through the statewide portal, or print them and file on paper.
Is mediation required for a Highlands County divorce?
Contested family cases in the Tenth Circuit, including Highlands, can be referred to mediation as part of case management. The circuit's self-help site lists mediation services alongside forms and virtual hearing tutorials. Ask the Pro Se Law Library or your case manager whether your case was referred, and what it will cost.
Do I need a parenting class to finalize a Highlands County divorce?
Yes, when minor children are involved. Fla. Stat. 61.21 requires both parents to complete a Department of Children and Families approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course, and file proof with the court before the judge signs the final judgment. This is generally due within 45 days of filing or being served.
This page is general information about Florida family law procedure in Highlands County, FL, not legal advice for your situation. Court locations, fees, and filing details change; always confirm current details with the Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Highlands County or the official Florida family court self-help program resources. Virdix is not a law firm and is not a substitute for an attorney.
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