Updated July 2026
Filing for Divorce in Miami-Dade County, Florida
A plain-language guide to divorce in Miami-Dade County, FL, from the forms you file at the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Miami-Dade County to costs, timeline, and how to prepare your paperwork without hiring an attorney.
Divorce cases in Miami-Dade County are filed with the Clerk of the Courts and heard in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. Most filings happen at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 NW 1st Avenue, in downtown Miami. South Miami-Dade residents have a second option: the South Dade Justice Center in Cutler Bay also runs Family Court Self-Help Program services. You don't always need to travel downtown for help with your paperwork.
Florida Statutes chapter 61 governs every dissolution of marriage case in the state. The grounds, the six-month residency rule, and the forms stay the same whether you file in Miami-Dade or any other Florida county. What changes from county to county is where you file, how much local help costs, and which self-help resources exist.
The Eleventh Judicial Circuit's Family Court Self-Help Program is one of the more developed self-help operations in the state. It runs at two locations and offers intake consultations, help completing forms, and document review. The service fee runs roughly $40 to $125 depending on case type, separate from the clerk's filing fee. Filers who qualify as indigent can get that fee reduced or waived.
Self-represented parties in Miami-Dade can also file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com instead of appearing in person. Many people still prefer to bring paperwork to one of the two self-help locations for a document review before filing.
Where you file in Miami-Dade County, FL
Divorce cases in Miami-Dade County, FL are handled by the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade County, FL
The Family Court Self-Help Program keeps the same hours at both locations: 8:30am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm, Monday through Friday, closed on court holidays. Call ahead to either location at (305) 349-7800 before making the trip. Intake procedures can change, and some services require an appointment.
The clerk's filing fee to open a dissolution of marriage case in Miami-Dade County runs around $409. Confirm the current figure directly with the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts before you file. If you cannot afford it, ask the clerk about an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status under Florida Statutes section 57.082. It can waive or defer the filing fee, summons fee, and cost of service.
If your case involves minor children, both parents must complete the state-approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course before a judge will enter a final judgment. The petitioner generally has 45 days from filing, and the other parent has 45 days from being served. Couples with no minor or dependent children who agree on everything may qualify for Florida's simplified dissolution process instead of the regular uncontested track. It can move faster because both spouses attend a single final hearing together.
Official divorce resources in Miami-Dade County, FL
Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center handles divorce filings, located at 175 NW 1st Avenue, Miami 33128. Phone: 305-349-7800. South Dade Justice Center at 10710 SW 211th Street, Room 1400 handles Family Court Self-Help Program intake and services for South Miami-Dade residents.
The filing fee is $409. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal; self-represented filers may also file in person or by mail at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center or South Dade Justice Center.
Eleventh Judicial Circuit Family Court Self-Help Program (https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/Family-Court-Self-Help-Program) can help with procedure and paperwork. Two locations (Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, Room 2441, and South Dade Justice Center, Room 1400). Open 8:30am-12pm and 1pm-4pm Monday through Friday, closed court holidays. Offers intake and orientation, form packet completion assistance, document review, notarization, and procedural guidance. Cannot give legal advice. Service fees run $40 to $125 depending on case type, separate from the clerk's filing fee, with reduced or waived fees available for filers who qualify as indigent.
- Eleventh Judicial Circuit Family Court Self-Help Program
- Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts
- Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
- Fla. Stat. 61.031 - Simplified dissolution of marriage
Local details reviewed August 2026. Offices and locations can change, so confirm with the official sites above before you file.
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Miami-Dade County, FL Divorce FAQs
Where do I file for divorce in Miami-Dade County?
File with the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Courts. Your case is heard in the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. The Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center at 175 NW 1st Avenue in Miami is the main location. The South Dade Justice Center in Cutler Bay also offers Family Court Self-Help Program services if you're closer to South Miami-Dade. You can also e-file through myflcourtaccess.com.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Miami-Dade County?
The clerk's filing fee to open a dissolution of marriage case in Miami-Dade County runs around $409. Confirm the current amount with the Clerk of the Courts before filing. If you cannot afford it, apply for civil indigent status under Fla. Stat. 57.082 to have the fee waived or deferred.
Is there free or low-cost help filling out divorce forms in Miami-Dade County?
The Eleventh Judicial Circuit's Family Court Self-Help Program offers intake consultations, help completing forms, and document review at both the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center and the South Dade Justice Center. The service fee runs roughly $40 to $125 depending on case type. Fees can be reduced or waived for filers who qualify as indigent. The program cannot give legal advice.
Do I qualify for simplified dissolution in Miami-Dade County?
Simplified dissolution under Fla. Stat. 61.031 is available statewide, including in Miami-Dade. It applies only when both spouses agree the marriage is over, have no minor or dependent children together, the wife is not pregnant, property is already divided by agreement, and both spouses attend the final hearing together. If any of that doesn't fit your situation, use the regular uncontested dissolution track instead.
Can I e-file my Miami-Dade divorce case instead of going to the courthouse?
Yes. Self-represented parties can file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. You can also file in person or by mail at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center or the South Dade Justice Center if you prefer.
What happens if I have minor children in my Miami-Dade divorce?
Both parents must complete the state-approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course before the court will enter a final judgment, under Fla. Stat. 61.21. The petitioner generally has 45 days from filing, and the other parent has 45 days from being served, to finish the course and file proof of completion with the court.
This page is general information about Florida family law procedure in Miami-Dade County, FL, not legal advice for your situation. Court locations, fees, and filing details change; always confirm current details with the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Miami-Dade 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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