Filing for Divorce in Orange County, Florida

You file divorce cases in Orange County with the Clerk of Courts, and hearings take place at the Orange County Courthouse in downtown Orlando, 425 N. Orange Ave. The Clerk's Self-Help Center sits in Suite 340 on the 3rd floor of that courthouse. It's open weekdays from 7:30am to 4:00pm. Arrive by 3:00pm if you want help finishing paperwork the same day. The filing fee for a dissolution of marriage petition is $408.

If you represent yourself, you can file paper petitions at the courthouse or e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. E-filing is mandatory only for attorneys. A separate Family Court Case Management program, run under Fla. Stat. 29.004(10), also helps people without lawyers track deadlines and find forms. None of these programs can tell you what to write in your case.

Couples with no minor children together, no property left to divide, and no alimony request qualify for the simplified dissolution track, which needs just one joint final hearing. If you have minor children, both parents must finish a state-approved parenting course before the judge signs the final judgment.

If your case is contested, the Ninth Circuit's Dispute Resolution Services runs a family mediation program that sets fees by household income instead of charging a flat rate.

Where you file in Orange County, FL

Divorce cases in Orange County, FL are handled by the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Orange 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 Orange 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 Orange County, FL

Orange County's family mediation program, run through Dispute Resolution Services, charges $60 per party for one three-hour session when combined household income is under $50,000, and $120 per party for income between $50,000 and $100,000. Above that threshold, parties pick their own mediator or choose one from a court rotation list. The court can waive the fee for parties it certifies as indigent. Call the Orange County office at 407-836-2004 to schedule.

The Self-Help Center's same-day filing cutoff of 3:00pm matters if you're racing a deadline. You can still drop off paperwork after that time, but it may not get processed until the next business day.

Some family court self-help functions also run out of the Winter Park Courthouse, but the downtown Orlando courthouse stays the main hub for Orange County family filings. Confirm which building handles your specific hearing type before you go.

Official divorce resources in Orange County, FL

Orange County Courthouse handles divorce filings, located at 425 N. Orange Ave., Orlando 32801. Winter Park Courthouse at Winter Park, FL handles Some family law self-help services alongside the main Orlando courthouse; check with the Self-Help Center for which matters are handled there.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/. Self-represented parties may file in person at the Orange County Courthouse or e-file through the portal; e-filing is mandatory for attorneys.

Orange County Clerk Self-Help Center (https://www.myorangeclerk.com/Divisions/Self-Help-Center/Self-Help-Center) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located at the Orange County Courthouse, Suite 340, 3rd floor, 425 N. Orange Ave., Orlando, Monday through Friday 7:30am to 4:00pm; arrive by 3:00pm for same-day filing assistance. Offers form completion help, notarization, and copying for a low fee.

• Orange County Clerk Self-Help Center
• Ninth Circuit Family Court Case Management
• Ninth Circuit Dispute Resolution Services
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal

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

Orange County, FL Divorce FAQs