Filing for Divorce in Pinellas County, Florida

If you are filing for divorce in Pinellas County, the case is heard at the Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater. The Clerk of Court also accepts paper filings at branch offices around the county, including St. Petersburg and North County. The dissolution of marriage filing fee is $408.

Pinellas is the more populous half of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which it shares with Pasco County. Both counties use the same circuit-approved family law forms and self-help resources. Self-represented litigants can e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, or bring paper forms to any clerk branch location, since e-filing is only required for attorneys.

Couples with no minor children together, no property left to divide, and no request for alimony can use Florida's simplified dissolution process and attend a single joint final hearing. Couples with minor children must each complete a parenting course before a judge will finalize the divorce, regardless of which process they use.

Pinellas County's own online self-help materials were not reachable for this guide. If you need in-person help completing forms, call the clerk's office or the circuit's self-help line to confirm current hours before you go.

Where you file in Pinellas County, FL

Divorce cases in Pinellas County, FL are handled by the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Pinellas 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 Pinellas 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 Pinellas County, FL

The Sixth Circuit, covering both Pinellas and Pasco, keeps its own set of locally approved family law forms beyond the statewide 12.9xx series, including hearing notice templates for motions to enforce or hold a party in contempt. Check the circuit's forms page before filing any post-judgment motion.

Mediation referrals in Pinellas family cases follow the same sliding income scale used circuit-wide, based on Fla. Stat. 44.108. The circuit's paperwork includes a specific Affidavit for Establishing Mediation Fees, which the mediation coordinator uses to set your cost once a case is referred.

Because Pinellas County spreads clerk services across Clearwater, St. Petersburg, and North County offices, confirm which building your hearing is actually in. The Clearwater Courthouse is the main hub for family law hearings, but filings and payments can be handled at any branch.

Official divorce resources in Pinellas County, FL

Pinellas County Courthouse (Clearwater Courthouse) handles divorce filings, located at 315 Court St., Clearwater 33756.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys under Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.525. Self-represented parties may file on paper at any Clerk office location, including the Clearwater Courthouse, the St. Petersburg branch, or the North County branch.

Legal Self Help Center (https://www.jud6.org/representing-yourself-in-court/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Reached through the Sixth Judicial Circuit's Representing Yourself in Court page, which links the Pinellas Clerk's own self-help materials and a Pinellas Courts Information & Resources guide. The Pinellas Clerk's dedicated Self-Help page blocked automated verification, so confirm current hours directly with the clerk.

• Sixth Judicial Circuit - Representing Yourself in Court
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status
• 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.

Pinellas County, FL Divorce FAQs