Filing for Divorce in Putnam County, Florida

File and hear Putnam County dissolution of marriage cases at the Putnam County Courthouse, 410 St. Johns Avenue, Room 126, in Palatka. That same room holds both the filing counter and the Seventh Circuit's Family Self-Help Program, a setup most counties in the circuit do not offer in one spot.

Chapter 61 of the Florida Statutes requires at least one spouse to have lived in Florida for the six months before filing, and the petition must state the marriage is irretrievably broken. Spouses with no minor or dependent children, no pregnancy, and agreement on property and debts can use simplified dissolution. They file together on Florida Supreme Court Form 12.901(a) and sign it before a deputy clerk.

The Putnam Clerk's own fee-schedule PDF lists $408.00 for dissolution of marriage, simplified dissolution, or annulment as one combined line item. E-filing through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal is available, and self-represented parties can still file on paper at the Palatka courthouse. Those who cannot pay may request a fee waiver under Florida Statute 57.082.

Putnam sits in the Seventh Judicial Circuit, along with Flagler, St. Johns, and Volusia. Under Administrative Order FM-2012-027-SC, family mediation there is judge-discretionary rather than automatic.

Where you file in Putnam County, FL

Divorce cases in Putnam County, FL are handled by the Seventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Putnam 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 Putnam 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 Putnam County, FL

Putnam County's Seventh Circuit Family Self-Help Program keeps set hours at the courthouse: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Call (386) 329-1911. Staff can walk self-represented litigants through proper court procedures and forms for divorce, custody, and related family matters. They cannot give legal advice.

When a judge refers a Putnam family case to mediation, the Seventh Circuit's fee structure applies. Combined household income under $50,000 pays $60 per person per session. Income between $50,000 and $99,999 pays $120 per person per session. Indigent parties pay nothing, and combined income of $100,000 or more requires private mediation.

Parents of minor children need a completed, state-approved parenting course certificate from the Department of Children and Families' statewide provider list before a Putnam County judge will finalize the case.

Official divorce resources in Putnam County, FL

Putnam County Courthouse handles divorce filings, located at 410 St. Johns Ave., Rm. 126, Palatka 32177. Phone: (386) 329-1911.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Filing fee confirmed at $408.00 directly from the clerk's own fee-schedule PDF, listed as 'Dissolution of Marriage, Simplified Dissolution, Annulment $408.00.'

Seventh Circuit Family Self-Help Program (Putnam) (https://circuit7.org/family-court-services/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Located at the Putnam County Courthouse, 410 St. Johns Ave., Rm. 126, Palatka; Mon-Fri 8am-noon and 1-5pm; assists with forms for divorce, custody, and related family matters.

• Putnam County Clerk of Court
• Seventh Circuit Family Self-Help Program
• Seventh Circuit Administrative Order FM-2012-027-SC
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• DCF Parenting Course Providers

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

Putnam County, FL Divorce FAQs