Filing for Divorce in Sarasota County, Florida

Sarasota County splits its family court resources between two buildings. Dissolution of marriage cases are heard at the Sarasota County Courthouse, 2000 Main Street. Self-represented parties get help with paperwork a few miles away at the Twelfth Judicial Circuit's Self Help Center and Law Library, 2002 Ringling Blvd. The filing fee for a dissolution petition is $397.50.

The Self Help Center and Law Library is open weekdays 8am to 4:30pm, closed for lunch from noon to 1pm. Appointments are recommended, though walk-ins are accepted; call (941) 861-8191 to book. You can also bring forms directly to Customer Service at the courthouse for review and notarization, or e-file through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

Couples with no minor children together, property already divided, and no alimony request can use the simplified dissolution process and attend one joint final hearing. Families with minor children need both parents to finish a parenting course before a judge signs the final judgment.

Sarasota's Ringling Boulevard office is the largest self-help hub in the Twelfth Circuit, so it also handles questions from Manatee and DeSoto residents.

Where you file in Sarasota County, FL

Divorce cases in Sarasota County, FL are handled by the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Sarasota 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 Sarasota 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 Sarasota County, FL

The Sarasota County Courthouse, where hearings happen, is not the same building as the circuit's Self Help Center and Law Library on Ringling Boulevard, where you get help with forms. They sit a few miles apart. Bringing paperwork to the wrong building wastes a trip.

The Self Help Center serves the whole Twelfth Circuit, not just Sarasota residents, so appointment slots can book up. Calling ahead or using the online booking system on the clerk's site works better than a same-day walk-in, especially close to a filing deadline.

Sarasota's $397.50 filing fee matches Manatee's rather than the $408 figure seen in most other Florida counties in this guide. Fee schedules are set by statute and can change, so confirm the current amount with Customer Service before you pay.

Official divorce resources in Sarasota County, FL

Sarasota County Courthouse handles divorce filings, located at 2000 Main Street, Sarasota 34237.

The filing fee is $397.50. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com/. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal; self-represented parties may also bring forms to Customer Service at the Clerk's Office for review and notarization.

Family Court Self-Help (Pro Se) (https://www.sarasotaclerk.com/Courts/Family-Court/Family-Court-Self-Help-Pro-Se) can help with procedure and paperwork. Listed alongside divorce, child support, restraining orders, adoption, name change, paternity, and guardianship services on the clerk's site. The Twelfth Circuit's own Self Help Center and Law Library sits at a separate address, 2002 Ringling Blvd, 1st Floor, Sarasota, open Monday through Friday 8am to 4:30pm (closed for lunch noon to 1pm), phone (941) 861-8191, appointments recommended.

• Sarasota Clerk - Family Court Self-Help (Pro Se)
• Twelfth Judicial Circuit Self-Help Center
• 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.

Sarasota County, FL Divorce FAQs