Filing for Divorce in Seminole County, Florida

Seminole County divorce cases are filed and heard at the Seminole Civil Courthouse, 301 N. Park Avenue in Sanford, the county seat. The courthouse also connects to the Dorothy Guess Self-Help Center, which goes further than a typical self-help office by offering low-cost attorney consultations in addition to form assistance.

A Seminole County divorce proceeds under Chapter 61 of the Florida Statutes as a dissolution of marriage. At least one spouse must have lived in Florida for the six months before filing, and the petition must state the marriage is irretrievably broken. Couples with no minor or dependent children, no pregnancy, and agreement on property and debts can use simplified dissolution on Florida Supreme Court Form 12.901(a), signed together before a deputy clerk.

The Seminole Clerk's own Divorce page lists the filing fee for a dissolution of marriage as $408.00, plus $10.00 per summons issued if the other spouse must be formally served. E-filing through the statewide portal is preferred; self-represented parties may still file in person at the Sanford courthouse or by mail to PO Box 8099, Sanford, FL 32772. A fee waiver under Florida Statute 57.082 is available for those who cannot pay.

Seminole shares the 18th Judicial Circuit with Brevard County and follows the same income-based mediation pricing structure, though scheduling for Seminole cases runs through a separate email address.

Where you file in Seminole County, FL

Divorce cases in Seminole County, FL are handled by the Eighteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Seminole 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 Seminole 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 Seminole County, FL

Reach the Dorothy Guess Self-Help Center at prose-shc@seminoleclerk.org or 407-665-4300. Spanish-language assistance is available separately through SeminoleSelfhelp@flcourts18.org or 407-665-4554. Beyond the usual form checklists, the center also connects filers to low-cost attorney consultations, a service most counties in this batch don't offer through their self-help program.

For mediation, Seminole uses the same 18th Circuit income-based pricing as Brevard: free for qualified indigents, $60 per party per session under $50,000 combined income, $120 per party per session for $50,000 to $100,000, and private mediation required above $100,000. Schedule Seminole family mediation through Mediation@flcourts18.org.

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

Official divorce resources in Seminole County, FL

Seminole Civil Courthouse handles divorce filings, located at 301 N. Park Avenue, Sanford 32771. Phone: 407-665-4300.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. E-filing via the portal is preferred; self-represented parties may still file in person at the Seminole Civil Courthouse or by mail (PO Box 8099, Sanford, FL 32772). Mandatory for attorneys under Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.525.

Dorothy Guess Self-Help Center (https://flcourts18.org/sem-family-pro-se/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Run via the Clerk's office; assists with family law forms and low-cost attorney consultations. prose-shc@seminoleclerk.org or 407-665-4300; Spanish-language help via SeminoleSelfhelp@flcourts18.org, 407-665-4554.

• Seminole County Clerk of Court
• Dorothy Guess Self-Help Center
• 18th Circuit Mediation Programs
• 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.

Seminole County, FL Divorce FAQs