Filing for Divorce in Sumter County, Florida

The Villages is Sumter County's best-known community, but divorce cases are filed and heard at the Sumter County Judicial Center, 215 E McCollum Avenue in Bushnell, the county seat. Residents of The Villages, Wildwood, and Coleman all go through the same Bushnell building.

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

Sumter County charges $397.50 to file a standard dissolution. You can e-file through the clerk's own online services page or through the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal. Self-represented parties can still file on paper at the counter. Those who cannot pay may qualify for a fee waiver by filing an Affidavit of Insolvency.

Citrus, Hernando, and Lake counties in the same circuit staff in-person self-help offices. Sumter's Self-Help Center, by contrast, currently operates remote-only, with no walk-in office inside the courthouse.

Where you file in Sumter County, FL

Divorce cases in Sumter County, FL are handled by the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Sumter 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 Sumter 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 Sumter County, FL

Call the Sumter County Self-Help Center at (352) 569-6949 or email SumterFamilySelfHelp@circuit5.org. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with a lunch closure from noon to 1:00 p.m. The service is remote-only, so skip the walk-in visit to the Bushnell courthouse. Call or email ahead instead.

Staff hand out procedural information and checklists for dissolution, name change, paternity, adoption, and custody cases. They cannot give legal advice or predict how a judge will rule.

Parents with minor children still need a completed, state-approved parenting course certificate from the Department of Children and Families' statewide list. A Sumter County judge will not finalize the case without it.

Official divorce resources in Sumter County, FL

Sumter County Judicial Center handles divorce filings, located at 215 E McCollum Ave, Bushnell 33513. Phone: (352) 569-6949.

The filing fee is $397.50. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Also linked directly from sumterclerk.com's online-services e-filing page; self-represented parties may still file on paper at the counter, and a filing-fee waiver is available via an Affidavit of Insolvency.

Fifth Circuit Sumter County Self-Help Center (https://www.circuit5.org/self-help-center/sumter-county-self-help-center/) can help with procedure and paperwork. Currently remote-only service, Mon-Fri 8:00am-5:00pm (closed noon-1pm); phone (352) 569-6949 / SumterFamilySelfHelp@circuit5.org.

• Sumter County Clerk of Court
• Fifth Circuit Sumter County Self-Help Center
• 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.

Sumter County, FL Divorce FAQs