Filing for Divorce in Suwannee County, Florida

File Suwannee County divorce paperwork with the Suwannee County Clerk of Court at the county courthouse, 200 South Ohio Avenue in Live Oak, the county seat. The dissolution of marriage filing fee is $436.00, which includes a $28 records search fee. That fee sits in the typical range for Third Circuit clerks.

Suwannee stands out here: it publishes a full Family Law Handbook as a downloadable PDF on its own website. Most rural Third Circuit counties don't offer anything this detailed for self-represented filers. Find the handbook linked from both the Family Law and Divorce sections of suwgov.org.

The handbook covers Florida's statewide simplified dissolution track, Form 12.901(a). Spouses can use this track when they agree on ending the marriage and dividing property, neither wants alimony, there are no minor or dependent children, and both are willing to waive trial and appeal. Cases involving children or contested issues follow the standard process instead.

Suwannee also takes part in the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. That gives filers an electronic option alongside the handbook and in-person filing at the Live Oak courthouse.

Where you file in Suwannee County, FL

Divorce cases in Suwannee County, FL are handled by the Third Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Suwannee 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 Suwannee 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 Suwannee County, FL

Fla. Stat. 61.21's parenting course requirement applies in Suwannee just as it does statewide. Both parents in a case involving minor children must complete an approved course and file proof of completion before a judge enters a final judgment covering those children.

Contested Suwannee divorces generally fall under Florida's mediation referral rule, Fla. Stat. 61.183, with fees set on the state's income-based scale in Fla. Stat. 44.108. The Family Law Handbook answers many procedural questions, but it doesn't publish a current mediation fee table. Call the clerk's office directly once a case is referred to get that number.

Suwannee's Family Law Handbook goes further than what many neighboring counties publish. Read it in full before filing instead of relying only on the statewide Form 12.901 packets. It may include Suwannee-specific procedural notes beyond the statewide baseline.

Official divorce resources in Suwannee County, FL

Suwannee County Courthouse handles divorce filings, located at 200 South Ohio Avenue, Live Oak 32064.

The filing fee is $436. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, statewide.

Suwannee Clerk Family Law Handbook (https://www.suwgov.org/wp-content/uploads/Family-Law-Handbook-2020-Revision-Clean-Version-March-3-20211-1.pdf) can help with procedure and paperwork. Suwannee County Clerk's own Family Law Handbook PDF, linked from the Family Law and Divorce pages on suwgov.org.

• Suwannee County Clerk of Court
• Clerk of Court Fee Schedule (PDF)
• Family Law Handbook (PDF)
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal
• FloridaLawHelp.org

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

Suwannee County, FL Divorce FAQs