Filing for Divorce in Walton County, Florida

File a Walton County divorce with the Walton County Clerk of Court. Use the main courthouse at 571 US Highway 90 East in DeFuniak Springs, or the south annex at 31 Coastal Centre Blvd in Santa Rosa Beach, near the Gulf coast. The clerk's divorce page lists a $408.00 filing fee for dissolution of marriage, plus $10.00 to issue summons for each defendant and $40.00 for sheriff service within Florida.

Walton County stretches a long way, from the inland county seat at DeFuniak Springs down to the beach communities around Santa Rosa Beach and Miramar Beach. That's why the clerk keeps a second office in the south end of the county instead of making every filer travel to DeFuniak Springs.

The clerk's Court Self-Help page offers four divorce packet options: a simplified dissolution track, a standard dissolution with no dependent or minor children and no property to divide, a standard dissolution with dependent or minor children, and a standard dissolution with property but no dependent or minor children. This range lets self-represented filers pick a packet that matches their situation instead of using one generic form.

Walton participates in the statewide Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com. Paperwork can be filed electronically from either end of the county, so an in-person trip to one specific office isn't required.

Where you file in Walton County, FL

Divorce cases in Walton County, FL are handled by the First Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, Walton 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 Walton 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 Walton County, FL

Fla. Stat. 61.21 applies in Walton just as it does statewide: both parents in a case involving minor children must complete a state-approved parenting course and file proof of completion before a judge signs a final judgment covering those children.

Walton's clerk notes that mediation fees may apply on top of the base $408.00 filing fee. This follows Florida's statewide mediation referral rule in Fla. Stat. 61.183 and the income-based fee scale in Fla. Stat. 44.108. The clerk's page doesn't list a specific per-session dollar amount, so ask about current mediation costs when your case is referred.

Walton has both a DeFuniak Springs courthouse and a Santa Rosa Beach annex, and the county covers a wide stretch of the Panhandle. Call ahead to confirm which office is handling your filing, hearing, or mediation session before you travel, especially if you're coming from the coastal side of the county.

Official divorce resources in Walton County, FL

Walton County Courthouse handles divorce filings, located at 571 US Highway 90 East, DeFuniak Springs 32433. Walton County Annex at 31 Coastal Centre Blvd handles South Walton services and filings.

The filing fee is $408. E-filing is available through https://www.myflcourtaccess.com. Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, statewide.

Walton Clerk Court Self-Help (https://waltonclerkfl.gov/court-self-help) can help with procedure and paperwork. Offers four divorce packet options: simplified, no dependent/minor children or property, with dependent/minor children, and with property but no dependent/minor children.

• Walton County Clerk of Court
• Court Self-Help
• Divorce Information
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal

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

Walton County, FL Divorce FAQs