Sample packet · Florida
A sample Florida divorce packet
This is what we put in front of someone who is about to start a Florida divorce without a lawyer: which route applies, which forms go with which answers, what happens in what order, what it costs, and worksheets to fill in before any meeting. If you work with people going through a divorce, you can print it and hand it over as it is. Sections 1 to 4 come from our Florida guide, Divorce in Florida, start to finish, where each figure carries its source. Sources last checked 14 September 2026, so check the clerk’s current fee schedule before you quote a number to anyone.
1. Which route
| Route | Core forms | What is different |
|---|---|---|
| Simplified dissolution | 12.901(a) petition, 12.990(a) final judgment | Available only if all of these are true: no minor or dependent children, the wife is not pregnant, and no minor child was born during the marriage; assets and debts are already divided and both agree how; neither spouse seeks alimony; both sign the petition and both appear at the final hearing together (rule 12.105(b)). No service of process and no mandatory disclosure. Florida’s free guided tool, DIY Florida, covers it but not the route with children. In Miami-Dade both spouses are expected to appear together to file. |
| Regular dissolution | One of 12.901(b)(1), (b)(2) or (b)(3), matched to children and property | The route for every case the simplified conditions do not cover. Most regular dissolutions in Florida are agreed and self-represented; the machinery differs, not the outcome. Service, a 45-day disclosure exchange and a final hearing apply. |
Before either route, one spouse must have lived in Florida for 6 months before filing. Filing under the simplified route without meeting every condition is the most expensive mistake: those petitions get rejected and the case starts over.
2. Forms that depend on the answers
| If | Add |
|---|---|
| Minor children | 12.902(d) UCCJEA affidavit; 12.902(e) child support guidelines worksheet (it cannot be waived, even when the amount and equal time-sharing are agreed); 12.995(a) parenting plan; 12.902(f)(1) marital settlement agreement; 12.990(b)(1) final judgment |
| Property, no children | 12.902(f)(2) marital settlement agreement; 12.990(b)(2) final judgment |
| No property, no children | 12.990(b)(3) final judgment |
| Spouse will cooperate with service | 12.903(a) answer and waiver, notarized and dated after the petition. Saves the $40 service cost. |
| Spouse will not, or you are unsure | 12.910(a) summons and 12.910(b) process service memorandum; the spouse then has 20 days to answer |
| Income under $50,000 | 12.902(b) short-form financial affidavit |
| Income $50,000 or over | 12.902(c) long-form financial affidavit |
Every regular case also needs 12.928 cover sheet, 12.902(j) notice of Social Security number, 12.915 designation of mailing and e-mail address, 12.900(h) notice of related cases, 12.932 certificate of compliance with mandatory disclosure, and 12.999 final disposition form. If a spouse has no Florida license, ID or voter registration at least 6 months old, 12.902(i) affidavit of corroborating witness is needed as well.
3. The order it happens in (regular route)
| Step | When | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Prove residency | Before filing | None |
| File the petition packet in the county circuit court | Day one | $397.50 to $409 depending on the county; most clerks charge $408 |
| Serve the spouse, or get the answer and waiver | After filing; 20 days to answer | $40 sheriff, $0 if the spouse signs the waiver |
| Exchange financial documents (17 categories, exchanged with each other, not filed); file the certificate | Within 45 days | None |
| Parenting course, if there are children | Within 45 days | About $20 to $70 per parent (our estimate) |
| Wait 20 days from filing (section 61.19, unless the court finds injustice) | 20 days | None |
| Notice of hearing 12.923, then the final hearing | After the 20 days and disclosure | None |
Typical all-in cost for people doing it themselves: $430 to $530. Filing through the court Portal adds a 3.5% card surcharge, about $14 on a $408 fee.
4. What we could not settle for you
Which forms a specific case needs depends on facts only the person and their lawyer know. Five forms (12.915, 12.900(h), DH513, 12.902(k), 12.923) have no direct links published by the state, so we list them by number. Always check the current form revision and the clerk’s fee before filing.
5. Florida worksheets
Sections 5 and 6 are prep sheets, not court forms. They are not filed with any court.
Date-sequence checks (the three that get filings rejected)
| Check | Done? |
|---|---|
| The corroborating witness affidavit is not dated before the day of filing | |
| The spouse’s Answer and Waiver is not dated before the petition | |
| The ID used for residency was issued more than six months before filing, not just valid now | |
| Alimony is requested in the petition if it is wanted |
Deadline tracker
| Item | Rule | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Petition filed | Day one | |
| Spouse’s answer due (if served) | 20 days after service | |
| Earliest final judgment | 20 days after filing | |
| Disclosure exchanged and 12.932 filed | Within 45 days | |
| Parenting course certificates (if children) | Within 45 days | |
| Final hearing, 12.923 filed | After the above |
6. Mandatory disclosure checklist (rule 12.285)
Seventeen categories, exchanged between the spouses and not filed. This list is our short paraphrase of Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.285(e); read the rule itself for the exact wording.
| # | Category | Have it? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Financial affidavit (12.902(b) or (c)) and the documents supporting its figures | |
| 2 | Federal, state, gift and foreign tax returns, past 3 years | |
| 3 | W-2, 1099 and K-1 forms for the past year if that return is not prepared, and prior years if unfiled | |
| 4 | Pay stubs or other proof of earned income, prior 6 months | |
| 5 | Statement of income amount and source for the prior 6 months, if not on pay stubs | |
| 6 | Loan applications, financial statements, credit reports and financial aid forms, prior 24 months | |
| 7 | Deeds (3 years), promissory notes owed to either party (24 months), and leases involving payments or ownership | |
| 8 | Checking and other account statements, last 12 months, with canceled checks where applicable | |
| 9 | Brokerage statements, last 12 months | |
| 10 | Retirement, profit-sharing and pension statements, plus the summary plan description | |
| 11 | Virtual currency statements, last 12 months, and a list of current holdings | |
| 12 | Life insurance declarations, statements and certificates, plus current health and dental cards | |
| 13 | Corporate, partnership and trust tax returns, last 3 years, where the party has an interest | |
| 14 | Promissory notes showing debt (24 months), credit card and charge statements, current leases | |
| 15 | Premarital or marital agreements, non-paternity affidavits or disestablishment judgments, and in modifications any agreements since the prior order | |
| 16 | Documents supporting claims that an asset or debt is nonmarital, or supporting enhancement or unequal distribution | |
| 17 | Court orders to pay or receive spousal or child support |
7. Generic prep sheets
Two-household monthly budget
| Item | Today (one household) | After: me | After: spouse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing | |||
| Utilities | |||
| Food | |||
| Transportation | |||
| Insurance and health | |||
| Children | |||
| Debt payments | |||
| Total |
Meeting prep sheet
| Question for the meeting | Answer or next step |
|---|---|
| What do I most need decided first? | |
| What deadlines am I already facing? | |
| What am I unsure I can afford? | |
| What documents am I still missing? |
Sources last checked 14 September 2026. The 17-category list was read from the text of rule 12.285 in November 2026. Spot something out of date? Email hello@thecusp.app. Full source list: Divorce in Florida, start to finish.
What would you change? Reply with the two edits that would make this more useful to you: hello@thecusp.app.