Florida lets you end a marriage without blaming anyone. If you and your spouse agree on everything, the simplified track is the fastest, lowest-cost way to do it.
A few statutes and one procedural rule do most of the work. Here’s what each one controls.
Residency. One spouse must have lived in Florida for at least 6 months before the petition is filed.
Grounds. A divorce is granted when the marriage is “irretrievably broken” (or one spouse has been mentally incapacitated for 3 years). No fault required.
The simplified-dissolution procedure — the streamlined path for couples who agree on everything and have no minor children.
Equitable distribution. The standard courts use to divide marital property and debt — the framework your settlement agreement should follow.
Every box below must be checked. Miss even one, and Florida requires the regular dissolution process instead.
Rule 12.105 & Form 12.901(a)
These are the current Florida Supreme Court–approved family law forms. The petition was last revised 06/2025.
Run through the checklist above. If any box doesn’t apply, you’ll use the regular dissolution path.
Have a Florida driver license, state ID, or voter card issued at least 6 months ago — or line up a corroborating witness (Form 12.902(i)).
Both spouses fill out and sign Form 12.901(a). On the petition you’ll indicate whether you’re filing financial affidavits or waiving them.
Either file a financial affidavit each (12.902(b) or (c)) or file the joint waiver (12.902(k)).
If you have any property or debts to divide, both spouses sign the Marital Settlement Agreement (12.902(f)(3)).
File everything with the clerk of the circuit court in your county and pay the filing fee. (Confirm the current amount with your county clerk; fee waivers are available for those who qualify.)
The clerk or court sets a short hearing. Both spouses must appear at the same time.
If the paperwork is in order, the judge signs the Final Judgment of Simplified Dissolution (12.990(a)) and your marriage is dissolved.
Every form listed above is published by the Florida Courts at no cost. You can download, read, and file them yourself directly from the state.
Get the free court forms at flcourts.gov →“No-fault” and “simplified” are not the same thing. Every Florida divorce is no-fault — but the simplified track has strict extra requirements. The biggest trade-off: in a simplified dissolution you give up your right to a trial and an appeal, and once the property division is final it’s very hard to reopen. If there’s any disagreement about money, property, or support, the regular process protects you better — even though it takes longer.
It varies by county and court calendar. Florida has no mandatory waiting period for the simplified track, so once your paperwork is filed and a final hearing is scheduled, many couples finish within a few weeks to a couple of months. Your county clerk can tell you how hearings are scheduled locally.
No. If you have any minor or dependent children together (or the wife is pregnant), you must use the regular dissolution process, which includes a parenting plan and child support. See our articles on Parenting Plans & Time Sharing and Child Support in Florida.
Yes. The simplified process requires both spouses to attend the final hearing together. There is no default judgment — if one spouse won’t participate, the simplified track isn’t available and you’d file a regular petition.
In a simplified dissolution, yes — if you both agree. You file Form 12.902(k), the Notice of Joint Verified Waiver of Filing Financial Affidavits, instead of each completing an affidavit. Otherwise, each spouse files the short (12.902(b)) or long (12.902(c)) form based on income.
Yes. The joint petition (12.901(a)) includes a box where each spouse can ask to be restored to a former name as part of the divorce, so a separate name-change case usually isn’t needed. See our Florida Adult Name Change article for details.
The simplified track requires full agreement. A single open issue — who keeps a vehicle, how to split a debt, whether anyone gets alimony — pushes you into the regular process. Many couples in that spot use a limited-scope (unbundled) attorney to resolve the one issue and keep the rest do-it-yourself.
The court forms are always free to file yourself. If you’d rather have your paperwork prepared and ready to sign, we offer two options.
JusticeXpress Florida is a non-attorney legal document preparation service. We prepare the documents you select and provide general published legal information. We are not a law firm and cannot give legal advice or select forms for you. The Document Review option connects you with an independent licensed Florida attorney for that limited review.
This article provides general legal information for Florida residents and is not legal advice. Laws and court forms change; confirm current requirements with the Florida Courts or your county clerk. JusticeXpress Florida is a non-attorney legal document preparation service and is not a substitute for an attorney. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Florida attorney.