How much does a divorce cost in Florida? What you'll actually pay

Straight ranges, real court fees, and the honest factors that move the number. No “starting at,” no pressure.

Florida Bar members · Florida Supreme Court–certified family mediator · Orlando & Miami, serving Florida statewide

The short answer

In Florida, an uncontested divorce (legally a “dissolution of marriage”) typically costs $2,000 to $5,000 with an attorney, while a simplified case with no lawyer can run $500 to $1,500. Contested divorces cost far more. Everyone also pays a court filing fee of about $409 under Florida's family-law statute (Chapter 61).

What does a divorce cost in Florida, by type?

Type of divorce	Typical total cost (Florida)	Best for
Simplified dissolution (no lawyer)	$500 – $1,500	No children, no shared property, full agreement
Uncontested, with an attorney	$2,000 – $5,000	You agree on the big issues but want it done right
Mediated divorce	$3,500 – $7,500	A few disagreements you'd rather settle than fight
Contested divorce	$15,000 – $30,000+	Disputes over children, support, or assets that go to court

The single biggest factor in your final bill isn't the lawyer's rate. It's whether you and your spouse agree.

Florida court filing fees: filing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage costs about $409, plus about $10 for the summons and $40 to $50 to have your spouse formally served, paid to the Clerk of Court in your county. If money is tight, you can ask the court to waive these fees (Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status).

What drives the cost up

✓ You disagree on children, support, or property
✓ Hidden or hard-to-value assets (a business, a pension)
✓ High conflict, so lawyers trade letters for months
✓ Formal discovery and depositions
✓ It goes all the way to a trial

What brings the cost down

✓ You settle the big issues, even most of them
✓ You use mediation instead of a courtroom
✓ Both sides share financial documents early
✓ You qualify for the simplified or uncontested path
✓ You keep the lawyer for advice, not every errand

See the full divorce overview for the whole process.

How do divorce lawyer fees work in Florida?

Most Florida divorce lawyers charge either a flat fee for a simple uncontested case or an hourly rate (commonly $250 to $450 an hour) drawn against a retainer, money you pay up front that the firm bills against as it works. Ask whether any unused retainer is refundable.

A retainer is not the total cost. It's a deposit. The firm bills its time against it, and either asks you to top it up on a long case or returns what's left on a short one. The word you want to hear is “refundable.”

For a straightforward, agreed divorce, a flat fee is often cleaner: you know the number before you start. Ask any firm you talk to which structure fits your case, and get the answer in writing.

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Estimate your support numbers

Support often matters more to your budget than the divorce itself. Our free Florida alimony calculator and child support calculator give you a plain-English range in a couple of minutes. →

See the whole process

Cost is one piece. For timing, steps, and what happens to your home, your support, and your parenting plan, start at our Florida divorce overview. →

Common questions about the cost of divorce in Florida

How much does it cost to get a divorce if both parties agree in Florida?

When you agree on everything, you file an uncontested divorce. In Florida that usually runs about $2,000 to $5,000 with an attorney, or roughly $500 to $1,500 for a simplified dissolution with no lawyer. Everyone also pays the court filing fee of about $409.

Who pays for a divorce in Florida?

Each spouse usually pays their own attorney and shares filing costs. But under Florida's family-law statute (Chapter 61.16), a judge can order the higher-earning spouse to pay part of the other's fees so both sides can afford a lawyer. It is need-based, not a penalty.

How can I get a divorce cheaply in Florida?

The cheapest path is agreement. If you and your spouse settle every issue, you can use a simplified dissolution (about $500 to $1,500) or a flat-fee uncontested divorce. Mediation, a neutral settlement meeting, keeps costs down by avoiding a contested trial, which is what makes a divorce expensive.

How fast can a divorce happen in Florida?

An uncontested Florida divorce can finish in about 4 to 8 weeks after filing, though many counties add time. A contested case takes months to over a year. Florida has no long waiting period, but your spouse has about 20 days to respond after being served (Chapter 61).

Can you get divorced in Florida without going to court?

Often, yes. If your divorce is uncontested, most Florida judges finalize it with little or no court time, and some counties allow it entirely on paper. You typically only stand in front of a judge when you and your spouse cannot agree and the case becomes contested.

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Florida?

Florida law is gender-neutral. Either spouse may receive a fair share of marital property under equitable distribution, which isn't always a 50/50 split, plus alimony (support) if one spouse needs it and the other can pay. Property owned before the marriage generally stays separate (Chapter 61).

Reviewed by Raisa Romaelle, Esq. · Romaelle Family Law Group · Florida Bar No. 86810 · Florida Supreme Court–certified family mediator · Full bio →
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Get a straight answer about your divorce

Every divorce is priced by its facts. The fastest way to a real number is a short, free conversation:
1. Pick a time — Orlando, Miami, phone, or secure video.
2. Talk to an attorney about your situation and your budget.
3. Leave with a clear read on your likely path and cost, whether or not you hire us.