How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Florida?

When you’re getting ready to go through a divorce, you have many things on your mind. How will divorce impact your family? How long will it take? And, of course — how much will it cost?

Wondering how much a divorce costs is a top concern for people as they start the process of legal separation.

Not knowing how a divorce will impact your finances can be stressful and make it more difficult to take the first step in the proceedings. If you are beginning the divorce process, we recommend getting details about costs right away.

How Much Does a Divorce Cost?

Unfortunately, there is no exact, set cost for a divorce. A reasonable average is about $5,000.00 to $15,000.00 per spouse, but this range can change based on a variety of factors that are unique to your situation.

To get an idea of how much a divorce will cost, consider the types of fees associated with your type of case. Standard divorce fees include:

• Filing fees and court costs: Costs associated with bringing your case to court.
• Mediation costs: Costs for a mediator should your case require divorce mediation.
• Lawyer costs: Cost to retain a lawyer to represent you during your case.

The cost of your divorce may also be impacted by factors such as:

• If children are involved. When children are involved, it may create a more complex case and require additional time in mediation and/or court to determine parental rights and visitation schedules.
• The number of and type of assets you have. To determine the value of your assets, you may need to pay to hire experts to assign value. For example, if you have a home, you may need to pay an appraiser or if you have a retirement plan, you may need a financial advisor to provide insight into how to split your funds.
• If the divorce is contested or uncontested. An uncontested divorce, when both sides agree to the terms of the divorce, will be cheaper to litigate than a contested divorce where terms need to be negotiated.
• Whether you and your spouse are able to compromise. If you and your spouse have a difficult time coming to a compromise, it may increase costs by leading to longer mediation sessions and potentially leading to a trial (which can be expensive).

Related: What Happens After Divorce Papers Are Served?  

How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Florida?

The cost to file for divorce changes by state. Consider the court costs in your state and county to get an idea of court costs and filing fees.

In Florida, the court costs associated with divorce may not be standard across all counties. You need to look at the costs for the specific country where you will be filling. To find the filing fees in your country, visit the county clerk’s website, and review the fee schedules as they relate to family law.

In most Florida counties, the cost to file a dissolution of marriage and annulment is $408.00.

If you can’t afford to pay the fee, you can submit a divorce filing fee waiver, which is called an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status. If approved by the court, the fee may be waived.

What’s the Cheapest Way to Get a Divorce?

The cheapest (and fastest) way to get a divorce in Florida is through a Simplified Divorce or Simplified Dissolution of Marriage. A Simplified Divorce expedites the process which decreases costs. You must meet the specific requirements to qualify for a Simplified Divorce, such as no minor children can be involved and the divorce must be uncontested.

Related: How to File for Divorce in Florida 

Find Out How Much Your Divorce Will Cost in Florida

The only way to truly know how much a divorce will cost in Florida is by talking to an attorney.

The details of your case and the rates of attorneys vary widely, so it will be difficult to know for sure how much the divorce will cost without talking to a divorce attorney.

Most divorce attorneys offer free consultations where they listen to the details of your case and give you a reasonable estimate of the cost of litigation. It’s one of the top discussions you should have as you go in for your first meeting with a divorce attorney.

If you are considering filing for divorce in Florida, find out what it will cost — and what to expect as you go through the process — by scheduling your free consultation with TJ Grimaldi. 

During your no-cost meeting, TJ will gather information about your case and help you understand what the associated costs will be. Don’t go blindly in a divorce proceeding. Get the information you need to confidently move forward. Schedule your free consultation or call 813-226-1023 today.