Category Archives: Florida

Florida DIY Divorce Forms

Florida’s DIY divorce forms on the Florida Courts website.  Like most states, Florida has many divorce forms available on the web.  This page will help you figure out which forms you will need for your particular situation.

The Florida Courts website first wants you to read the Getting Started page.  If you read this whole page, and read all the things they tell you to read on the page, you will almost certainly give up on your DIY divorce.

You will either hire a lawyer, or you will put off getting a divorce for a while longer, until you decide you can afford a divorce lawyer. You may also just wait for your husband  or wife to file for divorce, and then hope for the best.

First things first – Residency requirement for filing for divorce in Florida

Before you even try to file your own divorce, you must make sure that you meet the residency requirement.  You will have to prove to the court that you (or your wife/husband) has lived in Florida for more than 6 months before filing for divorce. Residence can be proved with a valid Florida driver’s license, Florida identification card, or voter registration card issued to one of you at least 6 months prior to filing.  There are other ways to do it too, but if you need those things, you should probably hire a lawyer.

Which divorce forms should you use to file for divorce in Florida?

There are different forms for different situations.

Simplified Dissolution of Marriage

You can use these forms if:

  • You and your spouse agree that the marriage cannot be saved.
  • You and your spouse have no minor or dependent child(ren) together,
  • The wife does not have any minor or dependent children born during the marriage, and the wife is not now pregnant.
  • You and your spouse agree on how the two of you will divide your things, and who will pay what debts that you you owe.
  • Neither of you wants alimony
  • You are willing to give up your right to trial and appeal.
  • You and your spouse are both willing to go into the clerk’s office to sign the petition (not necessarily together), and
  • You and your spouse are both willing to go to the final hearing at the same time.

If you answered yes to all of the above, then you need the following forms:

  1. Petition For Simplified Dissolution Of Marriage
  2. Marital Settlement Agreement for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage

If you and your husband/wife do not agree on all these things, then you can still find all the forms here, but things will get complicated.  Furthermore, if you and your spouse don’t agree on everything, and you have minor children, or handicapped children, then you really should get yourself an attorney.

If you do not think you can afford an attorney, then you should look for legal aid organizations here.

Here are some books about Florida divorce: