How Long Does a Divorce Take in Florida?

How Long Does a Divorce Take in Florida?

The short answer: anywhere from 30 days to 18 months or longer. The actual timeline depends on which dissolution path your case follows and whether both spouses cooperate. Here are the realistic timelines for each path, plus the specific deadlines that either speed up or stall your case.

Florida's 20-Day Waiting Period

Every Florida divorce — regardless of type — is subject to a minimum 20-day waiting period from the date you file (Fla. Stat. § 61.19). The judge cannot sign your final judgment before those 20 days have passed, even if both spouses agree on everything. Unlike some states with 60-day or 90-day cooling-off periods, Florida's waiting period is one of the shortest in the country.

Timeline by Dissolution Path

Simplified Dissolution: 30 to 60 days. This is the fastest track. There is no service of process (both spouses sign the joint petition), no mandatory financial disclosures, and no required settlement agreement filing. The only bottleneck is scheduling the final hearing after the 20-day waiting period.

Regular Uncontested: 30 to 90 days. The additional time comes from three mandatory steps after filing: serving your spouse (which starts a 20-day response clock), exchanging financial disclosures (a 45-day deadline), and completing the parent education course if children are involved (also 45 days). If everyone hits their deadlines, the case can finalize in about 60 days.

Default Dissolution: 45 to 90 days. When a served spouse does not respond within 20 days, the petitioner can file for a default. The clerk processes the default, and the court schedules a hearing where only the petitioner appears. Administrative processing time accounts for the extra weeks.

Contested Dissolution: 9 to 18+ months. Contested cases involve discovery (document subpoenas, depositions), mandatory mediation, potentially multiple court hearings, and possibly a full trial. The more issues in dispute — custody, alimony, business valuations, hidden assets — the longer the case takes.

The Deadlines That Control Your Timeline

These are the hard deadlines built into Florida law. Missing any one of them adds weeks or months:

• 120 days: You must complete service of process on your spouse within 120 days of filing, or the court may dismiss your case
• 20 days: Your spouse must file a response within 20 days of being served
• 45 days: Both parties must exchange mandatory financial disclosures within 45 days of service
• 45 days: Both parents must complete the DCF-approved parenting class within 45 days (petitioner from filing; respondent from service)

What Actually Causes Delays

The legal deadlines above are the minimum timeline. In reality, cases stall because of:

• Difficulty serving your spouse. If your spouse avoids service or cannot be found, you may need constructive service (publication in a newspaper for four consecutive weeks), adding at least a month.
• Financial disclosure disputes. If one spouse fails to produce their financial affidavit on time, the other can file a Motion to Compel — but the hearing adds weeks to the calendar.
• Court scheduling. In busy circuits like Miami-Dade or Broward, final hearings may not be available for several weeks after all paperwork is complete.
• Mediation. If any issues are unresolved, the court orders mediation before scheduling a trial. Mediation itself is usually one session, but scheduling it and following up can add two to four months.

How to Keep Your Case on Track

The biggest time savings come from hitting every deadline on the first attempt. Filing the wrong form, missing the financial disclosure window, or serving your spouse improperly can each add 30 to 60 days to your case. The Florida Divorce Filing Process Guide includes a deadline tracker that maps every critical date from your filing day forward so nothing slips.

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