How to file for a Divorce in Alachua County

In order to file for divorce in Alachua County without a divorce attorney can be done as long as one of the parties have lived in the State of Florida for the last 6 months which is proven with a driver’s license or an Affidavit of Witness.

We are legal document preparers with experience completing dissolution of marriage documentation. Our aim is to make the divorce process easier while keeping legal costs down.

Our goal is to assist you with the process in a professional manner.

How much is a divorce?

Our fees vary on the complexity of the divorce. We base our pricing on how long we estimate we will spend typing the forms, preparing them for e-filing and mailing expenses.

We are not attorneys, therefore we are able to keep costs down because we concentrate on the process. Click on the button below to get a quote and have someone from our office contact you and explain our process and divorce options available to you based on your situation.

If you are low income, no income or receive government assistance or are in social security we will assist you to get the court filing fee waived, a savings of $408.

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What is a divorce process?

There are 9 options and it all will depend on your particular situation. Below are the scenarios with a simple explanation of what it entails.

Simple Divorce in Mutual Agreement

When there are no minor children and no property, joint bills, alimony or any other financial ties between both parties.

Both parties must be in a good headspace in order for both parties to sign the divorce documents prior to filing in the courthouse.

Couples qualifying for this type of divorce can file for a Simplified dissolution of marriage however with this option both parties will need to file the divorce together at the courthouse and attend a hearing together as well. The benefit of this option is that there will be no financial affidavit from either party required.

When opting for just the Simple dissolution of marriage both parties need to complete financial statements however only the petitioner will need to attend a hearing.

Some document preparers have no-court hearing options however this option is not always available.

Simple Divorce by Summons

If there are issues between the parties where one of the parties refuses to cooperate with the divorce then it will require a summons and for the sheriff to serve the spouse divorce papers. Another example of this when the other party is incarcerated.

Once served, the other party will have 20 days to file an answer with the courthouse. After the 20 days either a default is filed (if the other party does not file an answer) or just a notice of hearing is filed.

You will most likely be divorced at the hearing.

Simple Divorce by Publication

If you do not know the whereabouts of your spouse then the process will include 2 steps in order to meet the service requirements.

First a search proving you cannot find your spouse must be done. Your document preparer will handle this requirement for you and in most cases they will search in the following systems:

Florida inmate records

Active US Military records

Voters Registration

Public records database

Property Appraiser Records

Civil and criminal records

Florida DMV and motor vehicle records

If your spouse is found then the preparer will communicate with you the results and see what other options you have.

Second, after filing the divorce papers the court will either issue the Notice of Action themselves or will request you to do it.

Once the notice of action expires the default paperwork is filed and a hearing is scheduled by the court.

Property without Minor Children in Agreement

When there are no minor children but there is property, joint bills, alimony or any other financial ties between both parties.

Both parties must be in a good headspace in order for both parties to sign the divorce documents prior to filing in the courthouse.

Some document preparers have no-court hearing options however this option is not always available.

Property without Minor Children by Summons

If there are issues between the parties where one of the parties refuses to cooperate with the divorce then it will require a summons and for the sheriff to serve the spouse divorce papers. Another example of this when the other party is incarcerated.

Once served, the other party will have 20 days to file an answer with the courthouse. After the 20 days either a default is filed (if the other party does not file an answer) or just a notice of hearing is filed.

You will most likely be referred to Court ordered mediation prior to attending a final hearing.

Property without Minor Children by Publication

If you do not know the whereabouts of your spouse then the process will include 2 steps in order to meet the service requirements.

First a search proving you cannot find your spouse must be done. Your document preparer will handle this requirement for you and in most cases they will search in the following systems:

Florida inmate records

Active US Military records

Voters Registration

Public records database

Property Appraiser Records

Civil and criminal records

Florida DMV and motor vehicle records

If your spouse is found then the preparer will communicate with you the results and see what other options you have.

Second, after filing the divorce papers the court will either issue the Notice of Action themselves or will request you to do it.

Once the notice of action expires the default paperwork is filed and a hearing is scheduled by the court.

With Minor Children in Agreement

When there are minor children with or without property, joint bills, alimony or any other financial ties between both parties.

Both parties must be in a good headspace in order for both parties to sign the divorce documents prior to filing in the courthouse.

In order for this divorce to be successful Child Support calculations MUST be done and a Parenting Plan with visitation, travel, communication and other items specified.

If there is going to be alimony both parties must be in agreement with the amount and duration.

With Minor Children by Summons

If there are issues between the parties where one of the parties refuses to cooperate with the divorce then it will require a summons and for the sheriff to serve the spouse divorce papers. Another example of this when the other party is incarcerated.

Once served, the other party will have 20 days to file an answer with the courthouse. After the 20 days either a default is filed (if the other party does not file an answer) or just a notice of hearing is filed.

You will most likely be referred to Court ordered mediation prior to attending a final hearing.

With Minor Children by Publication

If you do not know the whereabouts of your spouse then the process will include 2 steps in order to meet the service requirements.

First a search proving you cannot find your spouse must be done. Your document preparer will handle this requirement for you and in most cases they will search in the following systems:

Florida inmate records

Active US Military records

Voters Registration

Public records database

Property Appraiser Records

Civil and criminal records

Florida DMV and motor vehicle records

If your spouse is found then the preparer will communicate with you the results and see what other options you have.

Second, after filing the divorce papers the court will either issue the Notice of Action themselves or will request you to do it.

Once the notice of action expires the default paperwork is filed and a hearing is scheduled by the court.

Divorce Quote

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the court filing fee waived?

If you qualify, yes! We will include the Application of Indigent Status with the preparation of the rest of the documents. For more information about the court filing fee waiver click here

Can I get the divorce papers mailed to me and my spouse?

Yes, we can do that for you.

What if we did not get married in the State of Florida?

You will need to file for divorce in the State that you live in, regardless of where you got married.

How much is your flat fee?

We have 3 different flat fee brackets based on 3 questions. Requesting a free quote is the best way to get the flat fee for your case.

Divorce Quote

Can I speak with anyone on the phone?

Yes, our phone number is 800-474-1970 however due to the number of phone calls we highly recommend making an appointment here

Do I need to attend a final hearing?

Maybe. We have options for no court hearing divorces if your circumstances qualify. 

I do not know where my spouse is, can I still get divorced?

Yes, you can still get a divorce, it’s called a divorce by publication and it requires to prove to the court your spouse cannot be found, a 30 day publication has to run in a local newspaper and default paperwork needs to be filed. For more information request your free quote.

My spouse refuses to sign divorce papers, can I still get a divorced?

Yes! You can still get a divorced. If you know where he/she lives or works then a sheriff can be sent to get the divorce documents served. Your spouse will have 20 calendar days to respond. 

What if I signed up for the divorce to be in mutual agreement but my ex is playing games and is not signing the divorce documents?

No problem. We will pivot and help you get divorced no matter what without charging additional fees.

What if we have minor children, can we have the child support waived?

Child support is a statutory obligation that cannot be waived. Our office will do the calculations based on both your incomes, day care expense, medical insurance expense and out of pocket medical expenses for the children. The next layer of calculations factors in the amount of overnights at each parent’s house. Once everything is calculated the amount of child support may be extremely low or close to be waived however this is not always the case.

Our commitment to you:

A – We will never ask for more money – we are flat fee based.  

B – We won’t quit – We will work with you and your spouse until you are divorced

C – Communication – You will have access to us by phone and email. We will be communicating with you often.

Alachua County Divorce | Disclaimer

This website will give you access to a divorce coordinator. While a divorce coordinator can save you money, it is important that you understand that it would be unlawful for us to provide any legal advice.

If you choose to work with us we will limit ourselves to explaining the process, completing the divorce paperwork, help you file the divorce at the courthouse, etc. but we will not provide legal advice under any circumstance or represent you in court.

If you need legal advice we encourage you to contact a divorce attorney.

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