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Cheap Divorce in Florida: Affordable, Legitimate Options
Looking for a cheap divorce in Florida does not mean you want shortcuts or unreliable paperwork. It usually means you want to complete the divorce correctly without spending money on services your situation does not require.
The most affordable divorce process depends on whether both spouses agree, whether formal service is necessary and whether the case involves children, property or disputed issues.
A cooperative mutual-agreement divorce is generally the least expensive path. When a spouse refuses to participate or the couple cannot agree, additional procedures increase the cost.
What Is the Cheapest Way to Get Divorced in Florida?
The least expensive path is normally a divorce in which both spouses have reached a complete agreement before filing.
In a mutual-agreement case:
- Both spouses agree to the divorce.
- Both spouses agree on children, property, debts and support when applicable.
- Both spouses sign the required documents before filing.
- Formal service by a sheriff or process server is unnecessary.
- Mediation is generally unnecessary because there are no unresolved disputes.
- Qualifying cases may be finalized without a traditional court hearing.
This does not mean the divorce is informal or unofficial. The case is still filed with a Florida Clerk of Court and becomes final when a judge signs the Final Judgment.
Learn more about a Florida uncontested or mutual-agreement divorce.
Four Legitimate Ways to Keep Florida Divorce Costs Low
1. Reach an Agreement Before Filing
Conflict is one of the largest drivers of divorce expense. Formal service, mediation, attorney communication and court hearings add time and cost.
When spouses can safely and voluntarily agree on the relevant terms before filing, they retain more control and generally avoid many of those additional expenses.
2. Prepare and File the Case Yourself
Florida does not require every person filing for divorce to hire an attorney. Someone may represent themselves, which is commonly called proceeding pro se.
A do-it-yourself divorce eliminates professional document-preparation or attorney fees, but the person filing remains responsible for:
- Selecting the correct forms
- Completing the forms accurately
- Preparing financial disclosures
- Preparing parenting and child-support documents when applicable
- Obtaining the correct signatures and notarizations
- Filing the documents in the correct order
- Responding to deficiency notices
- Following the case until the Final Judgment is entered
Court clerks can provide procedural information, but they cannot provide legal advice or choose the correct legal strategy for someone’s circumstances.
3. Use a Nonlawyer Document Preparer
A document-preparation service can be an affordable middle option for people who do not need attorney representation but do not want to prepare the paperwork alone.
A nonlawyer document preparer does not give legal advice or represent either spouse. Based on information supplied by the client, the service may prepare forms, organize signing and notarization, submit documents for filing and provide procedural information.
4. Apply for a Court Filing-Fee Waiver
A person who cannot afford the court filing fee may apply for a determination of civil indigent status.
The clerk reviews financial information such as income, expenses, assets, debts and household circumstances. Approval is not automatic.
If approved, the filing fee may be waived or handled according to the clerk’s determination. Other expenses—such as document preparation, service, publication, parenting courses or notarization—are not necessarily included.
Review our guide to the Florida divorce filing-fee waiver application.
What Expenses Still Apply to a Cheap Divorce?
Even an affordable divorce has required or possible expenses. These may include:
- The court filing fee
- A card-processing fee when filing electronically
- Notarization
- A parenting course when minor children are involved
- Formal service when a spouse will not sign
- Publication when a spouse cannot be located after a diligent search
- Document preparation or attorney services
For cases filed through our current process, the court filing fee is approximately $419 plus the applicable card-processing fee. Court fees can change and should be confirmed before filing.
Our Florida divorce cost guide explains these expense categories in greater detail.
Can a Divorce With Children Still Be Affordable?
Yes. A case involving children may remain a mutual-agreement divorce when both parents agree on everything.
The parents must generally complete:
- A parenting plan
- A time-sharing schedule
- Child-support calculations based on the applicable Florida guidelines
- A child-support worksheet
- A Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act affidavit
- The required four-hour parenting course
The children must currently live in Florida for our mutual-agreement process.
The additional documents may affect the professional-service cost, but having children does not automatically make the divorce contested or require attorney litigation.
Learn more about an affordable mutual-agreement divorce with children.
Can a Divorce With Property Still Be Affordable?
Yes. Property does not automatically make a divorce contested or expensive. The important question is whether the spouses agree on what will happen.
The agreement may need to address:
- A house or other real estate
- Vehicles
- Bank accounts
- Retirement accounts
- Businesses
- Credit cards and loans
- Refinancing or sale deadlines
When the spouses have already decided these issues, their terms can be included in the written agreement. When they disagree about value, ownership or division, professional legal advice, mediation or court involvement may increase the cost.
Visit our guide to a mutual-agreement divorce involving property.
When an Affordable Mutual-Agreement Divorce Will Not Work
A mutual-agreement process requires complete cooperation. A different procedure is needed when:
- One spouse refuses to sign.
- The spouses disagree about children, property, debts or support.
- One spouse refuses to provide required information.
- The location of one spouse is unknown.
- Either spouse needs the judge to decide an issue.
If you know where your spouse lives but they will not sign, the case may need to proceed through divorce by summons. Formal service commonly creates an additional process-server expense.
If the spouse’s location is genuinely unknown after a diligent search, divorce by publication may be available. Publication-related expenses generally apply.
Cheap Divorce Red Flags to Avoid
A low advertised price does not necessarily represent the complete cost. Before choosing a service, ask what is and is not included.
Potential warning signs include:
- A price that excludes required documents
- No explanation of court or third-party fees
- Generic forms that are not adapted to the case
- No assistance when the court requests corrections
- Claims that every divorce qualifies for the same process
- Guaranteed completion dates controlled by the court
- Promises of legal advice from a nonlawyer service
- No clear business identity, contact information or client history
The cheapest initial price can become more expensive if the paperwork is incomplete, the wrong process is used or required services are excluded.
How Divorce in Florida Online Keeps the Process Affordable
Divorce in Florida Online is a nonlawyer document-preparation service. We have helped people throughout Florida prepare divorce documents for more than 15 years.
Depending on the type of case, our service may include:
- Preparation of the required divorce documents
- Preparation of agreed settlement documents
- Parenting plans and child-support documents when applicable
- Electronic filing
- Remote online notarization coordination
- Procedural instructions and case updates
- Preparation of additional documents requested by the court when within our scope
- English and Spanish assistance
Our process is remote. Clients do not need to visit an office, and each spouse can complete a separate online notarization session.
Because different situations require different documents and procedures, we provide service pricing after reviewing the person’s information rather than posting prices on our webpages.
How Long Does an Affordable Mutual-Agreement Divorce Take?
Our qualifying mutual-agreement cases are commonly completed in approximately 30 to 45 days after filing. The exact time is controlled by the court and depends on whether the documents are accepted or additional information is requested.
This estimate may apply to mutual-agreement cases with or without children or property when all requirements have been completed.
See the complete Florida uncontested divorce timeline.
Why Experience and Trust Matter
An affordable service should still be established, transparent and accountable.
Divorce in Florida Online offers:
- More than 15 years of Florida divorce document-preparation experience
- Service throughout all 67 Florida counties
- Hundreds of Google reviews
- Remote online service
- English and Spanish assistance
- Clear explanations of known service and third-party expenses
- Continued procedural support through completion of the case
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to get divorced in Florida?
A cooperative mutual-agreement divorce is generally the least expensive path because it can avoid formal service, mediation, contested hearings and attorney litigation.
Can I file for divorce in Florida without an attorney?
Yes. Florida does not require everyone filing for divorce to hire an attorney. A person may represent themselves, use permitted nonlawyer document-preparation services or consult an attorney when legal advice is needed.
Can I get the Florida divorce filing fee waived?
A person who cannot afford the filing fee may apply for a determination of civil indigent status. The clerk reviews the applicant’s financial information and determines whether they qualify.
Does an online divorce reduce costs?
A remote process can eliminate travel and office visits. However, “online divorce” does not eliminate the court filing fee or other requirements. The case must still be properly filed and finalized through a judge-signed Final Judgment.
Can I get a cheap divorce if my spouse will not sign?
You can still file for divorce, but the case will not qualify for the pre-filing mutual-agreement process. Formal service and other court procedures generally create additional expenses.
Do you publish your service prices online?
No. We review the person’s circumstances first because the required documents and process depend on whether the case involves mutual agreement, summons, publication, children or property.
Find the Most Affordable Process for Your Situation
A legitimate cheap divorce in Florida begins with choosing the correct process. Using the wrong forms or procedure can cost more than addressing the situation correctly from the beginning.
Tell us about your situation. We will contact you to gather more details, determine whether the matter is within our scope and request any additional information needed.
Questions? Call 800-474-1970.
Disclaimer: Divorce in Florida Online is a nonlawyer document-preparation service. We do not provide legal advice or legal representation.