How Long Does a Divorce Take in Florida?

A Florida divorce may take anywhere from about 30–45 days to several months or longer, depending largely on how the case proceeds. Qualifying mutual-agreement divorces handled through our process are commonly completed in approximately 30–45 days after filing. A divorce that requires formal service by summons commonly takes 3–6 months or longer, while a straightforward divorce by publication may take around 90 days.

These are practical estimates, not guaranteed court timelines. The actual length of a Florida divorce can depend on spouse cooperation, service of process, children, property, required documents, mediation, hearings, and the court’s processing schedule.

Florida Divorce Timeline at a Glance

Important: These timeframes are general estimates based on the types of Florida divorce matters we assist with. No document preparer can guarantee how quickly a judge or court will complete a particular case.

Why Florida Divorce Timelines Vary

There is no single timeline that applies to every Florida divorce. Two cases filed on the same day can finish months apart because the procedures required in each case may be very different.

One of the biggest factors is whether both spouses are already in agreement. When both parties cooperate, sign the required documents, and have resolved issues involving children, property, debts, and support, the case can usually move much more efficiently.

If one spouse will not voluntarily participate, formal service may be required. If the spouse cannot be located, constructive service by publication may become an option when Florida’s legal requirements are satisfied. Each path creates a different timeline.

How Long Does a Mutual-Agreement Divorce Take in Florida?

For qualifying mutual-agreement cases handled through Divorce in Florida Online, the divorce is commonly completed in approximately 30–45 days after filing.

This estimate applies when both spouses cooperate, complete the required documents and steps promptly, and the case qualifies for our mutual-agreement process. Some qualifying cases may also be finalized without a traditional court hearing.

The 30–45-day estimate begins after filing. The time required before filing depends on how quickly both spouses provide information, review the paperwork, complete any required courses, and sign the documents.

You can also learn more about the overall process in our guide to mutual-agreement divorce in Florida.

How Long Does a Divorce by Summons Take in Florida?

When voluntary signing is not available and a spouse must be formally served, a Florida divorce commonly takes approximately 3–6 months or longer.

A summons case usually involves additional procedural steps that do not exist in a fully cooperative mutual-agreement case. These may include locating and formally serving the respondent, waiting for the response period, completing financial disclosure, negotiating unresolved issues, attending mediation, and scheduling a final hearing.

After proper service, the respondent generally has a limited period to file a response. If the spouse responds and disputes issues involving children, property, support, or other matters, the case may take longer. If the spouse does not respond, a default process may become available depending on the circumstances.

A summons describes the method used to formally notify the other spouse. It does not automatically mean that every issue in the divorce will be contested.

For the full process, see our guide to divorce by summons in Florida.

How Long Does Divorce by Publication Take in Florida?

A straightforward Florida divorce by publication may take approximately 90 days. Cases involving children, property, additional court issues, or hearings may take approximately 90 days to six months or longer.

Publication is not simply an alternative for someone who does not want to contact a spouse. It is a form of constructive service that may be available when the spouse cannot be located and Florida’s legal requirements have been satisfied.

The process can include documented search efforts, filing a sworn statement, publication or other legally authorized notice, waiting for the required response period, and additional court proceedings before a final judgment can be entered.

If you believe your spouse cannot be located, see our guide to divorcing a missing spouse in Florida.

For a complete explanation of constructive service, read our Florida divorce by publication guide.

Does Florida Have a Waiting Period for Divorce?

Florida law generally requires at least 20 days to pass after the original divorce petition is filed before a Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage may be entered.

This 20-day period is a legal minimum before entry of the final judgment. It does not mean that a Florida divorce will normally be completed in 20 days. Court review, required documents, service, unresolved issues, and other procedural requirements can make the actual timeline much longer.

Florida law also permits a court to enter a final judgment sooner if delaying the judgment would result in injustice.

This rule is found in Florida Statute §61.19.

The Six-Month Florida Residency Requirement Is Different

Florida’s six-month residency requirement is sometimes confused with a divorce waiting period, but the two rules are different.

To obtain a Florida dissolution of marriage, at least one spouse generally must have lived in Florida for at least six months before the divorce petition is filed.

That is a residency requirement for filing the case. It does not mean spouses must wait six months after filing before the divorce can be finalized. Florida Statute §61.021 contains the residency requirement.

What Can Make a Florida Divorce Take Longer?

Even when the basic filing path is clear, several factors can extend the Florida divorce timeline.

• Difficulty locating or serving a spouse: Formal service cannot move forward until the respondent is properly served or another legally permitted form of notice is completed.
• Unresolved disagreements: Disputes over children, property, debts, support, or other terms can require negotiation, mediation, or a hearing.
• Incomplete or incorrect paperwork: Missing information, signatures, or required forms may delay filing or require corrections.
• Financial disclosure: Some cases require additional financial documents before the matter can move forward.
• Parenting requirements: Cases involving minor children require additional documents and other required steps.
• Property or debt issues: The more issues the spouses must resolve, the more preparation or negotiation may be necessary.
• Mediation: Cases with unresolved disputes may be required to attend mediation before a final hearing.
• Court processing: Judicial review and hearing availability vary, so two otherwise similar cases may not finish at exactly the same speed.

Do Children Make a Florida Divorce Take Longer?

Having minor children does not automatically mean a Florida divorce will take months longer. A qualifying mutual-agreement divorce involving children may still move efficiently when both parents agree and complete all required steps.

However, cases with children involve additional requirements, which may include a Parenting Plan, time-sharing terms, child-support calculations, required financial information, jurisdictional information, and a parenting course.

If the parents disagree about parenting, time-sharing, child support, or related issues, the divorce can take substantially longer because those matters may require negotiation, mediation, or court involvement.

Learn more in our Florida divorce with children guide.

Does Property Make a Florida Divorce Take Longer?

Property does not automatically make a Florida divorce contested or dramatically slower.

The key issue is whether the spouses agree on how the property and debts will be handled. When both spouses have reached a complete agreement, those terms can generally be incorporated into their written settlement documents.

When ownership, debt allocation, retirement accounts, real estate, or other financial issues remain disputed, resolving those issues can add significant time to the case.

For more information, see our guide to Florida divorce with property and no minor children.

Can a Spouse Delay a Florida Divorce by Refusing to Sign?

A spouse’s refusal to voluntarily sign divorce paperwork does not necessarily prevent the other spouse from filing for divorce.

If the spouse can be located, formal service by summons may be used to provide legal notice of the case. From there, the case proceeds according to the spouse’s response and the issues that remain unresolved.

This usually takes longer than a mutual-agreement divorce because formal service, response deadlines, possible mediation, and court hearings may become part of the process.

Which Florida Divorce Timeline Applies to You?

The easiest way to understand your likely timeline is to first identify which procedural path most closely matches your situation.

• Both spouses agree and are willing to cooperate: A mutual-agreement divorce may be the most efficient path.
• Your spouse can be located but will not voluntarily participate: Formal service by summons may be required.
• You genuinely cannot locate your spouse: Divorce by publication may be available if the legal requirements for constructive service are satisfied.

If your primary concern is reducing avoidable delays, you can also review our guide to the fastest way to get a divorce in Florida.

How Divorce in Florida Online Can Help

Divorce in Florida Online has helped people prepare Florida divorce documents for more than 15 years. We provide remote, non-attorney document-preparation services for mutual-agreement, summons, and publication cases throughout Florida.

Our role is to prepare documents based on the information provided by the parties and assist with the procedural steps associated with the service selected. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice or represent clients in court.

If you are unsure which process applies to your situation, we can review the basic circumstances of your case and explain the document-preparation services we offer.

Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Divorce Timelines

How long does a divorce take in Florida?

A Florida divorce may take approximately 30–45 days in a qualifying mutual-agreement case handled through our process, while a divorce requiring service by summons commonly takes 3–6 months or longer. A straightforward publication case may take around 90 days, while cases involving additional issues can take considerably longer.

Can a Florida divorce be completed in 20 days?

Florida law generally prevents a final divorce judgment from being entered until at least 20 days after the original petition is filed, subject to a limited exception when delay would result in injustice. Twenty days is a legal minimum before judgment, not a typical completion time.

How long does a mutual-agreement divorce take in Florida?

Qualifying mutual-agreement divorces handled through Divorce in Florida Online are commonly completed in approximately 30–45 days after filing. The actual timeline depends on document completion, required steps, court review, and other case-specific factors.

How long does a divorce by summons take in Florida?

A Florida divorce requiring formal service by summons commonly takes approximately 3–6 months or longer. Service, the respondent’s response, financial disclosure, mediation, unresolved issues, and court scheduling can all affect the timeline.

How long does divorce by publication take in Florida?

A straightforward divorce by publication may take around 90 days. Cases involving minor children, property, additional jurisdictional issues, or hearings may take approximately 90 days to six months or longer.

Can my spouse delay the divorce by refusing to sign?

A spouse’s refusal to voluntarily sign does not necessarily prevent a divorce from moving forward. If the spouse can be located, formal service by summons may allow the case to proceed, although that process generally takes longer than a mutual-agreement divorce.

Do children make a Florida divorce take longer?

Not automatically. A qualifying mutual-agreement case with children may still move efficiently, but additional parenting, child-support, financial, and jurisdictional requirements must be completed. Disagreements involving children can substantially extend the timeline.

Do you have to be separated for six months before getting divorced in Florida?

No. Florida’s six-month rule is generally a residency requirement, not a separation requirement. At least one spouse generally must have lived in Florida for six months before the divorce petition is filed.

Legal Disclaimer: Divorce in Florida Online is a non-attorney document-preparation service. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or predictions about how a judge will decide a case. Timelines on this page are general estimates based on the types of cases we assist with and are not guarantees. Court procedures and processing times can vary.