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Florida Divorce Paperwork With Children: What Parents Need to Prepare
A Florida divorce involving minor children usually requires more information and paperwork than a divorce without children. In addition to ending the marriage, the documents may need to address parenting arrangements, time-sharing, child support, financial information and other child-related issues.
Florida divorce paperwork with children commonly includes a petition for dissolution of marriage, Parenting Plan, Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Family Law Financial Affidavit, Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Affidavit and other case-specific documents.
Parents may need to gather the children’s residential history, income information, health-insurance and childcare costs, a proposed time-sharing schedule, property and debt information, and details about prior court cases or orders.
There is no single paperwork package that fits every Florida divorce involving children. The documents depend on whether both spouses agree, whether formal service is required, whether one spouse cannot be located, whether previous orders exist and whether the marriage involves property, debts, alimony or other financial issues.
After more than 15 years preparing Florida divorce documents, we have found that gathering complete and accurate information before preparing the paperwork can make the process much more organized.
If you need an overview of the legal issues and available filing paths first, visit our Florida divorce-with-children overview.
Florida Divorce Paperwork With Children: Quick Checklist
The following is an information-gathering checklist—not a universal list of documents required in every case.
| Information or document | What parents may need to prepare |
|---|---|
| Florida residency | Information or documentation showing that at least one spouse resided in Florida for the six months immediately before filing. |
| Family information | Legal names, contact information, marriage details and the names and dates of birth of the children. |
| Children’s residential history | Addresses where the children lived, the applicable dates and the names of the people with whom they lived. |
| Parenting Plan | Proposed time-sharing, decision-making, communication, transportation and exchange arrangements. |
| Child support | Income, allowable deductions, childcare expenses, health-insurance costs, other support obligations and applicable time-sharing information. |
| Financial information | Income, expenses, assets, liabilities and supporting financial records that may be required. |
| Property and debts | Real estate, vehicles, accounts, loans, credit cards, retirement accounts and other assets or financial obligations. |
| Prior cases and orders | Information about existing parenting, time-sharing, support, dependency, injunction or other proceedings involving either parent or the children. |
| Parenting course | Course completion information or certificates required for the applicable filing process. |
| Signatures and notarization | Information needed to coordinate signatures and notarization for documents that require them. |
Why Is Divorce Paperwork With Children More Detailed?
When minor children are involved, the court documents must address more than the legal end of the marriage. Depending on the case, the paperwork may also need to address:
- Parental responsibility
- A time-sharing schedule
- Child support
- Health insurance and child-related expenses
- Financial information from the parents
- Where the children have lived
- The required parenting course
- Property, debts and other financial matters
- Prior proceedings or orders involving the family
When multiple forms request the same factual information for the same period and use the same definition, that information should be accurate and consistent. Truthful differences caused by timing or different form definitions should not be altered merely to make the documents appear identical.
Which Florida Divorce Forms May Be Used When Children Are Involved?
The forms required depend on the filing path and circumstances. Florida divorce paperwork involving children may include:
- Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Child(ren), Form 12.901(b)(1)
- Parenting Plan
- Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Form 12.902(e)
- Family Law Financial Affidavit, Form 12.902(b) or 12.902(c), when applicable
- Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Affidavit, Form 12.902(d)
- Notice of Social Security Number, Form 12.902(j)
- Marital Settlement Agreement involving dependent or minor children, when applicable
- Documents relating to waiver, summons, service, default or publication
- Parenting-course completion documentation
- Disclosure from Nonlawyer, Form 12.900(a), when applicable
- Other documents required by the case, court or judicial circuit
This is not a universal forms package. The documents may change according to whether the spouses agree, whether formal service is required, what relief is requested, whether prior orders exist and what the court requires.
Use the current forms and instructions provided by Florida Courts. Forms and procedures may change.
Florida Residency Information to Gather
At least one spouse must have resided in Florida for the six months immediately before the divorce petition is filed.
Information or documentation may be needed to establish this requirement. Florida’s residency requirement appears in Florida Statutes section 61.021.
Florida’s divorce-residency requirement is separate from the court’s jurisdiction to make parenting and time-sharing determinations involving the children.
Personal and Prior-Case Information
Parents should be prepared to provide accurate identifying and case information, which may include:
- Legal names of both spouses
- Current contact and mailing information
- Date and place of marriage
- Date of separation, when applicable
- Names and dates of birth of the children
- Information about whether either spouse is pregnant
- Military-service information
- Prior proceedings involving either parent or the children
- Existing parenting, time-sharing, support, dependency or injunction orders
Social Security numbers and other protected information may be required for applicable court forms. Sensitive personal information should be submitted only through the secure method specified by the document preparer or court—not through unsecured email.
Children’s Residential History and the UCCJEA Affidavit
Florida divorce cases involving minor children generally require information about where the children have lived and who lived with them during the applicable period.
This information may be used to prepare the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Affidavit, commonly called the UCCJEA Affidavit.
Parents may need to provide:
- Each address where the children lived
- The dates the children lived at each address
- The names of the adults with whom they lived
- Information about previous parenting, support, dependency or custody-related cases
- Information about anyone else claiming parenting or custody rights
- Information about existing orders from Florida or another state
The affidavit provides information the court may use when evaluating jurisdiction over parenting and time-sharing issues. Completing the affidavit does not, by itself, establish that Florida has jurisdiction.
Jurisdiction may depend on facts such as the children’s home state, prior orders, pending cases and recent interstate moves. Florida’s UCCJEA provisions include Florida Statutes section 61.503 and the initial-jurisdiction provisions in section 61.514.
Company service requirement: For the current mutual-agreement divorce-with-children process handled by Divorce in Florida Online, the children must currently live in Florida. This is a company service-scope requirement and is not a universal determination of Florida jurisdiction under the UCCJEA.
Parents should consider consulting a licensed Florida attorney when children recently moved, live outside Florida, are subject to prior orders or are involved in proceedings in another state.
Parenting-Plan Information to Gather
A Parenting Plan describes how parental responsibility, communication and time-sharing will operate. Even when both parents agree, the proposed plan remains subject to court review and approval.
Parents may need to provide their decisions or requested terms concerning:
- Regular weekly time-sharing
- Weekends
- Holidays and school breaks
- Summer schedules
- Transportation and exchanges
- School-related decisions
- Healthcare decisions
- Communication between the parents
- Communication between each parent and the children
- Other parenting responsibilities
Florida law requires parenting decisions to be evaluated according to the child’s best interests. Equal time-sharing is not automatic or guaranteed.
Divorce in Florida Online can prepare permitted parenting-plan documents using decisions and factual information supplied by customers. We cannot recommend a schedule, decide whether equal time-sharing is appropriate or determine which terms a parent should request.
Read our guide to the information required for a Florida Parenting Plan.
Child-Support and Financial Information to Gather
Florida child support is generally calculated under the statutory guidelines and remains subject to court review. Preparing the calculation requires accurate financial, expense and time-sharing information.
Parents may need to provide information about:
- Gross income
- Pay frequency
- Taxes and allowable deductions
- Health-insurance costs for the children
- Work-related childcare expenses
- Uninsured medical, dental and prescription expenses
- Other court-ordered support obligations
- The time-sharing schedule and applicable overnights
- Other information required by the guidelines
The Parenting Plan and child-support calculation are separate documents, but information from the time-sharing schedule may affect the guideline calculation.
The court retains authority to review the requested child-support amount and any proposed deviation. Parents should not assume that child support may be eliminated merely because they agree.
For the company’s current mutual-agreement process, a requested non-guideline amount generally requires local filing where the children live and may not qualify for the Lee County no-hearing workflow.
Learn about the information used for Florida child support →
Family Law Financial Affidavit Information
Florida divorce cases often require financial information from one or both spouses. Depending on the case, parents may need to provide accurate information about:
- Employment and income
- Regular monthly expenses
- Assets
- Liabilities
- Insurance
- Taxes and deductions
- Other financial obligations
The applicable Financial Affidavit may affect other documents, including the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet. When the forms request the same information for the same period and use the same definition, the factual figures should be accurate and consistent.
Florida Courts provides different Financial Affidavit forms and other financial documents. The applicable paperwork depends on the case. Financial affidavits, disclosure and supporting documents should not be described as universally optional or universally waivable.
Our Florida Family Law Financial Affidavit guide explains the information these forms may request.
Property and Debt Information
Having children does not eliminate the need to address property and debts. Depending on the marriage, the paperwork may require information about:
- Real estate
- Vehicles
- Bank and investment accounts
- Loans
- Credit cards
- Retirement accounts and pensions
- Business interests
- Other assets or financial obligations
When spouses have reached a mutual agreement, their decisions may be included in an applicable settlement agreement.
Divorce in Florida Online does not classify property as marital or nonmarital, value assets, recommend a division, negotiate terms or determine whether an agreement is fair. Those matters may require advice from a licensed Florida attorney or another qualified professional.
Parenting-Course Documentation
Florida law generally requires parties to a dissolution involving minor children to complete a Department of Children and Families-approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course unless the court excuses a party for good cause.
The course must be at least four hours. Proof of completion or related information may need to be filed in the divorce case. Read Florida Statutes section 61.21.
In the processes currently handled by Divorce in Florida Online:
- Mutual agreement with children: Both parents complete the course.
- Summons with children: Both parents complete the course as part of the company’s workflow.
- Qualifying publication with children: The petitioner completes the course as part of the company’s workflow.
Court orders and case-specific circumstances may affect how a requirement applies.
Learn about Florida parenting-course requirements →
Signatures and Notarization
Some divorce documents require signatures, and certain documents must be signed before a notary public or deputy clerk. Not every form has the same signing requirements.
We provide customers with instructions explaining which prepared documents need to be signed, whether notarization is required and how the completed documents should be returned.
Remote online notarization may be available for appropriate documents and eligible signers, but it does not apply universally to every document or circumstance.
Our document-preparation process does not require a visit to our office. Remote document preparation does not eliminate a required mediation session, remote hearing, in-person appearance or other court-directed procedure.
Watch: Simplifying Florida Divorce Paperwork
How Does the Paperwork Change by Filing Path?
The information and documents may change depending on whether both spouses cooperate and whether the other spouse can be located.
| Situation | Paperwork may involve | Related guide |
|---|---|---|
| Both spouses agree on the necessary issues and will participate and sign. | Mutual-agreement documents, settlement terms, parenting information, support calculations and both spouses’ signatures. | Mutual-agreement divorce with children |
| The spouse can be located but will not sign or participate voluntarily. | A summons, formal-service documents, response or default paperwork, and applicable children-related documents. | Divorce with children by summons |
| The spouse genuinely cannot be located after meaningful search efforts. | Diligent-search documentation, constructive-service documents and children-related paperwork appropriate to the court’s authority. | Divorce with children by publication |
This comparison provides general information and does not determine which procedure is legally appropriate for a particular case.
How Divorce in Florida Online Helps
Divorce in Florida Online has prepared Florida divorce documents for more than 15 years and serves customers throughout all 67 Florida counties.
We are non-attorney divorce-document preparers. We prepare permitted documents using the factual information and decisions supplied by customers and provide filing support when appropriate.
What We May Do
- Collect factual information supplied by customers
- Prepare documents within an established service workflow
- Provide instructions concerning the prepared paperwork
- Coordinate separate remote notarization sessions when applicable
- Provide electronic-filing support when appropriate
What We Cannot Do
- Provide legal advice
- Represent either spouse
- Determine jurisdiction
- Select a legal strategy
- Recommend parenting or time-sharing terms
- Recommend a child-support deviation
- Classify or value property
- Negotiate disputed terms
- Decide whether an agreement is fair
- Guarantee document acceptance or a judicial outcome
Tell Us About Your Divorce Paperwork
You do not need to know the names of every form before contacting us.
Tell us whether both spouses are cooperating, whether minor children are involved, where the children currently live, whether prior orders exist and whether there are property, debt, support or other financial issues.
We will review the factual information you provide and let you know whether the requested document-preparation work appears to fit one of our established nonlawyer service workflows.
Prefer to speak with us? Call or text 800-474-1970.
Frequently Asked Questions About Florida Divorce Paperwork With Children
What paperwork is needed for a Florida divorce with children?
Florida divorce paperwork with children may include a petition for dissolution of marriage, Parenting Plan, Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Family Law Financial Affidavit, Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Affidavit and other documents required by the case. The exact forms depend on the family’s circumstances and filing process.
Does every Florida divorce with children use the same forms?
No. The required forms depend on whether the spouses agree, whether formal service or publication is needed, whether property or support issues exist, whether prior orders apply and what the court requires.
What information should parents gather before documents are prepared?
Parents may need to gather identifying information, the children’s residential history, income and expense information, health-insurance and childcare costs, proposed time-sharing arrangements, property and debt information, and details about prior proceedings or orders involving the family.
What is the UCCJEA affidavit?
The Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Affidavit provides information about where the children have lived, who lived with them and whether other custody-related cases, orders or claims exist. The court may use this information when evaluating jurisdiction over parenting and time-sharing matters.
Does completing a UCCJEA affidavit establish Florida jurisdiction?
No. Completing the affidavit does not, by itself, establish that Florida has jurisdiction. Jurisdiction may depend on the children’s home state, prior orders, pending cases, recent moves and other facts governed by Florida’s UCCJEA provisions.
Is a Parenting Plan required if both parents agree?
A Florida divorce involving minor children generally requires a court-approved Parenting Plan. Agreement may make the document easier to prepare, but the proposed plan remains subject to judicial review and approval.
What financial information is needed for child support?
Parents may need to provide income, allowable deductions, health-insurance costs, childcare expenses, other support obligations and time-sharing information. Florida child support is generally calculated under the statutory guidelines and remains subject to court review.
Is a financial affidavit required?
Florida divorce cases often require financial affidavits and supporting financial information, particularly when child support or other financial relief is involved. The applicable forms and any available waiver procedure depend on the case, rules and court requirements.
What paperwork changes if the other spouse will not sign?
If the spouse can be located but will not sign or participate voluntarily, the case may require a summons, formal-service documents and later response, default or hearing paperwork in addition to the applicable children-related documents.
What paperwork changes if the other spouse cannot be located?
If the spouse genuinely cannot be located after legally sufficient search efforts, the case may require diligent-search and constructive-service documents. Publication is not used merely because a spouse refuses to sign, and the relief available may be limited without personal jurisdiction.
Which divorce documents require notarization?
Some Florida divorce documents require notarized signatures or signing before a deputy clerk, while others do not. The requirements depend on the particular form. Remote online notarization may be available for appropriate documents and eligible signers.
Can Divorce in Florida Online decide which parenting or support terms we should choose?
No. Divorce in Florida Online prepares documents using factual information and decisions supplied by customers. We cannot recommend parenting arrangements, decide what support someone should request, determine jurisdiction, negotiate terms or provide legal advice.
Official Florida Resources
- Florida Courts — Family Law Forms
- Florida Statutes §61.021 — Residency Requirement
- Florida Statutes §61.13 — Parenting and Time-Sharing
- Florida Statutes §61.30 — Child Support Guidelines
- Florida Statutes §61.21 — Parenting Course
Disclaimer: Divorce in Florida Online is a nonlawyer document-preparation service, not a law firm. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation or guarantees concerning jurisdiction, document acceptance, court procedures or case outcomes. This page provides general educational information. Forms, laws and procedures may change and may vary according to the case and judicial circuit. Consult a licensed Florida attorney if you need advice about your legal rights or individual circumstances.