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Miami-Dade County Divorce Filing Guide

Step-by-step instructions for filing divorce in the 11th Circuit Court. Includes the forms you need, your local clerk's contact info, and e-filing options.

At a glance: Miami-Dade County

Filing fee $409 Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. Apply for a fee waiver if needed (Form 12.902a).
Circuit court 11th Circuit
Clerk of Courts Visit clerk website → (305) 349-7333
Self-help center Circuit self-help resources →
E-file online myflcourtaccess.com → Free account · available 24/7 · all 67 FL counties
Waiting period None — practical timeline 30–90 days uncontested
Residency requirement 6 months in Florida before filing
Grounds required? No-fault — marriage is "irretrievably broken"

Step 1 — Choose your divorce type

Florida offers two primary divorce paths. Choosing correctly determines which forms you need.

TypeRequirementsBest for
Simplified Dissolution Both spouses agree on everything; no minor children; neither seeks alimony; both appear at hearing Couples with no children and no disputes
Regular — Uncontested Children or property involved, but both spouses agree on all terms Most DIY divorces with kids or assets
Regular — Contested Spouses disagree on one or more issues Requires mediation or a judge's ruling

Step 2 — Required forms (all free)

All forms are free from the Florida Courts Family Law Forms page. Use Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill PDF forms.

Always required

FormName
12.928 Cover Sheet for Family Court Cases Find →

Petition — choose one

FormName
12.901(a) Joint Petition — Simplified Dissolution (no children, no alimony, full agreement) Find →
12.901(b)(1) Petition for Dissolution — With Minor Children Find →
12.901(b)(2) Petition for Dissolution — With Property, No Children Find →
12.901(b)(3) Petition for Dissolution — No Children, No Property Find →

Financial disclosures — both spouses required

FormName
12.902(b) Financial Affidavit — Short Form (gross annual income under $50,000) Find →
12.902(c) Financial Affidavit — Long Form (gross annual income $50,000 or more) Find →

If you have children

FormName
12.995(a) Parenting Plan (required in every case with minor children) Find →
12.902(e) Child Support Guidelines Worksheet Find →
12.902(d) UCCJEA Affidavit — Child Custody Jurisdiction Find →
12.902(f)(1) Marital Settlement Agreement — With Children Find →

Final judgment — bring to your hearing

FormName
12.990(a) Final Judgment — Simplified Dissolution Find →
12.990(b)(1) Final Judgment — With Dependent Children Find →
12.990(b)(2) Final Judgment — No Dependent Children Find →

If you cannot afford the filing fee

12.902(a) Application for Civil Indigent Status — fee waiver Find →

Steps 3–8: File, serve, and finalize

  1. Complete and notarize your forms. Both spouses must sign the Financial Affidavit. The Petition and Marital Settlement Agreement must be signed in front of a notary. Many UPS Stores, banks, and public libraries offer free or low-cost notary services.
  2. File your documents. E-file (recommended): Go to myflcourtaccess.com, create a free account as a self-represented litigant, select Miami-Dade County, and upload your PDFs. Pay the $409 filing fee by card. In person: Bring two copies of all notarized forms to the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts. Call (305) 349-7333 to confirm hours.
  3. Serve your spouse. If not filing jointly, your spouse must be formally served. Options: Waiver of Service (fastest, if they agree), Sheriff service (~$40), licensed process server, or publication if spouse cannot be located.
  4. Exchange financial disclosures. Within 45 days of service, both parties must exchange 3 years of tax returns, 3 months of pay stubs, 3 months of bank statements, and documentation of all assets and debts (Florida Family Law Rule 12.285).
  5. Attend mediation if required. Many Florida counties require mediation before a contested hearing. Court-connected mediators typically charge $100–$200 per party. Check with the Miami-Dade County Clerk for local requirements.
  6. Attend your final hearing. For Simplified Dissolution, both spouses appear together. For Uncontested Regular Dissolution, typically only the Petitioner appears. Bring your pre-filled Final Judgment form. The judge will review your agreement and enter the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage.

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