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Divorce

Joyce A. Conway, Esq., Manager
(561) 355-6511
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Petitions for Dissolution of Marriage

Filing Fee for Petition for Dissolution of Marriage: See Fees & Service Charges for the current filing fee.

Forms and Instructions

Most dissolution of marriage petition forms and instructions are available for purchase from the Self Service Center or downloaded for free from the Office of Florida State Courts. Forms may also be prepared online using the Clerk & Comptroller's interactive form preparation program.

Parent Education Class

For Dissolutions of Marriage with Children, the parties shall separately attend a Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course from a listed provider. The parties shall be responsible for the fees for the course. Each party is responsible to immediately file his/her Certificate of Attendance in the court file. A list of Parent Education Class providers is available online.

List of Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course Providers

Simplified Dissolutions

The Clerk & Comptroller can assist parties filing "Simplified Dissolution of Marriage". All of the following requirements must be met to file a simplified dissolution. If your case does not meet the criteria for filing a simplified dissolution of marriage, visit the Self Service Center.

1. You have no minor children (under 18) or dependent children.
2. You have no adopted children under 18 years old.
3. The wife is not pregnant.
4. At least one party has lived in Florida for the past six months.
5. You have made provisions for the division of your property and the payment of your obligations and are satisfied with them.
6. You have both signed the joint petition and all other papers needed to carry out this procedure and paid the required fees to the Clerk & Comptroller.
7. You both want to end the marriage because of serious permanent differences.
8. You both have agreed to use the simplified dissolution of marriage procedure rather than a regular dissolution.
9. You are both aware of the following facts:
   1. After the dissolution becomes final neither party has any right to expect money or support from the other, except for what is included in the property settlement agreement.
   2. That by choosing the simplified dissolution of marriage procedure you give up certain legal rights you should have if you had used the regular dissolution procedure (see the simplified package available from the Self Service Center for more information.)

Husband and wife must sign the forms together in front of a deputy clerk. Husband and wife must appear before the judge together for the final hearing. All parties must have proper identification at the time of filing (drivers license, something with a signature.) Simplified dissolution can be filed Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.