• Each party in a Dissolution of Marriage with children must separately attend a course found in the Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course Provider List.
• Each party must pay a fee for the class.
• Each party must immediately file his/her Certificate of Attendance in the court file.

No. However, if you have any legal questions about the process, property rights, tax consequences, etc., you should consult with an attorney prior to filing for a Simplified Dissolution of Marriage.

A hearing to finalize your divorce will be scheduled at the earliest possible date dependent upon the court's schedule. You and your spouse must both appear before the court on the scheduled hearing date.

You and your spouse:

• Agree that the marriage cannot be saved
• Have no minor or dependent child(ren) together and the wife is not pregnant at this time
• Must have worked out:
  • How you will divide the property/joint assets
  • Who will pay what part of the money that you both owe (liabilities)
  • You are both satisfied with this division
• One of you must have lived in Florida during the last six (6) months prior to filing
• Agree that there will be no alimony support
• Do not want any financial information other than that provided in the financial affidavits
• Agreed to give up your right to trial and appeal
• Are willing to go the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s office to sign the petition (not necessarily together)
• Are willing to go (together) to a final hearing
• Are aware of the following:
  • 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)
  • You give up certain legal rights by using the Simplified Dissolution of Marriage procedure

Please see Fees & Costs for the current filing fee.

The case is final.

• Picture identification (such as a driver's license)
• Proof of Florida residency that one of you has lived in Florida for more than six (6) months prior to filing of the petition
• Financial Affidavit
• Notice of Social Security Number (each of you must complete a separate notice)
• Marital Settlement Agreement (you will complete one agreement together)

It is a simple method to end a marriage, if all requirements are met.

A petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage may be filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s office at any location.

• Download a  free form packet from our Self-Service forms.
• Go in person to a Self-Service Center at any Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s office.
• Download them for free from at the Florida Courts website.
• It is important to include your name, address and telephone number on every document you file with the court.

Florida laws define the cases that can be mediated.  Issues may include:

• Parenting plans, time-sharing and child support
• Alimony or spousal support
• Divisions of assets and liabilities

This is a procedure to assist people who are separating, divorcing or dealing with matters arising after divorce, paternity, support or related matters to reach an agreement without the court making the decision for them.

An attempt to bring about a peaceful settlement or compromise through the objective intervention of a neutral party.

Advantages include the following:

• An opportunity to cooperate for the best interests of all parties
• A less expensive resolution than a trial since expenses involved in trial preparation (such as witness and evidence subpoenas and other fees) can be avoided or minimized
• Disputes can be resolved in a timely manner with only one court meeting
• The agreement is final when both parties agree that the settlement is fair
• This agreement must be signed and will be incorporated into a Final Judgment
• Privacy for both parties is protected by avoiding the publicity of a trial

Copies of a final judgment of dissolution of marriage filed in Palm Beach County are available from the Clerk's Records Service Center. You may obtain the Official Records book and page number by searching the Official Records online.

Per Supreme Court order, images of these documents are not available online if they were filed after 2002. If your divorce was filed in another county or state, you must search the records in that county or state.