How Much Is a Divorce in Florida?

August 13, 2026

How much is a divorce in Florida? If you’re considering ending your marriage, having a clear idea of the costs involved can help you better plan for what’s ahead.

Unsurprisingly, the cost of divorce in Florida can vary quite a bit and depends on whether you and your spouse agree on the terms of the divorce, whether children are involved, and whether you work with legal representation. In this guide, we’ll cover the average cost of divorce in Florida, what affects pricing, how much lawyers charge, hidden expenses to watch for, and practical ways to keep costs under control.

• How Much Is a Divorce in Florida?
• How Much Is a Divorce Lawyer in Florida?
• Hidden Cost of Divorce in Florida
• How To Minimize the Cost of Divorce in Florida
• FAQs: Divorce Cost in Florida
• Vasquez de Lara Law Group Can Help With Your Florida Divorce

How Much Is a Divorce in Florida?

A divorce in Florida can cost as little as a few hundred dollars or as much as tens of thousands of dollars—often more. The cost varies couple to couple, but most people spend in the neighborhood of $4,000 to $6,000.

Ultimately, the biggest factor that will affect your divorce cost in Florida is conflict: the more issues that have to be negotiated or litigated, the more expensive the case will be. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of how much you can generally expect to pay for a divorce in Florida, depending on the type of divorce you file.

How Much Does It Cost To Get a Divorce in Florida?

Type of Divorce	Typical Cost Range	Best For
Pro Se (DIY) Divorce	$500–$1,000	Couples with no children, assets, debts, disputes, or alimony who are comfortable handling the paperwork themselves
Uncontested Divorce	Starting at $2,500	Couples who agree on all major issues and want professional help with the filings and paperwork. This includes preparing paperwork with minimal to no negotiation since parties agree on terms.
Collaborative Divorce	$6,000–$15,000+	A type of uncontested divorce for couples seeking a private, negotiated agreement with legal guidance. This includes strategy, negotiation, and preparation of paperwork.
Contested Divorce	$6,000–$50,000+	Couples with disputes involving children, assets, support, or other issues.

How Much Does It Cost To Get a Divorce in Florida If Both Parties Agree?

An uncontested divorce — where you and your spouse agree on everything, from asset allocation to child custody — is usually both the fastest and least expensive way to get divorced.

That said, the total cost of a Florida divorce, even when both parties agree, depends largely on whether you choose the do-it-yourself route or work with an experienced attorney to guide you through the process.

How Much Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost in Florida?

An attorney-assisted uncontested divorce where the parties have already agreed on all of the terms and no negotiation is needed or required can often be completed for a fee of around $3,000. In addition to being cost-effective, a straightforward case like this is often the simplest and most efficient type of divorce filing.

The DIY Option

The most cost-effective way to get a divorce in Florida is typically through a Pro Se (self-represented) filing. This approach is generally best for couples with little or no property, no children, and no alimony issues to resolve.

If you choose this route, you can download the Florida Supreme Court–approved divorce forms to fill out yourself. Keep in mind, though, that the packet is more than 80 pages long, and mistakes are common, which can lead to delays, added expenses, or complications later unless you hire an attorney to review your work.

You’ll also still need to cover the baseline expenses everyone has to pay in a divorce, such as the filing fee and service-of-process fee. This usually costs about $500 to $1,000.

Example: Standard Miami-Dade Divorce Fees

Court fees vary slightly by county, but Miami-Dade provides a helpful example of the baseline costs many Florida couples can expect.

• Divorce Filing Fee ($409): The fee paid to the court to file your divorce petition and open the case
• Summons Fee ($10): The Clerk needs to issue the Summons to serve the other spouse.
• Service-of-Process Fee ($40): The cost of having divorce papers officially delivered to your spouse
• Parenting Class Fee ($25–$85): The price range for a court-required co-parenting course that is generally required for parents with minor children
• Mediation Fee ($1,000 to $3,500+ per session): The typical divorce mediation cost in Miami-Dade, where a neutral mediator can help you work through disagreements and reach a settlement outside of court
• Certified Copy Fee ($1 per page): The cost of obtaining an official copy of your final divorce judgment or other court documents

Typical divorce-related costs in Broward County are generally similar, though exact fees may vary by court and service provider.

How Much Does a Contested Divorce Cost in Florida?

A contested divorce is when spouses can’t agree on one or more major issues — like child support, alimony, or division of property — and have to undergo mediation or litigation. Since litigation requires more attorney time, court appearances, and negotiation, a contested case will usually increase the divorce cost in Florida to at least $10,000 — though many cases exceed $50,000 if the case is high-conflict.

Factors That Impact the Cost of a Contested Divorce

• Complexity of assets and finances: A high-net-worth divorce, which could involve businesses, investments, multiple properties, retirement accounts, or disputes over alimony, often takes more time and requires expert legal help.
• Level of disagreement: The more issues spouses disagree on, the more legal work may be needed to resolve the case.
• Attorney fees: Legal fees often account for the largest share of the overall cost of a contested divorce in Florida. The total amount you pay will depend on the attorney’s hourly rate and the overall complexity of the case.
• Discovery and expert costs: The cost of financial experts, business valuation professionals, custody evaluators, and forensic accountants can add up quickly.
• Court hearings, mediation, and trial: Every additional hearing, mediation session, or day in court will increase your total bill.
• Length of the case: Longer cases will typically result in higher attorney fees and court-related costs.
• Cooperation of the parties: When spouses fail to provide information, miss deadlines, or otherwise make the process more difficult, more legal work may be required to finalize the divorce.

How Much Is a Divorce Lawyer in Florida?

One of the biggest factors affecting the total cost of a divorce in Florida is the amount you spend on legal representation. Depending on the attorney you choose, billing structures can vary, which means your overall costs may look very different from someone else’s.

Some family law attorneys offer flat-fee services, while others bill by the hour. Rates often vary based on who is performing the work:​

• Legal secretary
• Paralegal
• Associate attorney
• Senior attorney

At Vasquez de Lara Law Group, our initial retainer is typically at least $3,800, not including the court costs associated with filing the divorce. The retainer funds are then used to pay for legal services as needed for each client’s case, which may vary based on the needs of the case. If more work is required, then the retainer may need to be replenished to cover the additional required work. A full one-hour attorney consultation is $415.

Why Hiring the Right Lawyer Matters

Trying to save money by hiring inexperienced counsel—or representing yourself in a complex divorce—can end up costing far more in the long run, both financially and emotionally. Mistakes involving asset division, alimony, parenting plans, or other aspects of the divorce process can have lasting consequences that are difficult and expensive to correct later.

An experienced family law attorney, on the other hand, can help protect your rights while potentially reducing costly disputes and delays.

The Hidden Cost of Divorce in Florida

When calculating the cost of divorce in Florida, it can be easy to overlook expenses that may arise during the process. Hidden or unexpected costs you might encounter during a divorce include:

• Hourly mediation fees
• Parenting courses
• Home and asset appraisal costs
• Business valuation expenses
• Forensic accounting services
• Child custody evaluations
• Expert witness fees
• Court filing fees

How To Minimize the Cost of Divorce in Florida

While every case is different, there are several practical ways to reduce your total divorce cost in Florida.

Tips To Lower Divorce Costs

• Collect and organize all your paperwork early.
• Respond promptly to any attorney requests.
• Focus on resolving issues and prioritizing good communication.
• Try mediation before jumping to litigation.
• Avoid filing unnecessary court motions.
• Be realistic about settlement expectations.
• If you self-file any paperwork, have an attorney review it before submitting it.

FAQs: Divorce Cost in Florida

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Florida?

Florida follows equitable distribution laws and doesn’t favor either spouse based on gender. This means marital assets and debts (no matter whose name is on them) are divided fairly, but not always exactly 50/50.

In some cases, a wife may be entitled to alimony or reimbursed for assets wasted or improperly spent during the marriage. The same legal standards apply to husbands.

What assets cannot be touched in a divorce in Florida?

Non-marital property usually stays yours and can’t be taken by your spouse. That might include anything you owned before the marriage, gifts, or inheritances given to you alone, or assets protected by a valid prenup or postnup. Just be careful: if you mix a non-marital asset with marital money, or it grows in value because of money or effort during the marriage, some — or even all — the non-marital property could then have a marital component that has to be divided in the divorce.

What is the biggest mistake during a divorce?

Two of the biggest mistakes people make during a divorce are escalating conflict and failing to get the right legal help.

1. Letting conflict take over

The more you and your spouse fight over every issue, the more time and money you’ll spend resolving your case. Ongoing disputes often lead to additional negotiations, court filings, and hearings, all of which can quickly increase costs.

It’s also important to remember that contested divorce cases become part of the public record, which means details about your finances and disputes could become accessible to others. And because Florida is a no-fault divorce state, a judge generally won’t award you a larger share of assets simply because your spouse behaved badly.

2. Not hiring an attorney

Another costly mistake can be trying to handle a complex divorce without expert legal help. When big assets, child-related issues, or support disputes are involved, the right attorney can help protect your interests, avoid costly mistakes, and prevent problems that could affect your finances and family long after the divorce is finalized.

The Right Legal Guidance Can Save You More Than Money

The decisions you make during a divorce can affect your finances, your children, and your future for years to come, which is why experienced legal guidance can make such a big difference. Vasquez de Lara Law Group focuses exclusively on family law and provides compassionate, strategic representation tailored to each client’s unique circumstances. Our attorneys regularly assist clients with divorce, alimony, custody, and other family matters. If you’re considering a divorce in Florida, schedule a free case evaluation today to discuss your options.