How Long Does a Divorce Take in Florida?
Florida law requires a minimum 20-day waiting period after the divorce petition is filed before a judge can sign the final judgment. In practice, an uncontested divorce typically takes 4–12 weeks from filing to final, while a contested divorce averages 6–18 months — and complex cases that go to trial can take two years or more.
The Legal Minimum: 20 Days
Under Florida Statute § 61.19, no final judgment of dissolution of marriage can be entered until at least 20 days have passed from the date the petition was filed. A judge can waive this only if the delay would cause injustice — which is rare. So even the most cooperative couple cannot be divorced faster than about three weeks.
Before you can file at all, at least one spouse must have lived in Florida for the six months immediately before filing.
Uncontested Divorce: Weeks, Not Months
When both spouses agree on everything — property division, time-sharing, and support — the case moves quickly. A simplified dissolution (available to couples with no minor children and an agreement on all assets) is often final in 30–45 days. A standard uncontested divorce, where an attorney prepares the marital settlement agreement and all paperwork correctly, usually finishes in one to three months. Most of that time is simply the court’s scheduling: the 20-day waiting period, plus getting a brief final hearing on the judge’s calendar.
The biggest avoidable delays in uncontested cases are paperwork errors and incomplete financial affidavits. Filings that are correct and complete the first time move to the front of the line.
Contested Divorce: Six Months to Two Years
When spouses disagree on even one major issue, the timeline stretches considerably. A typical contested divorce in Florida runs through several phases: filing and serving the petition (one to three weeks), the answer period (20 days for the other spouse to respond), mandatory financial disclosure (each side must exchange financial documents within 45 days of service), discovery such as depositions and appraisals (one to eight months depending on complexity), court-ordered mediation, and — if mediation fails — pre-trial preparation and trial.
Contested cases that settle at mediation commonly wrap up in six to twelve months. High-conflict cases involving custody evaluations, business valuations, or hidden-asset disputes that proceed to trial regularly take 12–24 months, sometimes longer.
What Speeds a Divorce Up — and What Slows It Down
The single biggest factor is agreement. Every issue resolved before or shortly after filing removes weeks or months from the calendar. Prompt, complete financial disclosure, responsiveness to your attorney, and taking mediation seriously all shorten the timeline. Conversely, custody disputes, complex or contested assets, a spouse who evades service or stalls on disclosure, and crowded court dockets all extend it.
Divorce Timelines in Miami-Dade County
Divorces filed in Miami are handled by the family division of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit through the Miami-Dade Clerk of Courts. Miami-Dade is one of the busiest family court systems in Florida, and judicial calendars fill quickly — which makes clean, complete filings and early settlement efforts especially valuable here. Arturo R. Alfonso P.A. has guided Miami-Dade families through divorce in English and Spanish for over 35 years, and can tell you at your consultation whether your case can qualify for the faster uncontested track. If you’ve been searching for a divorce lawyer near me in Miami, we can give you a realistic timeline for your specific situation.
Related Questions
Contact Us
Are you facing a difficult family law matter in Miami? The offices of Arturo R. Alfonso, P.A. are here to help. With over 25 years of experience in Florida family law, we put our clients first and work tirelessly to get you the representation you deserve. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Request a Free Consultation
Fill out the form below and Attorney Alfonso will get back to you within one business day.