how to get a divorce without a lawyer in palm beach county florida

by Prof. Eulah Kemmer 6 min read

Getting a divorce without an attorney means that you have to draft your Settlement Agreement on your own. This is an extremely important form in your packet of Florida divorce documents, in which you will detail the agreement you and your spouse reached regarding your marriage dissolution.

Full Answer

Can you get a divorce without an attorney in Florida?

However, divorces can be conducted without attorneys involved as long as both parties are able to agree to the terms of the divorce. Simplified Dissolution of Marriage Florida divorce law provides a process called a 'Simplified Dissolution of Marriage.'

Where can I find a divorce decree in Palm Beach County?

Divorce Records 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.

Where can I get divorce forms in Florida for free?

Download some forms for free from the Florida Courts. It is important to include your name, address and telephone number on every document you file with the court. For Dissolutions of Marriage with Children, the parties shall separately attend a Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course from a listed provider.

Do I need a lawyer to file for divorce?

Filing for divorce is often portrayed as a long legal matter with lawyers for both sides fighting in the courts. However, divorces can be conducted without attorneys involved as long as both parties are able to agree to the terms of the divorce. Simplified Dissolution of Marriage

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How long does a divorce take in Palm Beach county?

A divorce can take anywhere between 3 and 24 months depending on whether it is contested or uncontested. The average uncontested divorce takes 3 months.

Can you get a divorce without going to court in Florida?

Florida divorce law provides a process called a 'Simplified Dissolution of Marriage. ' Couples can use this to get a quick divorce, about 30 days from filing to finalization, as long as they have complete agreement on the terms of the divorce and it's uncontested.

Where do I file for divorce in Palm Beach county?

Where do we get the forms to file a Petition for Simplified Dissolution? 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.

What is the cheapest way to get a divorce in Florida?

Divorce in Mutual Agreement Filing for a divorce in mutual agreement is always cheaper. This avoids having to hire a process server or sheriff to serve the divorce papers to your spouse. You will also save on court mandated mediation, hiring an attorney and maybe even having to pay for their legal fees.

How many years do you have to be separated to be legally divorced in Florida?

There is no specific requirement in the Florida Family Law Rules requiring that the spouses must be separated for days or weeks or months or years before petitioning for divorce. Partially, this is because Florida is a no fault divorce state.

What is the easiest way to get divorced?

Divorce by mutual consent is considered to be the quickest and the easy way to get a divorce in India, under Section 13 B of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The process under mutual consent divorce is considered to be inexpensive and non-tortuous.

How much does it cost to file for divorce in Palm Beach County?

Filing fees for divorce in Palm Beach County The filing fee for divorce in Palm Beach County, FL is a payment for the court's services, which is charged at the moment of filing. The average filing fee in the state of Florida is $400. The court filing fee is mandatory.

Are Palm Beach County courts open?

Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Excluding designated holidays.

How do I file for an abandonment of marriage in Florida?

In order to prove abandonment, you must prove that your spouse permanently left the marital home and stopped providing financial support. Constructive desertion, also known as emotional abandonment, is different and harder to prove.

What is the quickest divorce in Florida?

Under Florida law, the quickest that anyone can get divorced is 20 days. Divorce in Florida is technically called “dissolution of marriage.” There are two forms: simplified divorce and regular divorce. If you have children, then you do not qualify for a simplified divorce.

Is online divorce legal in Florida?

Florida allows the use of online divorce services to complete the paperwork required for an uncontested divorce. There are several different kinds of divorce in the state, some of which online divorce is ideal for. Other types of divorce may require the help of a divorce attorney.

How long do you have to be separated before divorce is automatic?

Most state courts will automatically enter a divorce decree if the parties have been legally separated for a period of time, often one to two years, and meet the basic eligibility requirements.

All You Need To Know About Palm Beach County Divorces

If you and your spouse are thinking about filing for divorce in Palm Beach County, you’ll need to know all the key aspects of the process. Consult the table below for the most important details:

How Can You Qualify for an Uncontested Divorce in Palm Beach County?

You and your spouse can opt for a simplified dissolution of marriage as long as it’s an uncontested divorce. It is a quick and easy way to get a divorce in Palm Beach County. To get a simplified and uncontested dissolution of marriage, you’ll need to meet the following requirements:

Which Palm Beach County Divorce Forms Do You Need?

The forms you’ll need to file for an uncontested divorce in Palm Beach County are as follows:

How To File for an Uncontested Divorce in Palm Beach County

You can follow these steps to file for an uncontested divorce in Palm Beach County:

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You can hire a lawyer to draw up your divorce settlement agreement, but keep in mind that it will cost you an arm and a leg. If you and your spouse can agree on all aspects of your divorce, you won’t need a lawyer—you’ll only have to finalize your agreement.

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How much does it cost to get divorced in Palm Beach County?

The average filing fee in the state of Florida is $400.

What is the service of divorce papers in Palm Beach County?

5. Service means giving a copy of the divorce forms to the defendant using the procedure that the law requires. Serving divorce papers in Palm Beach County can be done in two ways - personally or by mail. However, you cannot serve your spouse by yourself.

What is mediation in Palm Beach County?

Mediation in Palm Beach County is an alternative dispute resolution, typically, under the guidance of a Florida Supreme Court certified mediator. The mediator is a neutral and unbiased professional who cannot provide legal advice or force an agreement. The mediator helps the parties to negotiate and resolve the issues of their dissolution for the mutual good by offering them different settlement options.

Is Florida a fault based state?

Valid grounds to get divorce in Palm Beach County. Florida is a “no-fault” state. Therefore, no fault-based grounds are provided. As a “no-fault” state, neither spouse has to prove any reason for the separation. According to the Florida Statute, Sec. 61.052, the grounds for dissolution include:

Can a judge award sole custody of a child in Florida?

Custody of the child in Palm Beach County. For a divorce case with a child in Florida, judges are eligible to award either sole or joint custody to either party or both parents. Nevertheless, following the Family Law of the state, joint custody is preferred.

Can a judge order spousal support in Florida?

Otherwise, the judge can order support as a result of a court hearing. Two notable facts about spousal support in Florida are that alimony significantly affects the property distribution and that marital fault, e.g., adultery, is considered while making an alimony order (even though Florida is a no-fault state).

Does OnlineDivorce.com give legal advice?

Please note: OnlineDivorce.com is the leading company for providing legal paperwork drafting services, but OnlineDivorce. com does not give legal advice. All the information on the website is for informational purposes only.

Where can I find a final judgment of dissolution of marriage in Palm Beach County?

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.

Who can assist in filing a simplified dissolution of marriage?

The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller can assist parties filing a "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.

What is the process of dissolution of marriage with children?

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 for immediately filing his/her Certificate of Attendance in the court file.

Is my wife pregnant in Florida?

The wife is not pregnant. At least one party has lived in Florida for the past six months. You have made provisions for the division of your property and the payment of your obligations and are satisfied with them.

Do husband and wife sign the forms?

Husband and wife must both sign the forms. Husband and wife must appear before the judge together for the final hearing. All parties must have proper identification at the time of filing (driver’s license, something with a signature).

1. Meet Florida Residency Requirements for Divorce

Before you start the filing process, you need to make sure that you meet all the divorce requirements in Florida. One of them is maintaining a residence in the state for at least 6 months. It would not be necessary for both of you to be residents to start a divorce in Florida – only for the filing party.

2. Get a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage

The first document that you should file to divorce in Florida is a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. You will need to find this form and fill in the basic information about you, your spouse, and your children.

3. Sign and Submit the Petition

After you have successfully completed the step of preparing your own Florida divorce forms, you need to print them out. Note that you will have to sign your Petition in front of a notary along with a few other forms that require notarization.

4. Deliver a Petition Copy to Your Spouse

As soon as you file, you have to serve divorce papers to your ex, which is a mandatory step of filing divorce in Florida. Serving your spouse means officially notifying them about initiating a marriage dissolution process by providing them with copies of the documents you filed.

5. Finalize Florida Marital Settlement Agreement

Getting a divorce without an attorney means that you have to draft your Settlement Agreement on your own. This is an extremely important form in your packet of Florida divorce documents, in which you will detail the agreement you and your spouse reached regarding your marriage dissolution.

6. Attend A Divorce Hearing

In Florida uncontested divorce, final hearing is one of the last steps to getting your marriage dissolved. Depending on the court requirements, a petitioner has to be present on the final divorce hearing to answer the judge’s questions, but the presence of the defendant might be optional.

7. File the Final Disposition with the Clerk

The very last step of the process is obtaining a Final Decree of Divorce. Who fills out the Final Decree of Divorce? As you and your spouse are in agreement – you do. Once a Decree is signed, you will officially have your divorce finalized. However, you also have to fill out a Final Disposition form and file it with the clerk after that.

What happens after a marriage is dissolution?

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.

How many court meetings are needed to resolve a dispute?

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. Divorce - 4.

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Petitions For Dissolution of Marriage

Forms and Instructions

  • Forms are available from the following sources: 1. Download a free form packet from our Self-Service forms. 2. Use Turbocourt, an interactive program, for Dissolution of Marriage With Children and Dissolution of Marriage Without Children 3. Packets of forms and instructions may be purchased from the Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's Self Service Center. 4. Downloa…
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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 for immediately filing his/her Certificate of Attendance in the court file. Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course Providers(Provide…
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Simplified Dissolutions

  • The Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller can assist parties filing a "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 …
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Divorce Records

  • 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. Per Supreme Court order, images of these documents are not available online if they were filed after 2002. If your divorce...
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