How to File for Divorce in Palm Beach County, Florida (2026 Guide)

Hiring a divorce attorney in Palm Beach County means paying $350–$550 per hour — and a simple uncontested divorce can still generate $8,000–$20,000 in legal fees, most of which goes toward preparing forms. For couples who have already agreed on the major issues, that cost is unnecessary. Filing for divorce in Florida without an attorney — called a "pro se" divorce — is legal, recognized by the 15th Judicial Circuit, and more common than most people realize.

This guide covers every step of the process from gathering your documents to filing on myflcourtaccess.com, with Palm Beach County-specific details so you know exactly what to expect.

TL;DR — Palm Beach County Divorce Quick Reference

Item	Detail
Court	15th Judicial Circuit Court, Family Law Division
Clerk Address	205 N. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Filing Fee	~$408-$409 (no minor children) / ~$409-$410 (with minor children)
E-Filing Portal	myflcourtaccess.com (mandatory)
Waiting Period	20 days after service of process
Residency Required	6 months in Florida + 3 months in Palm Beach County
Timeline (Uncontested)	6-10 weeks
Timeline (Contested)	6-18+ months

Filing fees are paid directly to the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court and are NOT included in any document preparation service fee.

Step-by-Step: How to File for Divorce in Palm Beach County

Step 1: Determine Whether Your Case Is Uncontested or Contested

This decision shapes everything — your timeline, your cost, and which forms you need.

Uncontested — Both spouses agree on all major issues: division of assets and debts, whether either spouse will pay or receive alimony, and (if you have children) the parenting schedule, holiday rotation, decision-making authority, and child support. This is the faster, less expensive path. The majority of Palm Beach County divorces are uncontested.
Contested — At least one issue cannot be agreed upon. The case proceeds through court-ordered mediation and potentially a trial if mediation fails. Timeline and costs increase significantly at every stage.

If you are unsure, have a direct conversation with your spouse before filing. Many couples who think they are contested can reach full agreement once they sit down and talk through the core issues.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

Before completing any forms, collect the following:

Government-issued photo ID
Marriage certificate
Recent pay stubs and last two years of federal tax returns (for both spouses)
Statements for all bank, retirement, and investment accounts
Mortgage statement or lease agreement
Vehicle titles
Recent credit card and loan statements
Any prior court orders affecting your family
Children's school and medical records (if applicable)

Having this information ready before starting your forms makes the financial affidavit much faster and reduces the chance of errors.

Step 3: Complete Your Petition and Financial Affidavit

The Petition for Dissolution of Marriage formally opens your case with the 15th Judicial Circuit. It identifies both parties, states that the marriage is irretrievably broken, and tells the court what you are requesting — division of property and debt, parenting arrangements, alimony, and name restoration if applicable.

Florida is a no-fault divorce state. You do not need to prove adultery, abandonment, or any other misconduct. "Irretrievably broken" is sufficient.

Both spouses must also complete a Financial Affidavit — a sworn statement of income, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities. Choose the version that matches your income:

Short form (12.902(b)) — gross income under $50,000/year
Long form (12.902(c)) — gross income $50,000/year or above

Every figure on this form is sworn under penalty of perjury. Complete it carefully and accurately.

Step 4: E-File via myflcourtaccess.com

Palm Beach County requires all family law documents to be submitted electronically — you do not bring paper documents to the courthouse. Go to myflcourtaccess.com, create a free account, upload your completed forms as PDFs, and pay the filing fee by credit or debit card.

The filing fee is approximately $408–$409 for divorces without minor children, or $409–$410 for cases involving minor children. This fee is paid directly to the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court — it is not part of any document preparation service fee.

After submission, the clerk's office reviews your documents and sends a confirmation email with your case number. Keep this number — you will reference it on every future filing.

Step 5: Serve Your Spouse

After filing, your spouse must be formally served with a copy of the petition and summons. In Palm Beach County, you have two options:

Sheriff service — The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office will serve your spouse for approximately $40 per address. You submit a process service request at the time of e-filing.
Notarized Waiver of Service — If your spouse is cooperative, they can sign a notarized waiver acknowledging receipt of the petition. This avoids the service fee, starts the 20-day waiting period immediately, and is typically the fastest route for uncontested cases.

Step 6: Exchange Mandatory Financial Disclosures

Under Florida Family Law Rule 12.285, both spouses must exchange mandatory financial disclosures within 45 days of service. Required documents include the financial affidavit, the last three years of tax returns, recent pay stubs, and statements for all financial accounts. This requirement is not optional — failure to comply can delay your case or result in court sanctions.

Step 7: Finalize with a Settlement Agreement or Hearing

If you are uncontested, you and your spouse will sign a Marital Settlement Agreement covering every term of the divorce — property, debts, alimony, and (if applicable) parenting and child support. If minor children are involved, you will also need a Parenting Plan. Once the 20-day waiting period has passed and all documents are filed, the court schedules a final hearing. Uncontested hearings before a 15th Circuit judge are typically brief — 10–20 minutes — and conclude with the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage.

If you cannot reach full agreement, the case moves into mediation. Mediation is required in all contested family law cases in Palm Beach County before the matter can go before a judge.

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Uncontested vs. Contested: Which Path Are You On?

Uncontested means both spouses agree — in writing — on every issue:

Division of real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts, and all other marital assets
Allocation of all marital debts
Whether either spouse will pay or receive alimony (even if the answer is "neither")
If children are involved: the parenting schedule, holiday rotation, decision-making authority, and child support amount

If you can check every item above, you are uncontested. A Palm Beach County uncontested divorce typically takes 6–10 weeks.

Contested means at least one issue remains unresolved. Palm Beach County mandates mediation before any contested family law case goes to a judge. If mediation fails to produce full agreement, the case proceeds to a hearing or trial. Timeline: 6–18+ months, with costs rising substantially at each stage.

Most couples are closer to uncontested than they realize. Resolving issues before filing is the single most effective way to reduce both cost and timeline.

What a Document Preparer Does (and Does NOT Do)

A legal document preparation service:

Can do:

Prepare all required Florida Supreme Court-approved forms based on information you provide
Explain what each form is and what information goes in each section
Ensure all required fields are completed and forms are correctly formatted for e-filing in Palm Beach County
Review your complete document package for missing items before you submit
Provide notarization for documents that require a notary

Cannot do:

Give legal advice or tell you what to ask for in your settlement
Predict how a judge will rule on any issue
Represent you in court or appear at any hearing on your behalf
Make decisions about how to divide your assets or structure your parenting schedule

You are your own legal representative. You file the documents yourself through myflcourtaccess.com. A document preparer's role is to make sure the paperwork is complete, accurate, and correctly formatted before it reaches the Palm Beach County Clerk.

Florida Supreme Court Approved Forms: Which Ones Do You Need?

Form Number	What It Is	When You Need It
12.901(b)(1)	Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage	Both spouses agree, no minor children, no alimony
12.901(b)(2)	Petition for Dissolution of Marriage	Standard petition — with or without children
12.902(b)	Short Financial Affidavit	Gross income under $50,000/year
12.902(c)	Long Financial Affidavit	Gross income $50,000/year or above
12.902(f)(1)	Marital Settlement Agreement	No minor children
12.902(f)(2)	Marital Settlement Agreement	With minor children
12.995(a)	Parenting Plan	Required whenever minor children are involved
12.913(b)	Affidavit of Diligent Search	If your spouse's location is unknown

These are Florida Supreme Court-approved forms accepted by the 15th Judicial Circuit. Using unofficial, outdated, or incorrectly completed forms is one of the most common reasons pro se filers have their petitions rejected or delayed.

Timeline Breakdown

Scenario	Typical Timeline
Uncontested, no minor children	6-10 weeks after filing
Uncontested, with minor children	8-12 weeks (parenting plan review adds 2-4 weeks)
Contested, resolved in mediation	4-9 months
Contested, proceeds to full trial	12-18+ months

The mandatory 20-day waiting period is built into all of these timelines. The clock starts after service of process. Court scheduling and document review determine how much additional time is required beyond that minimum.

Cost Comparison

Option	Estimated Cost
Attorney (both parties)	$10,000-$50,000+
Document Preparer	$350-$500 + court fees (~$408)
DIY (no help)	Court fees only (~$408) — high risk of rejection

The filing fee is the same regardless of which route you take. It is paid directly to the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court. The only variable is who prepares your forms. A document preparer gives you professionally prepared, correctly formatted paperwork at a fraction of attorney rates — you handle the filing yourself.

Palm Beach County Self-Help Center

The 15th Judicial Circuit provides a Self-Help Center for self-represented litigants at the Palm Beach County Courthouse, 205 N. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. Staff can answer general procedural questions, help you identify the correct forms for your situation, and explain court procedures.

The Self-Help Center is a useful resource — but it does not prepare your documents, and it cannot give legal advice or tell you what to request in your settlement. It functions as a procedural guide, not a document preparation service.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to live in Palm Beach County to file here?

Yes. You must have lived in Florida for at least 6 months and in Palm Beach County for at least 3 months immediately before filing. If you recently relocated to the area from another county, you may need to wait until the 3-month mark or file in your prior county of residence. Your spouse does not need to live in Palm Beach County — only you.

Can I file online?

Yes — and in Palm Beach County, electronic filing is mandatory. All family law documents must be submitted through myflcourtaccess.com. You cannot file paper documents in person at the courthouse for initial filings. You will create a free account, upload your completed PDFs, and pay the filing fee online.

What if my spouse won't sign?

You can still file the petition and serve your spouse through the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office (approximately $40 per address). Once served, your spouse has 20 days to file a written response. If they fail to respond within 20 days, you may be able to proceed by default and obtain a Final Judgment without their participation. If they do respond and contest the divorce, the case proceeds through mediation and potentially a hearing before a 15th Circuit judge.

How long does an uncontested divorce take in Palm Beach County?

Typically 6–10 weeks from the date of filing, for cases without minor children. If a parenting plan is involved, add 2–4 weeks. The 20-day mandatory waiting period after service is included in these estimates — no case can finalize before that window closes, and court scheduling typically adds additional time.

Are there income-based filing fee waivers?

Yes. If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may complete the Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status (Form 68) and submit it to the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court. If approved, the filing fee will be waived or deferred. This form is available at the courthouse and through the Florida Courts website.

Do I have to appear in court?

For an uncontested divorce with a fully signed settlement agreement, the judge may enter the final judgment based on the written record, without requiring either spouse to appear — depending on the specifics of your case. For a simplified dissolution (Form 12.901(b)(1)), a brief final hearing is typically required and both spouses attend. For a contested divorce, multiple court appearances are nearly certain, including mediation sessions, motion hearings, and potentially a trial. When in doubt, check with the Palm Beach County Clerk about your specific case requirements.

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