How Long Does an Uncontested Divorce Take in Florida?

One of the first questions we hear is simple: how long will this take? For a genuinely uncontested Florida divorce, the honest answer is usually four to eight weeks from first consultation to final judgment. Here's where that time goes.

The 20-day rule

Florida law sets a floor. A final judgment of dissolution cannot be entered until at least 20 days have passed since the petition was filed, unless the court finds that waiting would cause injustice. That waiting period is built into every case, cooperative or not.

The six-month residency requirement

Before you can file at all, at least one spouse must have lived in Florida for the six months immediately before filing. If you recently moved to Florida, the clock on your divorce doesn't start until the residency clock finishes.

A realistic timeline

• Weeks 1-2: consultation, eligibility review, and agreement on terms.
• Weeks 3-4: financial disclosure and drafting of the petition, settlement agreement, and parenting plan if needed.
• Weeks 5-6: review, revisions, and signatures from both spouses; filing with the court.
• Weeks 7-8: the statutory waiting period runs and the final hearing is scheduled and held.

What actually slows things down

• Slow responses. Every week a spouse takes to send documents or sign is a week added to the end.
• Incomplete financial information, which forces revisions to the settlement agreement.
• Court scheduling. Some counties set final hearings within days; others take a few weeks.
• Parenting course delays. Both parents must complete the course before the final judgment.
• A late change of heart. If one spouse stops agreeing, the case is no longer uncontested.

This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with Yaffa Family Law Group, P.A. Florida law and court procedures change; confirm current requirements with a Florida family law attorney.