Port St. Lucie sits in St. Lucie County, and every divorce filed by a Port St. Lucie resident is handled by the St. Lucie County Clerk of the Circuit Court. While the Clerk maintains a branch at 250 N.W. Country Club Drive in Port St. Lucie (34986), divorce cases are processed through the main courthouse in downtown Fort Pierce. Hiring a Port St. Lucie divorce lawyer who knows the local judges and clerk procedures speeds an uncontested case and protects you in a contested one. This page covers exactly where to file, what it costs, how long it takes, and what Florida law requires in 2026.
Key Facts: Divorce in Port St. Lucie (2026)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County | St. Lucie County |
| Filing court | Circuit Court, St. Lucie County, Family Law Division |
| Clerk main office | 201 South Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950 |
| Port St. Lucie branch | 250 N.W. Country Club Drive, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986 |
| Filing fee | $408 (plus $10 summons, $40 sheriff service) |
| Residency requirement | 6 months in Florida (Fla. Stat. § 61.021) |
| Waiting period | 20 days (Fla. Stat. § 61.19) |
| Property model | Equitable distribution (Fla. Stat. § 61.075) |
How do I file for divorce in Port St. Lucie, Florida?
File a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the St. Lucie County Clerk through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, then pay the $408 filing fee plus a $10 summons charge. Florida is a no-fault state under Fla. Stat. § 61.052, so you only state the marriage is irretrievably broken.
After filing, your spouse must be served. If your spouse agrees, they sign and file an answer and waiver; if not, the St. Lucie County Sheriff serves the petition for a $40 fee. Couples with minor children must file a Parenting Plan (Form 12.995) and complete the four-hour Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course within 45 days under Fla. Stat. § 61.21. Each spouse also files a Financial Affidavit (Form 12.902) disclosing income, assets, and debts. The Clerk's office cannot give legal advice or help complete forms, and all documents must be printed one-sided with your name, address, email, and phone on every page. Free guided form preparation is available through DIY Florida inside the E-Filing Portal.
Where do I file for divorce in Port St. Lucie? (which courthouse)
Port St. Lucie residents file with the St. Lucie County Clerk of the Circuit Court at 201 South Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, FL 34950, where the Family Relations Department sits on the first floor. The Circuit Court Family Law Division hears cases at 218 S. 2nd Street, Fort Pierce, FL 34950.
Most filing is now electronic, so you rarely need to travel to the courthouse to submit paperwork. A second Clerk branch operates at 250 N.W. Country Club Drive in Port St. Lucie (34986) for in-person convenience. If you do go to Fort Pierce, park in the courthouse garage on 2nd Street; many downtown lots and streets are restricted to two hours. The Clerk's main line is 772-462-6900, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 700, Fort Pierce, FL 34954. Michelle R. Miller is the current Clerk of the Circuit Court. Hearings before the assigned circuit judge take place in Fort Pierce regardless of which office accepts your filing.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Port St. Lucie?
A Port St. Lucie divorce lawyer typically charges $250 to $450 per hour, with most attorneys requiring a retainer of $2,500 to $5,000. An uncontested divorce handled flat-fee usually runs $1,000 to $3,000 in attorney fees, while a contested case can reach $10,000 to $25,000 or more once discovery, depositions, and trial are involved.
Those figures are separate from court costs, which are fixed by statute: $408 to file, $10 for the summons, and $40 for sheriff service. A fully do-it-yourself uncontested divorce in St. Lucie County costs roughly $500 to $1,500 total when both spouses agree on everything and use the free DIY Florida forms. The biggest cost driver is conflict: disputes over time-sharing, alimony, or property division add hours and fees. Estimate your numbers with our divorce cost estimator before you hire anyone.
How long does a divorce take in Port St. Lucie?
An uncontested divorce in Port St. Lucie typically finalizes in 4 to 8 weeks because Florida imposes only a 20-day mandatory waiting period under Fla. Stat. § 61.19. That clock starts the day you file the petition, not the day your spouse is served, and the court can shorten it if delay would cause injustice.
Contested cases take far longer, commonly 8 to 18 months, depending on the St. Lucie County court's docket and the issues in dispute. Mandatory financial disclosure, mediation (required in most contested family cases before trial), and the need for hearings on time-sharing or alimony all extend the timeline. Cases with minor children add the parenting course and parenting-plan requirements. Couples without minor children who agree on everything may qualify for a simplified dissolution, the fastest path Florida offers.
What are the residency requirements to file in St. Lucie County?
At least one spouse must have lived in Florida for the 6 months immediately before filing, under Fla. Stat. § 61.021. This requirement cannot be waived, and the six-month period must be continuous and end on the filing date. Only one spouse needs to meet it.
You prove residency with a Florida driver's license, voter registration, or a sworn affidavit from a corroborating witness who has known you for the qualifying period. You do not need to have lived in St. Lucie County specifically for six months, only in Florida; venue is proper in St. Lucie County if you reside in Port St. Lucie or another part of the county. If neither spouse meets the Florida residency rule, the court lacks jurisdiction and must dismiss the petition, so confirm eligibility before paying the $408 filing fee.
How is property divided in a Port St. Lucie divorce?
Florida is an equitable distribution state under Fla. Stat. § 61.075, meaning marital assets and debts are divided fairly, starting from a presumption of a 50/50 split that the court can adjust. Marital property includes most assets acquired during the marriage regardless of whose name is on the title.
Separate property, such as assets owned before marriage or received as a gift or inheritance and kept separate, is generally not divided. The court weighs factors including each spouse's contribution, the length of the marriage, economic circumstances, and whether either spouse wasted marital assets. Florida's 2023 alimony reform (SB 1416) eliminated permanent alimony, capped most awards at 35% of the income difference between spouses, and limited durational alimony to 50% of a short or moderate marriage's length under Fla. Stat. § 61.08. Estimate potential support with our alimony estimator.
FAQs
Do I have to go to the Fort Pierce courthouse to file in Port St. Lucie?
No. Most St. Lucie County divorce filings are submitted electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, so you can file from home. A Clerk branch at 250 N.W. Country Club Drive in Port St. Lucie also accepts in-person filings, though hearings before the circuit judge occur in Fort Pierce.
What is the filing fee for divorce in St. Lucie County in 2026?
The filing fee is $408, set statewide by Fla. Stat. § 28.241, plus $10 to issue a summons and $40 for sheriff service if your spouse must be served. Total initial court costs typically run $418 to $458. If you earn under roughly $29,160 a year, you may qualify for a full fee waiver.
Can I get my divorce filing fee waived in Port St. Lucie?
Yes. File an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status with the St. Lucie County Clerk's Family Relations Department. There is no charge to submit or review it, and the Clerk decides within about 5 business days. Households below 200% of the federal poverty level generally qualify, waiving the $408 fee and most court costs.
Does Florida still award permanent alimony in 2026?
No. Florida's 2023 reform (SB 1416) eliminated permanent alimony effective July 1, 2023. Under Fla. Stat. § 61.08, courts now award only bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational alimony. Most awards are capped at 35% of the difference in spouses' net incomes, and durational alimony cannot exceed 50% of a moderate-length marriage.
How long must I live in Florida before filing in Port St. Lucie?
One spouse must reside in Florida for 6 continuous months immediately before filing, under Fla. Stat. § 61.021. This rule cannot be waived. You prove it with a Florida driver's license, voter registration, or a corroborating witness affidavit. You need not have lived in St. Lucie County specifically, only in Florida.
What is child custody called in Florida, and how is it decided?
Florida uses time-sharing, not custody, under Fla. Stat. § 61.13. Courts decide based on the child's best interests and now start from a presumption of equal 50/50 time-sharing. Parents must file a Parenting Plan and complete a four-hour parent education course within 45 days. Estimate support with our child support calculator.
How fast can an uncontested divorce finish in Port St. Lucie?
An uncontested divorce can finalize in as little as 4 weeks because Florida's only mandatory delay is the 20-day waiting period under Fla. Stat. § 61.19, which starts at filing. Couples without minor children who agree on all terms may use simplified dissolution, the quickest and least expensive path available.
Do both spouses need a lawyer for a Port St. Lucie divorce?
No. Either or both spouses can proceed without an attorney, and Florida's free DIY Florida program guides self-filers through the official forms. However, a Port St. Lucie divorce lawyer is strongly advised when minor children, retirement accounts, real estate, a business, or contested alimony are involved, since those issues are difficult to undo after a final judgment.