Fort Lauderdale residents file for divorce through the Broward County Clerk of Courts Family Division at the Central Courthouse downtown, just blocks from the New River and the Broward County Main Library. Whether you live in Victoria Park, Las Olas, Coral Ridge, Rio Vista, or near the beach, your dissolution of marriage runs through the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit Court that serves all of Broward County. This page covers where and how to file locally, what it costs, and how long it takes in 2026.
Key Facts: Filing for Divorce in Fort Lauderdale (2026)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County | Broward County (17th Judicial Circuit) |
| Filing court | Broward County Central Courthouse, Family Division |
| Court address | 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 |
| Filing fee | $409 (dissolution) + $10 summons |
| Residency requirement | 6 months in Florida before filing |
| Waiting period | 20 days minimum from filing to final judgment |
| Property model | Equitable distribution (Fla. Stat. § 61.075) |
How do I file for divorce in Fort Lauderdale, Florida?
To file for divorce in Fort Lauderdale, submit a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage to the Broward County Clerk of Courts, pay the $409 filing fee, and serve your spouse. Florida is a no-fault state under Fla. Stat. § 61.052, so you only need to state the marriage is irretrievably broken.
The practical steps for a Fort Lauderdale filing:
- Confirm you meet the six-month Florida residency rule, proven by a driver's license, Florida ID, or witness affidavit.
- Complete the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and a Family Law Financial Affidavit (Form 12.902(b) or (c)).
- File through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at myflcourtaccess.com, or in person at Room 04130 on the 4th floor of the Central Courthouse.
- Pay the $409 fee by credit card, cashier's check, or money order. Personal checks are not accepted by the Broward Clerk.
- Serve your spouse through the Broward County Sheriff or a private process server ($40 to $75).
Where do I file for divorce in Fort Lauderdale? (which courthouse)
Fort Lauderdale divorce petitions are filed at the Broward County Central Courthouse, Judicial Complex West Building, 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. The Family Division sits on the 4th floor in Room 04130, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The clerk's family line is (954) 831-6565.
This downtown courthouse handles the overwhelming majority of Broward dissolution cases, even though the county operates four courthouse locations. It sits near the Broward County Governmental Center and the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel on US-1. Parking is available in nearby county garages, and you should budget extra time for the security screening at the building entrance. Most filers now use the e-filing portal and never visit in person.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Fort Lauderdale?
A divorce lawyer in Fort Lauderdale typically costs $250 to $500 per hour, with total fees ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 for an uncontested case and $15,000 to $30,000 or more for a contested case. Many Broward family attorneys require a retainer of $2,500 to $7,500 up front.
Your total cost depends heavily on conflict. An uncontested divorce where both spouses agree on property, support, and a parenting plan can finish with a flat fee plus the $409 court filing fee. Contested cases involving business valuations, contested timesharing, or disputed alimony drive hourly billing and can add discovery, mediation, and expert witness costs. Broward's 17th Circuit requires mediation in most contested family cases before trial, which often resolves disputes at a lower cost than a full hearing. To estimate your specific budget, use the divorce cost estimator and the alimony estimator before you hire counsel.
How long does a divorce take in Fort Lauderdale?
A divorce in Fort Lauderdale takes a minimum of 20 days from filing under Fla. Stat. § 61.19, but realistically runs 4 to 6 months for an uncontested case and 8 to 18 months for a contested case. The 20-day statutory waiting period is the absolute floor before a judge can sign a final judgment.
Timeline drivers in the 17th Judicial Circuit include service of process, the financial disclosure exchange, and whether mediation succeeds. Uncontested cases with a signed marital settlement agreement move fastest because the court can finalize after a brief final hearing. Contested cases that require temporary relief hearings, depositions, or business valuation under the 2024 amendments to Fla. Stat. § 61.075 take substantially longer. Broward's family courts manage one of Florida's heaviest caseloads, so scheduling final hearings can add weeks.
What are the residency requirements to file in Broward County?
To file for divorce in Broward County, at least one spouse must have lived in Florida for six months before filing the petition, as required by Fla. Stat. § 61.021. You do not need to live in Fort Lauderdale or Broward County specifically, only somewhere in Florida for that six-month period.
You prove residency with a valid Florida driver's license or state ID card dated at least six months before filing, a voter registration card, or a sworn corroborating witness affidavit from someone who can confirm your residence. Military members stationed in Florida can generally establish residency. If neither spouse meets the six-month rule, the Broward Clerk will reject the petition, so confirm your dates before filing the $409 case.
How is property divided in a Fort Lauderdale divorce?
Florida divides marital property through equitable distribution under Fla. Stat. § 61.075, meaning the court starts with the premise that assets and debts should be split equally unless specific factors justify an unequal split. Equitable does not always mean 50/50, but equal is the default starting point.
Marital assets include property and debt acquired during the marriage, while non-marital assets such as inheritances or pre-marriage property generally stay separate. A 2024 amendment effective July 1, 2024 added detailed rules under Fla. Stat. § 61.075(6) for valuing closely held businesses and the effect of goodwill and non-compete agreements, which matters for Fort Lauderdale's many small business owners. The court weighs each spouse's contribution, the length of the marriage, and economic circumstances when deciding whether an unequal division is justified.
How does alimony and timesharing work after the 2023 reforms?
Florida eliminated permanent alimony effective July 1, 2023 under SB 1416, which amended Fla. Stat. § 61.08. Courts now award only bridge-the-gap, rehabilitative, or durational alimony, capped at the lesser of the recipient's reasonable need or 35 percent of the difference between the spouses' net incomes.
Durational alimony cannot exceed 50 percent of a short-term marriage (under 10 years), 60 percent of a moderate-term marriage (10 to 20 years), or 75 percent of a long-term marriage (20 years or longer). The same 2023 reform amended Fla. Stat. § 61.13 to create a rebuttable presumption that equal 50/50 timesharing of minor children is in the child's best interests. Florida uses the terms parental responsibility and timesharing rather than custody, and courts strongly favor shared parental responsibility for major decisions about education, healthcare, and religion.