Miramar sits in southwest Broward County, bordered by Pembroke Pines to the north and the Miami-Dade County line to the south. If you live in Miramar and are ending a marriage, your case is handled by Florida's Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, and your paperwork is filed with the Broward County Clerk of Courts. There is no divorce courthouse inside Miramar itself. Residents file at the Broward County Central Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale or electronically through the statewide eFiling Portal. This page explains the local filing logistics, what a Miramar divorce lawyer costs, and the Florida statutes that govern your case.
Miramar Divorce Key Facts (2026)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| County | Broward County (17th Judicial Circuit) |
| Filing court | Broward County Clerk of Courts, Family Division |
| Court address | Central Courthouse, West Building, 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 |
| Filing fee | $409 (plus ~$10 summons, ~$40 sheriff service) |
| Residency requirement | 6 months in Florida before filing (Fla. Stat. § 61.021) |
| Waiting period | 20-day minimum before final judgment; respondent has 20 days to answer |
| Property model | Equitable distribution (Fla. Stat. § 61.075) |
How do I file for divorce in Miramar, Florida?
To file for divorce in Miramar, submit a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage to the Broward County Clerk of Courts and pay the $409 filing fee. You file at the Central Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale or through Florida's eFiling Portal. One spouse must have lived in Florida for at least 6 months before filing, under Fla. Stat. § 61.021.
The process for a Miramar resident follows a predictable sequence. First, confirm you meet the 6-month residency requirement, which you can prove with a Florida driver's license, voter registration, or a corroborating affidavit. Second, complete the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage using the Florida Supreme Court approved family law forms. Third, file the petition with the Broward County Clerk and pay $409. Fourth, formally serve your spouse, who then has 20 days to file an answer. If your spouse does not respond within 20 days, your case can proceed by default. Because Miramar is roughly 25 miles from the Fort Lauderdale courthouse, most residents use the eFiling Portal rather than driving north on I-95 or the Florida Turnpike to file in person.
Where do I file for divorce in Miramar? (which courthouse)
Miramar residents file at the Broward County Central Courthouse, West Building, located at 201 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. The Family Division of the Clerk of Courts processes dissolution petitions there. You may also file electronically through the Florida Courts eFiling Portal at any time, which most Miramar residents prefer given the courthouse is about 25 miles north of the city.
There is no satellite family courthouse in Miramar, Pembroke Pines, or Hollywood that accepts dissolution filings. All Broward family cases route through the Central Courthouse in downtown Fort Lauderdale, near the New River and the Broward County Main Library. The Clerk's family intake desk opens at 8:00 a.m. If you file in person, bring a money order payable to the Clerk of Court, as some payment formats are restricted at the counter. For self-represented filers, Broward County operates a Family Court Self-Help Program that provides approved forms and procedural guidance, though staff cannot give legal advice. Service of process on your spouse is handled through the Broward Sheriff's Office for roughly $40, or by a private process server if your spouse lives outside Broward County.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Miramar?
A Miramar divorce lawyer typically charges $250 to $450 per hour, with most local attorneys requesting a retainer of $2,500 to $5,000 upfront. An uncontested divorce in Broward County often runs $1,500 to $3,500 in total legal fees, while a contested case with disputes over property, support, or time-sharing can exceed $15,000. The mandatory court filing fee of $409 is separate from attorney fees.
The largest cost driver is conflict. An uncontested Miramar divorce, where both spouses agree on every issue, may need only a few hours of attorney time to prepare a marital settlement agreement and parenting plan. A contested case requires discovery, mandatory financial affidavits, possible mediation, and potentially a trial, which multiplies billable hours. Broward County requires both spouses to exchange financial disclosure documents under Florida Family Law Rule 12.285, and incomplete disclosure is a common reason cases drag on and costs climb. Beyond attorney fees and the $409 filing fee, budget for roughly $10 for the summons, $40 for sheriff service, and mediation fees that range from $120 to $400 per hour when ordered by the court. You can estimate other figures using the divorce cost estimator and the alimony estimator.
How long does a divorce take in Miramar?
An uncontested divorce in Miramar typically takes 4 to 8 weeks from filing to final judgment, while a contested case averages 8 to 18 months. Florida imposes a 20-day minimum waiting period between filing and the final hearing, and the responding spouse has 20 days to file an answer after being served. Broward County's caseload and mandatory mediation can extend contested timelines further.
The fastest path is the Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, available when both spouses agree, have no minor children, neither seeks alimony, and both waive the right to a trial. Simplified cases in Broward County can finalize in 30 to 45 days. A regular uncontested divorce with a marital settlement agreement still moves quickly because there are no contested hearings to schedule. Contested cases take longer because of discovery deadlines, court-ordered mediation, and the time needed to set a final hearing on the Seventeenth Circuit's family docket. When minor children are involved, Florida requires a parenting plan and time-sharing schedule under Fla. Stat. § 61.13, which adds time when parents cannot agree. Domestic violence allegations, complex asset valuation, or a closely held business can all push a Miramar divorce past the one-year mark.
What are the residency requirements to file in Broward County?
To file for divorce in Broward County, at least one spouse must have resided in Florida for 6 months immediately before filing the petition, under Fla. Stat. § 61.021. Only one spouse needs to meet this requirement. You prove residency with a valid Florida driver's license, a Florida voter registration card, or a corroborating affidavit from a third party who confirms your residence.
Residency establishes the court's authority to hear your case, separate from the requirement to serve your spouse. If you recently moved to Miramar and have not yet lived in Florida for 6 months, the court will dismiss your petition without prejudice, meaning you can refile once you qualify. Military service members stationed in Florida may count their time stationed in the state toward the 6-month requirement under Fla. Stat. § 61.021(2). Florida is a no-fault state under Fla. Stat. § 61.052, so the only ground you must allege is that the marriage is irretrievably broken. You do not need to prove adultery, abandonment, or cruelty, and you do not need your spouse's consent to obtain a divorce.
How does Florida divide property in a Miramar divorce?
Florida courts divide marital property using equitable distribution under Fla. Stat. § 61.075, beginning with the premise that the split should be equal unless relevant factors justify an unequal division. Marital assets are those acquired during the marriage, while nonmarital assets, such as inheritances or pre-marriage property, are set apart to the original owner.
The court weighs factors including each spouse's contribution to the marriage, the desirability of keeping the marital home for a dependent child, and the intentional dissipation or waste of marital assets within two years before filing. Effective July 1, 2024, Florida amended § 61.075 to clarify how courts value a marital interest in closely held businesses, addressing goodwill and restrictive covenants like non-competes, under House Bill 521. The same 2024 changes require that an interspousal gift of real property be made in a signed writing that complies with Fla. Stat. § 689.01. For Miramar couples with retirement accounts, a Qualified Domestic Relations Order may be required to divide a pension or 401(k), which you can explore with the property division resources and our Florida divorce guides.