“How long will this take?” is usually the first question we hear in a divorce consultation — right after “what will it cost?” The honest answer: anywhere from about a month to well over a year, and the difference is almost entirely about how much you and your spouse can agree on. Here is a realistic Florida divorce timeline, stage by stage, based on how cases actually move through the Brevard County courts.
The Short Answer
A simplified dissolution can finish in roughly 30 days. An uncontested divorce typically takes one to three months. A contested divorce usually runs six months to over a year, with complex or high-conflict cases going longer. Florida’s only mandatory minimum is short — at least 20 days must pass between filing and final judgment.
Stage 1: Filing and Service (Weeks 1–3)
The case starts when one spouse files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the clerk. The other spouse must then be formally served, and has 20 days to file an answer (and any counter-petition). If the responding spouse ignores the case entirely, the petitioner can pursue a default — though defaults still require a hearing and proper paperwork.
Stage 2: Mandatory Disclosure (Days 1–45)
Florida Family Law Rule 12.285 requires both spouses to exchange core financial documents — tax returns, pay stubs, bank and retirement statements — and file a financial affidavit within 45 days of service. In agreeable cases this is quick housekeeping. In contested cases, incomplete disclosure is the single most common source of delay, because everything else waits on an honest financial picture.
Stage 3: Negotiation and Mediation (Months 2–6)
Most Brevard County family judges require mediation before any trial. This is where the majority of Florida divorces actually resolve — most cases settle without trial. If you reach agreement on everything, your attorneys draft a marital settlement agreement and the case moves straight to a brief final hearing.
Stage 4: Discovery and Trial Preparation (Months 4–12)
If issues remain contested, formal discovery expands: depositions, interrogatories, business valuations, sometimes forensic accounting or parenting evaluations. Each expert adds weeks. Trial dates in Brevard depend on the judge’s docket — and family trials are often set months out.
Stage 5: Trial and Final Judgment
Most divorce trials take a day or less; complex financial cases can take several. The judge then issues a final judgment — sometimes from the bench, often weeks later in writing. Either spouse has 30 days to appeal, though family law appeals are a separate undertaking with their own timeline.
What Actually Makes Divorces Take Longer
In our experience, five things drive timelines more than anything else: incomplete financial disclosure, disputes over time-sharing, business or professional-practice valuations, unrealistic opening positions, and simple calendar congestion. Two of the five are within your control. Clients who show up organized — documents gathered, priorities clear — consistently finish faster and spend less.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest possible divorce in Florida?
A simplified dissolution, about 30 days — but only for couples with no minor children, no alimony, and a complete written property agreement.
Does Florida have a mandatory waiting or separation period?
No separation period at all. The only statutory wait is 20 days from filing to final judgment, which the court can waive in limited circumstances.
Can my spouse slow the divorce down on purpose?
Delay tactics exist — ignoring discovery, canceling depositions, firing lawyers. Courts have tools to respond, including compelling discovery and awarding attorney’s fees for bad-faith conduct. A spouse can slow a divorce; they cannot stop it.
When do temporary orders happen?
Early — temporary relief motions for support, exclusive use of the home, or a temporary parenting schedule are typically heard within the first couple of months and keep life functioning while the case proceeds.
Get a Timeline for Your Actual Case
Generic timelines only go so far — the real answer depends on your assets, your children, and your spouse. In a free 30-minute consultation, Attorney John Vernon Moore can map the likely path for your specific situation. Call (321) 529-7777 or contact us online.