Divorce in Florida
State-specific overview · Family Law
Florida requires no grounds other than irretrievable breakdown and has no mandatory waiting period.
How Florida treats Divorce
Florida is a pure no-fault divorce state where either spouse can file based solely on irretrievable breakdown of the marriage without proving fault or waiting any statutory period. The court will grant the divorce if it finds the marriage is irretrievably broken, even if one spouse objects. Florida uses equitable distribution to divide marital assets and liabilities, not community property rules. Alimony and child support are determined based on statutory guidelines and the parties' financial circumstances.
The general definition of Divorce
The legal dissolution of a marriage, ending the spouses' rights and responsibilities to each other.
Divorce is the legal process by which a married couple ends their marriage. It involves a court officially terminating the marriage and typically requires decisions about property division, spousal support, child custody, and child support. The process can be contested, where the spouses disagree on terms, or uncontested, where they agree on the major issues. Once a divorce is finalized, both parties are free to remarry and are no longer legally responsible for each other.
Read the full Divorce entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in Florida.