If you’re facing the end of your marriage, you probably have a lot of questions. How is marital property divided? What about alimony and child custody? You probably also have practical questions about the divorce process itself—including just how much a divorce will cost and how long the process will take in Florida.
The Cost of Divorce Lawyers in Florida
Many people hire a lawyer to help with their divorce. And when they do, the attorney’s fees are their highest divorce cost. The total amount of a divorce lawyer’s bill typically hinges on the lawyer’s hourly rate and the number of hours required for the case.
Hourly Rates for Florida Divorce Lawyers
In 2019, we surveyed our readers in Florida who had recently gotten divorced. We also reviewed information reported by Florida divorce lawyers about their fees and billing practices. The lawyers in our study reported the minimum and maximum hourly rates they charge. Across the state, the average minimum was $260 per hour, while the average maximum was $330 an hour.
Average rates are likely to be higher now. According to Clio, a legal technology company, the average hourly rate in 2023 for lawyers practicing family law in Florida was $344, slightly more than the national average rate for family lawyers that year ($312).
Many factors influence how much an individual attorney will charge per hour, especially:
- Location. Attorneys with offices in cities like Miami and Ft. Lauderdale tend to charge more than those in small towns and rural areas on account of the higher cost of living.
- Family law expertise. Lawyers with years of experience practicing family law generally charge hourly fees at the higher end of the range. Even so, these seasoned specialists can often handle difficulties that arise in divorce cases more efficiently than less-experienced lawyers—which can mean fewer total hours on the bill.
- The cost of paralegals and support staff. Lawyers often rely on paralegals and other support staff for help with research and routine tasks, which can potentially save you money. Support staff can bill for substantive legal work, but typically at a much lower rate than lawyers. As reported by Clio, the average hourly rate for nonlawyers working on cases in Florida in 2023 was $151.
Total Typical Cost of a Divorce Lawyer in Florida
Nearly three-fourths (73%) of our Florida readers hired a lawyer in some capacity, and the vast majority of those (85%) had the attorney handle their entire divorce case, from the beginning to the end (what’s known as “full-scope” representation). The combined data in our reader survey and attorney-fee study showed that the total cost of a full-scope divorce attorney in Florida in 2019 ranged from $11,000 to $14,000.
Of course, those are just overall averages. The issues involved in your case (discussed below) will be a big factor in determining your costs. Also, our survey showed that people typically reported lower total costs if they hired consulting attorneys to handle only certain parts of their cases (such as preparing or reviewing a divorce settlement agreement). This kind of limited legal assistance isn’t for everyone, though; only 10% of Florida readers used consulting attorneys.
How Much Does a DIY or Online Divorce Cost in Florida?
Hiring a divorce lawyer isn’t always necessary or possible. You can do it yourself or potentially file for divorce online.
DIY Divorce
If you handle your own divorce, you’ll have to:
- follow Florida law and rules of court procedure
- find and complete all of the necessary court forms
- properly serve your spouse with the divorce forms
- go to court, and
- finalize your divorce.
The Florida Courts offer an online self-help center, where you can find family law forms and instructions on completing the forms. Your local county court might provide more self-help assistance, including access to family court personnel who can answer questions.
Online Divorce
Online divorce is an increasingly popular option for people who want to minimize the expense and hassle of divorce. An online divorce service guides you through the paperwork you need for your situation and then tells you how to file it. The cost of online divorce services varies, but it’s typically in the $150 to $750 range, with extra charges for additional services (such as filing the paperwork with the court for you).
Online divorce services aren’t appropriate in all situations. You might be a good candidate if:
- you’re involved in an uncontested divorce
- you’re aware of all of your marital assets and have access to your financial records
- your spouse isn’t represented by a lawyer, and
- a power imbalance or domestic violence hasn’t been a part of the relationship.
How Disputes and Trial Affect Divorce Costs in Florida
One of the most important factors that will affect the amount of time your attorney spends on your case—and thus your total costs—is how many disagreements you have with your spouse about significant issues, such as:
- child custody and support
- alimony (also known as spousal support), and
- dividing marital property and debts.
Resolving these disputes requires a lawyer’s time for things like conducting discovery (exchanging financial documents and other information), filing motions and representing you at hearings (for instance, if a spouse has asked for temporary child support), and negotiating a settlement agreement. And if you and your spouse can’t agree on a settlement, it will take even more work for your lawyer to prepare for and represent you at a divorce trial.
We looked at the impact of disputes involving these important issues on divorce costs in 2019 and learned the following:
- The average total cost of a Florida divorce when there were no contested issues was $4,000 to $5,000.
- Divorces involving one dispute that settled before trial cost an average of $6,000 to $7,000.
- Cases involving two or more disputes but no trial cost more— $10,000 to $12,500.
- Costs skyrocket when couples go to trial to resolve disputes. The average total cost range is $14,000 to $17,000 for Florida couples who go to trial on one issue and $19,000 to $23,000 for trial on two or more issues.
Filing Fees and Other Divorce Costs in Florida
Whether you hire an attorney or represent yourself in your divorce, you’ll have to pay court fees to file your divorce papers, unless you request and qualify for a waiver. The filing fees vary slightly by county in Florida, but they’re usually around $400.
Other potential divorce expenses include:
- mediation costs
- a child custody evaluation, and
- fees for other experts like appraisers and financial analysts.
Florida readers reported paying an average of $1,350 in expenses other than attorneys’ fees, which was slightly lower than the national average of $1,600.
Beyond the legal costs directly associated with a divorce, you’ll also have to plan for the so-called “soft” costs of divorce, such as the cost of moving, setting up and maintaining separate households, therapy, and changes in your insurance and tax status.
How Long Does Divorce Take in Florida?
Many of the same factors that raise the cost of divorce also play a part in how long it takes to complete a divorce. Your divorce could drag on—even beyond the national average of 12 months—if you have multiple contested issues and if you can’t settle those disputes without a trial. This is true no matter what state you live in.
Still, even though Florida has a relatively short waiting period before a divorce can be final (20 days), some things that are specific to the state can add to the time a divorce takes:
- Delays for divorces with children. When a divorcing couple has minor children, Florida law authorizes the court to delay the case for up to three months (to give the couple time to try to reconcile) or to order one or both spouses to meet with a marriage counselor, psychologist, clergy member, or other qualified professional. Also, custody disputes can add time to the divorce process. The psychological evaluations and court-ordered studies that are commonly required in custody disputes in Florida take several months.
- Adultery and alimony. In Florida, courts may consider either spouse’s adultery when deciding alimony. So accusations of adultery make it more likely that a divorcing couple will take their alimony dispute to trial, and it will take extra time—and money—to gather evidence of the affair (which is likely to come from a private investigator).
- Busy court calendars. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Florida had one of the highest divorce rates in the country in 2021. A high rate of divorce often translates into busy family courts and longer waiting times for hearings and trials.
Florida has a streamlined procedure for some uncontested divorces, called a simplified dissolution of marriage. But you may only use this method if you and your spouse, among other requirements, agree that the marriage can’t be saved, have no minor children, and aren’t asking for alimony.
(Fla. Stat.§§ 61.052, 61.19; Fla. Fam. Law Rules Proc., rule 12.105(a) (2024).)
More Information and Resources on Florida Divorce
Divorce in Florida can be expensive and time-consuming. If your situation involves a custody dispute, complicated financial issues, or significant conflict, talk to a divorce lawyer.
But not everyone needs (or can afford) a divorce lawyer. Other options include representing yourself, using an online divorce service, and going to mediation. For help choosing the right path for your divorce, you can check out Divorcenet’s quiz.
And here are more resources on divorce in Florida:
- The Florida Bar: Divorce in Florida
- Florida Courts Help, and
- Florida Department of Revenue’s Child Support Program.
