The Honest Range
The honest answer is: it depends almost entirely on how much you and your spouse disagree. The single biggest cost driver in any divorce is conflict, not lawyer rates.
A truly uncontested divorce — where both spouses agree on everything (property, support, and any parenting issues) — is the least expensive path. A contested divorce — where issues must be negotiated, mediated, or litigated — costs more, and a highly contested divorce involving custody disputes, business valuations, or hidden assets costs the most.
Court Filing Fees
Separate from attorney fees, Florida charges a court filing fee to open a dissolution of marriage case. This fee is set by the Florida Legislature and is paid to the Clerk of Court in the county where you file. There are additional smaller fees for things like serving the other party and certified copies. If you genuinely cannot afford the filing fee, Florida allows you to apply for a civil indigent status that may waive it.
These court costs are the same whether your divorce is simple or complex — it is the attorney time that varies.
What Drives the Cost Up
If you want to predict where your divorce will land, look at these factors:
- Children and custody disputes. Disagreements over time-sharing and parenting plans are among the most time-intensive issues. Florida's 2023 reform (HB 1301) created a rebuttable presumption of equal time-sharing, which can simplify some cases.
- Complex or contested assets. A family business, professional practice, retirement accounts, real estate, or suspected hidden assets all require valuation and sometimes expert witnesses.
- Alimony. Florida's 2023 SB 1416 reform eliminated permanent alimony and restructured spousal support. Disputes over the amount and type of alimony add cost.
- Level of conflict. A spouse who refuses to cooperate, misses deadlines, or litigates every point drives the cost up regardless of the underlying facts.
How to Keep Costs Down
You have more control over the cost of your divorce than you might think:
- Resolve what you can by agreement. Every issue you settle directly is an issue you are not paying to litigate.
- Consider mediation. Florida courts often require it anyway, and a good mediated settlement is far cheaper than a trial.
- Be organized. Gathering your financial documents promptly saves attorney time.
- Keep communication focused. Using your attorney as a sounding board for every frustration adds up. Lean on friends, family, or a therapist for emotional support and your attorney for legal strategy.
Joseph Grant takes a client-first approach specifically designed to resolve matters efficiently — through negotiation and mediation where possible, and litigation only where it is genuinely necessary to protect a client's interests.