Where to File Your Paperwork in Marion County?
To start your divorce in Marion County, you must file your paperwork with the Clerk of the Court and Comptroller. While your hearings will eventually take place before a judge at the Marion County Judicial Center, all legal documents must first be processed at the Clerk’s office.
Address: Marion County Courthouse, 110 NW 1st Avenue, Ocala, FL 34475
Phone: (352) 671-5604
Business Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Where to File: Submit your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and supporting documents at the Family Law Department located within the main courthouse.
📋
Divorce Requirements: Do You Qualify?
To file for divorce in Marion County, you or your spouse must have lived in Florida for at least six months (a minimum of 180 days, as strictly required by Florida Statutes Section 61.021) immediately before filing.
Unlike some other states, Florida requires absolute proof of your home address. You will need a valid Florida driver’s license, a voter registration card, or a sworn statement from a friend or family member (Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(i), known as the Affidavit of Corroborating Witness) to prove you meet this six-month timeline.
Using an online service helps ensure you meet these strict Florida residency and geographic court rules (legal venue requirements under Chapter 47 of the Florida Statutes, and we’ll also offer more on them later in the guide below) so your case isn’t thrown out on a technicality. Remember, this is the way to protect your filing from being delayed.
📌
Filing for an Uncontested Divorce (When Both Spouses Agree)
In Florida, an uncontested divorce is often handled as a Simplified Dissolution of Marriage or a Regular Dissolution of Marriage where all terms are agreed upon. If you have no minor children and agree on asset division, the “Simplified” process is the fastest route.
The process follows these general steps:
- File the Petition: You begin by filing a “Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.” In Marion County, the 2026 standard filing fee is approximately $397.50 (plus a $10.00 final judgment fee).
- Serve Your Spouse: Unless you file a “Joint Petition,” you must officially serve your spouse via the Sheriff or a process server. If they agree, they can sign an Answer and Waiver to speed up the process.
- Financial Disclosure: Both spouses must usually file a Financial Affidavit within 45 days of service, though this can sometimes be waived in simplified cases.
- The Final Hearing: Unlike some states that allow “divorce by mail,” Florida typically requires at least one spouse (or both in simplified cases) to attend a brief final hearing to testify that the marriage is “irretrievably broken.”
In Florida, there is no mandatory 90-day waiting period like in Pennsylvania; however, there is a 20-day cooling-off period from the date of filing before a final judgment can be entered (though this can sometimes be waived by a judge in emergencies).
🗂️
Common Marion County Divorce Forms You Will Need
Florida uses standardized Supreme Court forms. To complete your divorce, you will likely need:
- Petition for Dissolution of Marriage: (Form 12.901 series) The document that starts the case.
- Family Law Financial Affidavit: (Form 12.902b or 12.902c) Required even in most uncontested cases.
- Notice of Social Security Number: To identify both parties for court records.
- Affidavit of Corroborating Witness: To prove your 6-month Florida residency.
- Marital Settlement Agreement: A contract settling how you divide your house, debts, and bank accounts.
If you have minor children, you will also need:
- Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Affidavit: (Form 12.902d).
- Parenting Plan: Outlining the time-sharing schedule and parental responsibilities.
- Child Support Guidelines Worksheet: To calculate support based on Florida’s statutory formula.
💳
Divorce Filing Fees and Costs
For 2026, the basic cost to start a divorce in Marion County is $408.00 (total including the final judgment fee). Well, apart from having that amount, if you cannot pay it, you can fill out a financial hardship form (Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status).
If the Clerk’s office approves your paperwork, you might not have to pay the costs at all (waive the filing fees, dropping your immediate cost to a $25.00 administrative fee) or you can pay in smaller chunks over time (payment plan with a one-time $25.00 setup fee). And a lot more! But… just keep in mind: The state government (Florida Legislature) can change these costs at any time, so it is always a good idea to check the exact price with the court clerk before you go to pay.
Start Divorce in 3 Simple Steps
Our service can complete the paperwork for your agreed-upon divorce, minimizing your stress and the risk of submitting the wrong forms.
Check Your Eligibility
Answer several simple questions on our platform to see if our service is suitable in your specific circumstances.
Fill out a Questionnaire
Complete a full online questionnaire, providing the details of your case so the system can select and fill in the right forms.
Print out the Papers
Download the completed documents from your account, print, sign, and notarize them to start the case with the local court.
- Court-Approved Divorce Packet 📂
We prepare all the forms for your uncontested divorce in Jefferson County. You won’t waste hours searching which papers you need. Everything comes complete and ready to file at the courthouse. - Forms Filled Automatically Based on Your Answers 📝
Our simple guided questionnaire fills out the forms for you. No confusing legal language or hours spent figuring out instructions – we make it easy. - Step-by-Step Filing Instructions 🛠️
Along with your forms, you’ll get simple instructions that show how to file with the court. This makes the process easier and less stressful.