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Broward County Divorce Statistics & Family Court Guide

Broward County Divorce Court Guide – Real Data, Real Answers

By Larry Schott, Florida Family Law Attorney  |  Schott & Tolchinsky, P.A.

22,655
Total 17th Circuit family court filings last year
100.7%
Clearance rate — cases resolved vs. filed
0.04%
Florida dissolution cases that go to jury trial

Broward is the second highest dissolution filing county in Florida, behind only Miami-Dade (11,484). Post-judgment proceedings totaled 19,872, nearly double the dissolution filing volume, reflecting the ongoing nature of family court for parents with minor children.

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Which Situation Sounds Like Yours?

Find the one that fits. Each links to a detailed guide on what matters most in your specific circumstances.

We have a house, retirement accounts, and need to divide everything fairly

Florida is an equitable distribution state. With Broward’s median home value at $471,900, how the house is handled is often the most consequential financial decision in a divorce. How marital assets are divided in Florida ›

We have children and I don’t know how time-sharing will work

Since July 2023, Florida courts start with a presumption that 50/50 time-sharing is in the child’s best interests. What you agree to now becomes the framework your children live by. Florida child custody and time-sharing explained ›

I stayed home to raise the kids. Will I be left with nothing?

Florida eliminated permanent alimony in 2023. The support available now depends on the length of your marriage, not what applied five years ago. Alimony in Florida: types, duration, how courts decide ›

We agree on everything. Can we just get this done?

Yes. An uncontested or simplified dissolution is the fastest path. But understanding what you are agreeing to before you sign matters enormously. Uncontested divorce in Florida: what you need to know ›

My spouse just served me with papers. What do I do?

You have 20 days to respond. Missing that deadline can result in a default judgment where a judge decides the outcome without hearing your side. Step-by-step guide to divorce in Broward County ›

My divorce is final but circumstances have changed

The 17th Circuit handled 19,872 post-judgment proceedings last year, nearly double the dissolution filing volume. Child support, time-sharing, and alimony can all be modified. Speak with Larry Schott ›

What the Next 60 Days Actually Look Like

The most disorienting part of divorce is not knowing what comes next. Here is the actual sequence for most Broward County cases.

1

Days 1 to 7: Filing or being served

One spouse files a Petition for Dissolution with the 17th Circuit. The other has 20 days to respond. Temporary orders covering who stays in the house, who has the kids, and who pays bills can be requested immediately. Full Broward filing guide ›
2

Days 20 to 45: Mandatory financial disclosure

Both parties must exchange financial affidavits, tax returns, pay stubs, and asset documentation within 45 days of service. If children are involved, both parents must complete the Parent Education Course before the court can enter a final judgment.
3

Weeks 4 to 12: Negotiation or discovery

Most cases work toward a Marital Settlement Agreement. Cases that do not settle enter discovery. The earlier both parties agree on major issues, the shorter and less expensive this phase is.
4

Mediation: Required before trial in Broward

The 17th Circuit requires mediation before trial. OSCA data shows only 26 dissolution cases out of 73,389 statewide went to jury trial in FY 2024–25, just 0.04 percent. How mediation works in a Florida divorce ›
5

Final judgment: Weeks 3 to 18 or longer

Simplified dissolutions can close the same day you file. Uncontested cases: 2 to 4 months. Contested cases: 9 to 18 months or longer. Full divorce timeline guide ›

Broward County Family Court: The Numbers

The 17th Circuit is one of only two “very large” circuits in Florida, alongside Miami-Dade. The table below shows every category of family court case filed and disposed in Broward last year, drawn directly from the OSCA FY 2024–25 Circuit Family Court Statistics report.

Case Type Filings Dispositions
Simplified dissolution 1,546 1,433
Dissolution of marriage 7,281 7,429
Child support (standalone) 571 503
Protection orders (all types) 7,746 7,791
Paternity 1,439 1,534
Other domestic relations 2,309 2,432
Juvenile delinquency 1,336 1,307
Juvenile dependency 427 382
Total, all family court 22,655 22,811

Source: OSCA FY 2024–25, Chapter 5, pp. 5-9 and 5-17.

Protection orders nearly match dissolution filings: 7,746 protection order filings vs. 8,827 dissolution filings last year in Broward. If safety is a concern, restraining orders and domestic violence injunctions provide immediate legal relief including emergency removal from the home and emergency time-sharing protections for children.

The 17th Circuit also handled 19,872 post-judgment domestic relations proceedings last year, including 5,339 civil contempt and enforcement actions and 1,634 modification petitions. For families with ongoing co-parenting obligations, the 17th Circuit is not a one-time event.

What Is Financially at Stake in a Typical Broward Divorce

Broward’s median household income is $81,488 and the median owner-occupied home value is $471,900, which is 19 percent above the Florida median of $396,900. That home is typically the largest single asset in a Broward dissolution.

Measure Broward Florida
Median household income $81,488 $77,735
Per capita income $44,499 $43,582
Median home value $471,900 $396,900
Persons below poverty 11.6% 12.1%
Foreign-born population 36.8% ~23%
Total households 756,040 —

Source: Census Reporter ACS 2024 · Data USA 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts.

When a two-income Broward household splits into two, each trying to afford a county where the median home is nearly half a million dollars, the financial math of divorce becomes one of the most consequential calculations either party will ever face.

The house: Often the most complex divorce asset

If the home is marital, the equity must be divided fairly, though not necessarily 50/50. Common outcomes: one spouse buys out the other; the home is sold; or a deferred sale until the children finish school. What happens to the house in a Florida divorce ›

Alimony changed fundamentally in 2023. Florida eliminated permanent alimony in July 2023. Duration is now capped based on marriage length. What a friend who divorced in 2019 received is not what the law provides today. Read the current alimony guide ›

What the Data Shows When Children Are Involved

35.4 percent of all Broward County households with children under 18 are single-parent households (FRED / ACS 2024), a figure that has held stable between 35 and 37 percent for five consecutive years.

HB 1301 (2023)  •  The Presumption That Changed Everything

Effective July 1, 2023, Florida established a rebuttable presumption that equal 50/50 time-sharing is in the best interests of the minor child. Equal time-sharing is now the starting point. The parent who wants a different arrangement bears the burden of proving why. Florida child custody and time-sharing › · Parenting Plans in Florida ›

The Questions People Ask Most

Will I lose my kids if I move out of the house?
Moving out does not automatically change your rights to your children. But it can complicate your position if the other parent argues you abandoned the family residence. Arrangements made in the first weeks often become the baseline at the final hearing. Read more about Florida child custody and time-sharing ›
Can my spouse drain the bank accounts before I file?
Once a petition is filed, courts can enter temporary orders preventing disposal of marital assets. Before filing there is less protection. Document current account balances and asset values now as these become the baseline for equitable distribution. Read more about dividing marital assets ›
What happens to my spouse’s pension or 401(k)?
Retirement accounts accumulated during the marriage are marital assets. Dividing a qualified plan requires a Qualified Domestic Relations Order drafted after the divorce is final. Getting it wrong can mean losing the benefit entirely. Read more about dividing marital assets ›
How is child support calculated in Florida?
Florida uses an income shares model under Florida Statute 61.30. The formula considers both parents’ gross incomes, the time-sharing schedule, health insurance costs, and childcare expenses. If a parent is voluntarily underemployed, the court can impute income based on earning capacity. Florida child support: how it is calculated and enforced ›
How much does a divorce cost in Broward County?
The Broward County filing fee is approximately $409. Beyond that, costs depend entirely on the case, from a flat fee for a simple uncontested divorce to tens of thousands for a contested case with children and significant assets. How much does a divorce cost in Florida? › · Who pays attorney fees? ›
Can I move out of Florida with my kids after the divorce?
No, not without court approval or the other parent’s written consent. Florida’s relocation statute requires a petition for any move more than 50 miles with a minor child. Relocating without following this process can result in being ordered to return the child. Relocation after divorce in Florida ›
My ex isn’t following the parenting plan. What can I do?
The 17th Circuit handled 5,339 civil contempt and enforcement reopenings last year. This is extremely common. File a motion for contempt or a supplemental petition if violations are systematic. Document every violation with dates, times, and what was supposed to happen. Parenting Plans in Florida: What Must Be Included ›
Do I have to go to court, or can this be settled outside?
Most Broward divorces settle before trial. Of 73,389 dissolution cases statewide in FY 2024–25, only 26 went to jury trial, which is 0.04 percent. Even contested cases typically resolve at mediation, which is required by the 17th Circuit before trial.
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Why It Matters Who Represents You in Broward County

Broward’s 17th Circuit is one of the highest-volume family courts in Florida. The judges, the procedures, the local rules, and the mediation culture all matter. Larry Schott has practiced family law in Broward County and knows this court. Call for a free consultation with no obligation and everything kept confidential.

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