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

How long your divorce takes is one of the most practical questions you can ask, and it deserves a straight answer. The timeline varies significantly depending on whether the divorce is contested, whether children are involved, and how the case moves through the Broward County court system. This guide breaks it down by scenario so you know what to realistically expect.

1. The Mandatory 20-Day Waiting Period

Florida law sets a minimum waiting period of 20 days between the date the petition for dissolution of marriage is filed and the date a final judgment can be entered. This applies to every divorce in Florida without exception. In practice, very few divorces are finalized in exactly 20 days. The 20-day minimum is the floor, not the typical timeline. Court scheduling, financial disclosure deadlines, the parenting course requirement, and the complexity of the issues involved all push the actual timeline well beyond 20 days in most cases. The minimum matters primarily in understanding that no matter how cooperative both parties are, the process cannot be compressed below that threshold.

2. How Long Does an Uncontested Divorce Take in Florida?

An uncontested divorce is one where both spouses have reached full agreement on every issue before filing. Because there are no disputed matters for the court to resolve, the process moves significantly faster than a contested case. The typical timeline for an uncontested divorce in Florida runs 4 to 12 weeks from the date of filing to the entry of the final judgment. Cases at the faster end of that range involve no children, simple finances, paperwork completed without errors, and a court calendar with available hearing dates. Cases that stretch toward 12 weeks typically involve minor delays in document execution, financial affidavit completion, or court scheduling backlogs.

Stage	Typical Timeframe
Petition filed and served (or waiver of service signed)	Week 1 to 2
Financial affidavits completed and exchanged	Within 45 days of service
Marital settlement agreement signed and notarized	Week 1 to 4
Final hearing scheduled and held	Week 4 to 12 depending on court calendar
Final judgment entered	Same day as final hearing

The most common reason an uncontested divorce takes longer than expected is delays in completing and filing the required paperwork. Missing signatures, incomplete financial affidavits, or a marital settlement agreement that needs revision after review all add time. Working with an attorney from the beginning eliminates most of these delays because the paperwork is prepared correctly the first time. For a complete walkthrough of what an uncontested divorce requires in Florida, including the full checklist of what both parties must agree on and what documents must be filed, see our guide: Uncontested Divorce in Florida: What It Takes and How to Do It Right.

3. How Long Does a Divorce Take in Florida With Kids?

When minor children are involved, a Florida divorce takes longer than one without children. This is true even when both parents are fully cooperative and agree on everything. The additional time comes from mandatory requirements that apply specifically to divorces involving minor children.

Why Children Add Time

• Parenting Plan requirement Every dissolution involving minor children requires a court-approved Parenting Plan under Florida Statute 61.13. The plan must address the time-sharing schedule, daily parenting responsibilities, decision-making authority over healthcare and education, and how the parents will communicate. Drafting, reviewing, and finalizing a Parenting Plan that the court will approve adds time even when parents agree on the terms.
• Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course Both parents must complete a state-approved parenting course and file their certificates of completion with the court before the final judgment can be entered. Florida Statute 61.21 mandates this requirement. The course runs approximately four hours and is available online, but parents who wait until the last minute often discover their hearing has to be rescheduled because the certificate was not on file in time.
• Child support calculation and documentation Child support must be established using the Florida Statute 61.30 guidelines. When income is simple and straightforward, this is quick. When either parent is self-employed, earns variable income, or owns a business, establishing the correct income figures takes more time.
• Court review of the Parenting Plan Unlike property division, which a judge will generally approve if both parties agreed to it, a Parenting Plan is subject to the court’s independent review for compliance with the best interest standard. If the judge has concerns about the plan as submitted, additional hearings or revisions may be required.

Timeline for Divorce With Children in Florida

Scenario	Typical Timeline
Uncontested divorce, full agreement on Parenting Plan and child support	6 to 14 weeks
Contested time-sharing, resolved at mediation	6 to 12 months
Fully contested custody dispute, guardian ad litem appointed	12 to 24 months
Contested custody going to trial	18 to 36 months in complex cases

The single biggest driver of timeline in a divorce with children is whether the parents can agree on the Parenting Plan. Parents who reach agreement on time-sharing before or at mediation save months. Parents who cannot agree and require the court to evaluate and rule on a disputed custody arrangement face the longest and most expensive timelines in Florida family law.

4. How Long Does a Contested Divorce Take?

A divorce becomes contested the moment one spouse disagrees with the other on any significant issue. It does not matter if both parties want the divorce. If they cannot agree on how to divide assets, what alimony should be paid, or how to structure the Parenting Plan, the case is contested and the timeline extends significantly.

Typical Phases of a Contested Divorce and Their Timelines

• Petition filed and served The case opens when the petition is filed and served on the other spouse. The respondent has 20 days to file a written Answer. In many contested cases, the respondent also files a Counter-Petition raising their own claims, which requires the original petitioner to file a response within 20 more days. This initial pleading phase commonly runs 4 to 6 weeks.
• Temporary orders Either party can move for temporary relief covering child support, alimony, use of the marital home, and attorney’s fees while the case is pending. Temporary order hearings add time but provide financial stability and clarity during the proceeding. These hearings are typically scheduled 4 to 8 weeks after filing.
• Financial disclosure and discovery Both parties must complete financial affidavits within 45 days of service. In contested cases, the discovery phase beyond the affidavit commonly runs 2 to 4 months and involves requests for bank records, tax returns, retirement account statements, business records, and other financial documentation. When one party is uncooperative or records are difficult to obtain, discovery can stretch to 6 months or longer.
• Case management conference Broward County courts typically schedule a case management conference 60 to 90 days after the petition is filed. The judge uses this hearing to assess the status of the case, hear outstanding motions, and set the case for mediation or trial.
• Mediation Florida courts require mediation in contested divorce cases before scheduling a trial. In Broward County, mediation is typically scheduled 6 to 9 months after filing, after financial disclosure is substantially complete. Between 70 and 80 percent of contested Florida divorces settle at mediation. Cases that settle at mediation can usually be finalized within 4 to 8 weeks after the mediation date.
• Trial When mediation fails, the case goes on a trial track. In Broward County, trial dates in contested divorce cases are commonly scheduled 12 to 18 months after filing, depending on judicial calendar availability and case complexity. Trial preparation adds additional weeks of attorney time before the trial date itself.

Overall Contested Divorce Timeline Summary

Type of Contested Case	Typical Total Timeline
Contested, settled at mediation	6 to 12 months
Contested, settled after mediation but before trial	10 to 18 months
Contested, goes to trial	14 to 24 months
High-asset or high-conflict case with custody dispute at trial	24 to 36 months or more

5. How Long Does a Simplified Dissolution Take?

A simplified dissolution of marriage is Florida’s fastest divorce option and is available only when there are no minor children, neither spouse is seeking alimony, and both parties fully agree on all terms. Both spouses must appear together to file. When both parties are organized and prepared, a simplified dissolution in Broward County can be completed in as little as 3 to 6 weeks from filing to the entry of the final judgment. The main variables are how quickly both parties execute the required documents and how soon the court can schedule the final hearing after all documents are filed. For the full eligibility requirements and step-by-step filing instructions, see our guide: How to File a Simplified Divorce in Broward County.

6. Broward County Specific Timelines

Every county in Florida operates its own court system with its own judicial calendar, case management practices, and scheduling availability. Broward County is one of the busiest family court circuits in Florida, which has practical implications for how long your case takes. For uncontested matters in Broward County, final hearing dates are typically available 4 to 8 weeks after all documents are filed with the clerk. During periods of high case volume, scheduling can extend further. For contested cases, case management conferences are generally set within 60 to 90 days of filing, and mediation is typically ordered and scheduled within 6 to 9 months. Trial dates in Broward County contested divorce cases often fall 12 to 18 months or more after filing, depending on the complexity of the issues and the court’s calendar. Having an attorney who regularly practices in the 17th Judicial Circuit in Broward County makes a real difference. Familiarity with how specific judges manage their dockets, what each judge expects at case management conferences, and how to move cases efficiently through the system shortens timelines in practical ways that are hard to quantify but consistently matter. See our step-by-step guide to filing for a divorce in Broward County.

7. What Slows a Divorce Down

Most of the delays in Florida divorce cases are predictable and preventable. Understanding what causes them helps you avoid them.

• Incomplete or inaccurate financial affidavits The financial affidavit is required within 45 days of service and must be completed accurately and fully. Errors or omissions require correction and re-filing, which delays everything that depends on the affidavit.
• Delays in service of process If the respondent is difficult to locate or evades service, the case cannot move forward. In rare cases this requires service by publication, which adds weeks to the timeline.
• Discovery disputes When one party fails to respond to financial disclosure requests or objects to document demands, the other side must file motions to compel compliance. These disputes can add months to the discovery phase.
• Uncooperative or dilatory conduct A spouse who misses deadlines, fails to appear at scheduled hearings, or repeatedly requests continuances drags the case out for everyone. Courts have tools to address this behavior but using them takes time.
• Waiting on expert reports Business valuations, forensic accounting reports, and custody evaluations take time to complete. In cases where these are needed, the case typically cannot proceed to mediation or trial until the reports are finished and exchanged.
• Procrastinating on the parenting course As noted above, this is one of the most common avoidable delays in divorces involving children. Both parents must file their certificates before the final judgment can be entered.
• Court scheduling backlogs This is outside anyone’s control. Broward County courts handle a high volume of family law cases, and hearing dates are not always immediately available. Filing promptly and keeping the case moving at every stage gives you the best chance of landing on the court’s calendar as quickly as possible.

8. How to Move Your Case Faster

While you cannot control the court’s calendar, you can control a significant number of the variables that determine how long your divorce takes.

• Agree on as much as possible before filing Every issue resolved by agreement before filing is an issue that does not need to be litigated. Even partial agreements reduce the number of contested matters the court must address.
• Gather your financial documents before the petition is filed Having tax returns, bank statements, retirement account records, and other financial documentation organized and ready shortens the financial disclosure phase substantially.
• Respond to all requests and deadlines promptly Responding to your spouse’s discovery requests on time, signing documents when they are ready, and meeting all court-ordered deadlines keeps the case on track and avoids sanctions.
• Complete the parenting course early If children are involved, both parents should complete the course and file their certificates within the first few weeks of the case rather than waiting.
• Approach mediation prepared to settle Coming to mediation with realistic expectations, a clear sense of your priorities, and genuine willingness to negotiate gives the process the best chance of resulting in a full settlement. Cases that settle at mediation close months faster than those that proceed to trial.
• Work with an attorney who knows Broward County family court An attorney familiar with local court procedures, judicial preferences, and how the 17th Circuit manages its docket can navigate procedural requirements efficiently and avoid delays that less experienced counsel might not anticipate.

Related Articles:

• Uncontested Divorce in Florida: What It Takes and How to Do It Right
• Contested Divorce in Florida
• How to File a Simplified Divorce in Broward County
• How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Florida?
• Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Divorce in Broward County
• 33 Typical Divorce Issues When You Have Minor Children