The short answer
A contested divorce in Florida starts with $418 in court costs: a $408 filing fee under § 28.241, Florida Statutes, plus a $10 summons fee (as of October 2026). The real total depends mostly on how many hours your lawyer bills, and that grows with each issue you and your spouse fight over.
How much does a contested divorce cost in Florida?
$418 in court costs is where every contested divorce in Florida starts. That is the $408 filing fee plus a $10 summons fee. A summons is the court paper that tells your spouse about the case. Lawyer fees make up most of the total. They depend on how many issues you and your spouse fight over.
Costs like these can feel scary. Most of them are things you can plan for, and some can be reduced or shifted to your spouse.
Source: The Alachua County Clerk of the Court fee schedule, current as of January 1, 2026, lists the $408 dissolution fee under §§ 28.241 and 28.101, Florida Statutes, and the $10 summons fee. Fees are set by state law, so other counties charge about the same. Check with your county clerk before you file.
What makes a contested divorce cost more?
A contested divorce is one where you and your spouse disagree on at least one issue, such as property, alimony or the children. Each disagreement adds lawyer hours. Here are the main costs to plan for, as of October 2026:
- Filing fee: $408, paid to the clerk when you file the petition (§ 28.241, Florida Statutes).
- Summons: $10 per summons the clerk issues.
- Sheriff service: $40 for each summons the sheriff serves (§ 30.231, Florida Statutes). A private process server sets its own price.
- Court mediation: $60 per person per session when your combined income is under $50,000. It is $120 per person per session when combined income is $50,000 to $100,000 (§ 44.108, Florida Statutes). Private mediators charge their own rates.
- Parenting course: Required for parents of minor children before the final judgment (§ 61.21, Florida Statutes). Providers may charge a reasonable fee. Each circuit must have at least one sliding-scale option where one is available.
- Reopen fee: $50 if you later go back to court on a closed case, with some exceptions.
- Lawyer fees: Usually billed by the hour. This is often the biggest cost, and it rises with discovery, hearings and trial. Discovery is the formal exchange of documents and answers between spouses.
- Experts: Appraisers, accountants or custody evaluators, if your case needs them.
Tip: If you cannot afford the court fees, ask the clerk for an application for civil indigent status. If the clerk approves it, you may not have to pay the fees up front.
Settling even part of the case can cut costs. Every issue you agree on is one less issue your lawyer has to fight in court.
| Path | Court costs to start | What drives the total |
|---|---|---|
| Uncontested (you agree on everything) | $408 filing fee, plus $10 summons and $40 service if your spouse must be served | Mostly paperwork; few or no hearings |
| Contested (you disagree on one or more issues) | $408 filing fee + $10 summons + $40 sheriff service | Lawyer hours, mediation sessions, experts and trial |
Can the court make your spouse pay your lawyer?
Sometimes. Under § 61.16, Florida Statutes, a judge may order one spouse to pay a reasonable amount of the other's attorney fees and costs. The judge looks at both spouses' financial resources. This helps when one spouse earns much more than the other. A spouse who breaks court orders without good reason cannot get fees from the other side.
For more on how a Florida divorce works from start to finish, see our divorce and separation guides.
Frequently asked questions
What is the filing fee for divorce in Florida?
$408 is the filing fee for a dissolution of marriage in Florida, as of October 2026, under § 28.241, Florida Statutes. Plan on a $10 summons fee and $40 for sheriff service if your spouse must be served. If you cannot afford the fees, you can ask the clerk to find you indigent.
Can I get my spouse to pay my attorney fees in Florida?
Sometimes. Section 61.16, Florida Statutes, lets a judge order one spouse to pay a reasonable share of the other's attorney fees and costs. The judge compares both spouses' financial resources first. Fees can also be awarded for appeals and for later enforcement or modification cases.
Is mediation required for divorce in Florida?
Often. Florida judges commonly order contested family cases to mediation before a trial. Mediation is a meeting where a neutral person helps you and your spouse reach a deal. Court mediation costs $60 or $120 per person per session, depending on your combined income (§ 44.108, Florida Statutes).
Do parents have to take a parenting class?
Yes. Under § 61.21, Florida Statutes, both parents of minor children must complete the Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course before the final judgment. The spouse who files has 45 days from filing. The other spouse has 45 days after being served. A judge can excuse it for good cause.
Sources
- Filing and Other Court Fees, Alachua County Clerk of the Court
- § 30.231, Florida Statutes: Sheriffs' fees for service of summons, The Florida Senate
- § 44.108, Florida Statutes: Funding of mediation and arbitration, The Florida Senate
- § 61.16, Florida Statutes: Attorney's fees, suit money, and costs, The Florida Senate
- § 61.21, Florida Statutes: Parent education and family stabilization course, The Florida Senate