Here’s What You Need to Know About Getting a Divorce in Santa Rosa County

A simplified dissolution of marriage applies only to a small fraction of divorces.

In order to qualify for this type of marriage dissolution in the state of Florida, all of the following criteria must be met:

• You and/or your spouse must have lived in Florida for at least six months before filing
• You must both agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken (cannot be saved)
• You must have no minor/dependent children
• Neither you nor your spouse is pregnant
• You and your spouse have agreed on the division of your assets and who will pay which part of the money you both owe
• You are not seeking alimony from your spouse
• Your spouse is not seeking alimony from you
• You and your spouse are both willing to give up the right to a trial and appeal process
• You and your spouse are willing to visit the county clerk’s office to sign your
• Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage document; you can do this separately.
• You and your spouse are willing to go to your final divorce hearing together

If your divorce situation doesn’t meet all of these criteria, you cannot file for this type of marriage dissolution. Instead, you’ll need to file a standard Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.

Find additional documents for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage in Santa Rosa County here.

Individuals filing for divorce in Santa Rosa County are not required to hire an attorney. However, the majority of individuals seeking particular arrangements for alimony, child custody and property division do obtain the services of a divorce lawyer.

Divorce can be a complicated process. For the average person, it can be overwhelming. An experienced divorce lawyer can explain the terms, documentation and information you’ll need to proceed with your divorce.

If you have children, you and your spouse will need to file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with Children. You will also need a Financial Affidavit, a Certificate of Compliance, and a number of additional forms.

You can find these forms here.

You can obtain the services of a Santa Rosa County divorce lawyer to help you complete your petition and all corresponding additional documents.

Once your petition has been filed, it must be legally served to your spouse. Your spouse then has 20 days to file an answer to your petition. If your spouse does not file within that time, you can file a Motion for Default to set a final hearing.

Visit the Santa Rosa County Clerk of Court at 6865 Caroline St., Milton, FL 32572.

Laura Spencer Coleman can help you navigate the confusing process of filing for a divorce in Santa Rosa County and beyond.