How Long Does a Contested Divorce Take in Florida?

Introduction

The timeline for a contested divorce in Florida might surprise you. It can take anywhere from 6 months to over 2 years based on your situation.

Most uncontested divorces finish within 3 months. The process takes much longer when spouses disagree on terms. A typical contested divorce needs about 12 months to complete. Several required steps stretch the timeline - a 20-day response window after filing, discovery that spans 1-8 months, plus mandatory mediation adding 1-3 months more.

Life feels uncertain and stressful when you can't move forward. Your divorce could take extra time if you face complex asset splits, child custody battles, or an uncooperative spouse. The good news? Between 70% to 90% of Florida divorce cases reach successful settlements through mediation.

Let us guide you through the actual timeline of contested Florida divorces. You'll learn what affects the duration and what each stage brings. We'll give you clear, direct answers about your divorce experience.

Understanding the Contested Divorce Process in Florida

A contested divorce in Florida happens when spouses disagree on key issues while ending their marriage. These disagreements often involve child custody, parenting time, division of assets, alimony, child support, or debt allocation.

The contested divorce process helps you manage expectations and prepare better. Here's what usually happens:

1. Filing the Petition - One spouse files a petition to dissolve the marriage with the court. A private process server delivers these documents to the other spouse.

2. Response Period - The other spouse has 20 days to file an answer after being served. The court might issue a default judgment favoring the filing spouse if no response is received.

3. Financial Disclosure - Both parties exchange detailed financial information, including tax returns, bank statements, retirement accounts, and pay stubs. This discovery phase takes about 90 days.

4. Mandatory Mediation - Florida requires mediation for all divorce cases. A neutral third party helps couples negotiate their disputes. Research shows that between 70% to 90% of Florida divorce cases reach successful settlements at mediation.

5. Pre-Trial Procedures - Both parties gather evidence and witness testimonies if mediation fails.

6. Trial - The judge hears both sides' arguments and makes final decisions on unresolved issues. While trials typically last one day, preparation can take up to five months.

Most contested divorces in Florida take one of two paths:

• Originally Contested: These cases start with disagreements but reach settlement at mediation, and usually conclude within 4-6 months.

• Fully Contested: These cases go to trial and can take anywhere from 9 months to 3 years to complete. Complex divorces might stretch to 5-6 years in rare situations.

Your contested divorce's length depends on how complex the disputes are, your willingness to compromise, and court scheduling. Parents must complete a four-hour parenting course if children are involved.

Real Timeline: Step-by-Step Breakdown of a Contested Divorce

A contested divorce in Florida follows a clear timeline, though each case brings its own unique challenges. Here's a real-life breakdown of how long each phase typically takes:

1. Filing and Serving the Petition (1-3 weeks) The journey begins when one spouse files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. A private process server then delivers these documents to the other spouse, usually taking 1-3 weeks. This timeline might stretch if your spouse tries to avoid being found.

2. Response Period (20 days)Florida law gives your spouse exactly 20 days to file an Answer to the petition. This timeline stays firm and rarely sees any changes.

3. Financial Disclosure (45 days) Both parties need to submit mandatory financial disclosures within 45 days of the original filing. Each person must turn in a Financial Affidavit that shows all income, assets, expenses, and debts, plus supporting documents like tax returns and bank statements.

4. Discovery Phase (1-8 months)The evidence-gathering stage can take anywhere from 1-8 months. Attorneys gather information through interrogatories, depositions, document requests, and subpoenas during this time.

5. Parenting Course (45 days) Parents going through divorce must complete a 4-hour parenting education course. The filing spouse needs to finish within 45 days after filing, and the responding spouse has 45 days after being served.

6. Mediation (4-5 months after filing) Florida courts want couples to try mediation before heading to trial. This usually happens about 4-5 months after the original filing. It's worth noting that 70-90% of divorce cases end here.

7. Pre-Trial Preparation (1-3 months)Cases that don't settle in mediation move toward trial preparation, which takes about 1-3 months. Attorneys spend this time getting evidence ready, preparing witnesses, and meeting pre-trial requirements.

8. Trial (1-5 days) The trial itself runs between 1-5 days. Getting everything ready for trial can take up to 5 months.

9. Final Judgment (varies) The judge issues the final judgment after trial. Cases that settle during mediation usually wrap up with a final hearing 4-6 months after starting.

Most contested divorces in Florida take 6 months to 2 years to complete. High-conflict cases might run longer. The spouses' willingness to work together substantially affects how long the whole process takes.

Factors That Can Speed Up or Delay the Process

Your contested divorce timeline in Florida depends on several factors that can speed up or slow down the process.

The level of cooperation between spouses makes the biggest difference. Both parties who communicate openly and show they're willing to compromise move through the process quickly. The timeline stretches out when spouses don't cooperate, delay proceedings, or fail to submit documents on time.

Court scheduling and backlogs create a vital part of your case's timeline. Many Florida courts face heavy backlogs, especially in busy areas. This leads to delayed hearings and final rulings. Data shows 95% of collaborative divorce cases in Florida wrap up within a year. Simple cases might take just two months to resolve.

The complexity of your financial situation shapes how long your divorce takes. Cases with:

• Multiple properties

• Business ownership

• Significant investments

• High-value assets

These cases need appraisals, forensic accounting, or expert testimony that add time to the process. The timeline stretches even more when financial disclosures are incomplete or assets might be hidden.

Child custody disputes take the most time in contested divorces. Parents need multiple sessions to create complete parenting plans that serve their children's interests. Florida law requires parents to finish a four-hour parenting education course before the final judgment.

Discovery compliance affects how smoothly things move. Missing deadlines for documents, expert testimony, or depositions causes major delays. One South Florida case showed the consequences when a husband kept missing deadlines - the court banned his expert witnesses from testifying.

Mediation success changes how long divorces take. Florida law says most couples must try mediation before going to trial. Successful mediation leads to much faster resolutions than full trials.

You control many factors that speed up contested divorces. Keep communication open, respond to document requests quickly, and work together toward solutions when possible.

Conclusion

Knowledge about the contested divorce process in Florida definitely helps manage expectations during this challenging time. This piece reveals that contested divorces typically take between 6 months and 2 years, and the average case resolves in about 12 months.

Your knowledge about each phase of the process enables you to make informed decisions. The original filing and 20-day response period, financial disclosure and mandatory mediation follow a predictable pattern despite the emotional uncertainty you might feel.

You can largely control the factors that affect your specific timeline. Cooperation between spouses, prompt document submission and the ability to compromise at mediation can reduce your waiting time by a lot. Cases with simpler financial situations and amicable child custody arrangements typically resolve much faster than complex, highly contentious divorces.

The success rate of Florida divorce cases at mediation ranges between 70% and 90%, which offers hope even when the process seems overwhelming. Your approach to negotiations and ability to find middle ground often determine whether your case concludes within months rather than years.

A contested divorce needs patience and preparation. The legal system moves at its own pace, but understanding each stage helps reduce anxiety and lets you plan better. So you'll feel more confident facing upcoming negotiations and know exactly what to expect as you work toward finalizing your divorce and starting the next chapter of your life.