The one rule that makes divorce cheap: agree with your spouse. Almost every dollar in an expensive divorce is spent fighting. Our free 3-minute eligibility check shows whether you qualify for the cheapest, simplest path.
Can you get a free divorce in Florida?
Not entirely free — every divorce has a court filing fee — but you can get remarkably close. Three things are either free or waivable: the forms (free), the filing fee (waivable if you're low-income), and the document preparation (free if you do it yourself). Here's what's actually unavoidable versus optional:
Court forms
Filing fee (~$408)
Document prep
So a low-income, agreed, DIY divorce can approach $0 out of pocket.
Waiving the filing fee
The court's filing fee for a dissolution of marriage is about $408. If you can't afford it, you can file an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status with the Clerk of Court. If your household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, the clerk can waive or defer the filing fee — and the summons and sheriff service fees along with it. This is the single biggest way to get close to a free divorce, and it's built into the Florida system for exactly this reason.
Free forms and self-help
You never have to pay for the blank paperwork. Florida publishes every divorce form for free:
- The Florida Courts family law forms library — all official forms as free PDFs.
- The DIY Florida self-help tool — a free interview that assembles some forms for you.
- Your county Clerk of Court's self-help center, which offers the forms and basic procedural guidance (not legal advice).
See our Florida divorce forms guide for which forms your case actually needs.
Free and low-cost legal help
If your situation is more complicated but you can't afford a lawyer, free or low-cost help exists — you just have to qualify, usually by income:
- Legal aid organizations. Florida's regional legal-aid societies handle family-law matters for low-income residents; Florida Law Help and the Florida Bar's referral resources can point you to the one for your county.
- Court self-help centers. Many circuits run family-law self-help programs that walk self-represented filers through the process for free.
- Law school clinics and pro bono programs in some areas take qualifying family-law cases at no charge.
These are best for people who both need help and meet income limits. If you simply want the paperwork done right without lawyer prices, a flat-fee service is usually the faster path.
The cheapest realistic path
For most agreeing couples, here's the ladder from cheapest to priciest:
DIY + waived fee (if you qualify)
DIY (pay the filing fee)
Amicably — done for you
Attorney
The rock-bottom option is a DIY, uncontested divorce with a waived filing fee — potentially near $0. The trade-off is that you're responsible for getting every form right, and a rejected packet costs you weeks. The middle ground most agreeing couples choose is a flat-fee service: Amicably prepares your complete Florida packet, reviews it, and handles online notarization for you (the notary's session fee is separate, at cost) for a flat $99 — far below attorney prices, with none of the DIY rejection risk. For the full comparison, see how much a Florida divorce costs.
Cheap vs. false economy
Cheap is smart; careless is expensive. The ways a "cheap" divorce quietly costs more:
- Rejected paperwork. Free forms filled out wrong get bounced, and each bounce restarts your timeline.
- A vague settlement agreement. Saving money by not spelling out who gets what can trigger an expensive fight — or a costly modification — later.
- Using a lawyer you don't need. Paying hourly rates for an agreed case is the most common way people overspend.
- Doing nothing. Delay doesn't lower the cost; it just postpones it.
The cheapest divorce that actually works is an agreed one, prepared correctly the first time.
The affordable way to divorce in Florida — flat $99
If you and your spouse agree, check if you qualify in about 3 minutes. Correct documents, no attorney prices.
Check if you qualifyFrequently asked questions
Can you get a free divorce in Florida?
Not entirely, because every divorce has a court filing fee — but you can get close. Florida's forms are free, and if your household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines you can apply for civil indigent status to have the filing fee waived. A low-income, agreed, do-it-yourself divorce can approach $0 out of pocket.
How do I get the divorce filing fee waived in Florida?
File an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status with the Clerk of Court. If you qualify — generally at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines — the clerk can waive or defer the filing fee, plus the summons and sheriff service fees.
What is the cheapest way to get a divorce in Florida?
An uncontested divorce where you and your spouse agree, so you avoid attorney fees. Preparing and filing the forms yourself costs only the ~$408 filing fee (or nothing if it's waived). A flat-fee service adds accuracy for a few hundred dollars more, which most couples prefer over the rejection risk of pure DIY.
Are Florida divorce forms free?
Yes. The official Florida Supreme Court-approved family law forms are free to download from flcourts.gov and through the DIY Florida self-help tool. You never have to buy the blank forms — what costs money is preparing them correctly.
Can I get free legal help for a divorce in Florida?
Possibly, if you meet income limits. Regional legal-aid organizations, court self-help centers, and some law-school clinics assist low-income Floridians with family-law matters at little or no cost. The Florida Bar's referral resources can point you to help in your county.
How much does the cheapest Florida divorce cost?
If you qualify for a fee waiver and prepare the forms yourself, an uncontested divorce can cost close to $0. Paying the filing fee yourself, it's about $408. A done-for-you service like Amicably is a flat $99 plus the filing fee — still a fraction of an attorney.
Is a cheap divorce a bad idea?
No — a cheap, agreed divorce is often the smartest option. What's risky is being careless to save money: filing incorrect forms that get rejected, or a vague settlement agreement that causes an expensive dispute later. The goal is cheap and correct, not cheap and sloppy.
Official sources
Florida Courts — Dissolution of Marriage forms
Florida Courts — DIY Florida self-help tool
The Florida Bar — Divorce in Florida (consumer pamphlet)
Reviewed by the Amicably document team
Amicably is a Florida registered legal document preparation service. We help agreeing couples complete an uncontested divorce affordably — the official court-approved forms, prepared and reviewed, for a flat fee with no hourly billing. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice.