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Remote Divorce Hearings in Florida: Which Counties, How to Prepare

Reviewed by the Amicably document team · Updated August 29, 2026

Most Florida circuits will let at least one spouse attend the short uncontested divorce final hearing by Zoom instead of driving to the courthouse. Whether both spouses can join by video, whether you have to ask the judge first, and what you must upload beforehand is set circuit by circuit, and sometimes judge by judge, so the answer depends on where your case is filed.

This guide covers what a remote hearing actually is, how six of Florida's largest counties currently handle it, and what to do if yours does not offer it.

What a remote hearing actually is

In an uncontested Florida divorce, almost everything before the very end happens on paper or through the state's e-filing portal: no courthouse trip is needed to file the petition, sign the settlement agreement, or notarize documents (Florida allows Remote Online Notarization, a separate video session from the hearing itself). The one moment that has traditionally required showing up is the final hearing, a short appearance where a judge reviews the paperwork, asks a few questions under oath, and signs the final judgment.

A remote hearing means that final appearance happens over Zoom video instead of in a courtroom. It is not the same as a phone call; most circuits expect video, not just audio. And it is not automatic. The circuit, the specific judge assigned to the case, and sometimes the case type all decide whether Zoom is offered, and if so, how to request it.

Who has to appear, by route

Whether one spouse or two need to be at the hearing depends on which Florida divorce process fits your case, not on the county:

Either way, remote availability changes the format of that one hearing, not who is required to be there. See what actually happens at the uncontested final hearing and the questions a Florida judge typically asks so you can prepare answers no matter which format your county uses.

How six Florida counties handle it

Amicably currently prepares cases in six counties: Miami-Dade, Broward, Hillsborough, Orange, Palm Beach, and Duval. Each sits in its own judicial circuit, and each circuit sets its own remote-hearing rules. Here is what each circuit's own published materials say as of this writing.

None of this is fixed. Judges rotate divisions, circuits update their procedures, and a case that qualifies for Zoom one month can be pulled back to in person the next if the judge's calendar changes. Confirm the current rule for your specific division before you plan around it, and never skip a hearing because you assumed it would be remote.

Outside these six counties, every Florida circuit sets its own remote-hearing policy the same way. Call the clerk's family division or check your circuit's own court website before your hearing date, rather than assuming what worked for a friend in a different county.

How to prepare for a Zoom hearing

Once you know your hearing is remote, the preparation is mostly the same as an in-person hearing, plus a short technical check.

1. Confirm the format in writing. Read the hearing notice or email from the court carefully; if it does not say Zoom, video, or phone, assume in person until someone at the clerk's office or the judge's office confirms otherwise.
2. Get the link and log-in details early, and test the Zoom app on the same device you plan to use at least a day before the hearing, not the morning of.
3. Upload or email anything the division requires in advance, such as the proposed final judgment, the settlement agreement, a parenting plan, or proof of residency. Some divisions set this deadline in hours before the hearing, not days, so check the exact window for your case.
4. Pick a quiet, well-lit, private room with a plain background. Courts treat a Zoom hearing as an official court appearance, not a casual video call.
5. Dress and behave as if you were in the courtroom: no other windows open, no driving, no multitasking, and keep a photo ID within reach in case the judge asks to see it on camera.
6. Join five to ten minutes early and wait in the queue or waiting room. Being marked absent from a remote hearing delays your case the same way missing an in-person one does.

From filing to hearing day

The hearing format does not change the calendar Florida law sets for the case itself: no final judgment can be entered until at least 20 days after filing.

1. Day 0Petition filed. In a regular uncontested case, the cooperating spouse's signed Answer and Waiver is filed once ready, so that spouse does not need to attend or be formally served.
2. Day 20 (earliest)The waiting period ends. This is the earliest possible date for a final judgment, not a guaranteed one.
3. Before the hearingRequest the format, Zoom or in person, and upload any documents your division requires. This step, more than the waiting period, is usually what actually sets your hearing date.
4. Hearing dayJoin or arrive on time, whichever format was confirmed, and expect a short appearance: a few sworn questions and the judge's signature.

If your county will not do it by Zoom

Some divisions simply do not offer a remote option for the final hearing, and asking a judge to make an exception without a real reason rarely works. If that is your case:

• Plan the trip like any other court date: know the courthouse address, parking, and the family division's floor or room number ahead of time.
• Ask whether a hardship exception exists, for example active military deployment or a documented medical reason. Circuits handle these case by case, not on request alone.
• If only one spouse needs to attend, make sure the Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Judgment is signed, notarized, and filed before the hearing is set. That is what excuses the second spouse's attendance in a regular uncontested case; it does not require a Zoom link, it removes the need for a second appearance.
• Build in extra time. A courthouse trip means a specific block on a specific day, and a reset in-person hearing usually costs more calendar time than a remote one would.

Whichever route applies to your case, we prepare every document your county's hearing will require, walk you through Florida's e-filing portal, and tell you what to expect at the hearing itself, in person or by Zoom.

Frequently asked questions