Filing for Divorce in Miami-Dade County: Where to File and What to Expect

Divorce cases in Miami-Dade County are heard at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center at 175 NW 1st Avenue in Downtown Miami, the courthouse the Eleventh Judicial Circuit dedicates to family and domestic violence matters. Filing itself happens electronically through the statewide e-filing portal rather than in person, and what follows the filing is a sequence of mandatory steps that catches many people by surprise. This guide walks through the process as it actually works in Miami-Dade.

Before you file: the residency requirement

Florida requires that at least one spouse has lived in the state for the six months immediately before filing. Proof usually comes from a Florida driver license, a Florida ID card, or the testimony of a witness. Without meeting this requirement, the court cannot grant the divorce, so this is checked before anything else.

Florida is a no-fault divorce state. The petition alleges the marriage is irretrievably broken, and neither spouse needs to prove wrongdoing by the other to obtain the divorce itself.

Where and how the filing actually happens

The petition and supporting documents are filed electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which routes the case to the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court. Attorneys are required to e-file. Self-represented parties can use the portal as well, or work through the Clerk’s office.

Once filed and the filing fee is paid, the Clerk assigns a case number and the case lands in one of the family divisions at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center. The other spouse must then be formally served with the petition, which starts their clock to respond.

What the courthouse visit looks like

Most people filing for divorce never visit the courthouse until a hearing is scheduled, since filing is electronic. When hearings do happen, they happen at 175 NW 1st Avenue, a block from the Government Center transit hub, which makes Metrorail and Metromover the most practical way to arrive. Security screening at the entrance is airport-style, and courtrooms for the family divisions are assigned by judge.

The Eleventh Judicial Circuit also operates a Family Court Self-Help Program at the courthouse for self-represented parties, which assists with forms and procedure but does not give legal advice.

The mandatory steps after filing

Florida’s family law rules require both spouses to exchange detailed financial information early in the case. This mandatory disclosure includes financial affidavits and supporting documents like tax returns and account statements, and it applies whether or not the divorce is contested. Incomplete disclosure is one of the most common reasons Miami-Dade divorces stall.

When the divorce involves minor children, both parents must complete a court-approved parenting course before the divorce can be finalized. Cases involving children also require a parenting plan addressing time-sharing and decision-making, and since 2023 Florida law applies a rebuttable presumption that equal time-sharing is in the child’s best interests.

Many Miami-Dade family cases are referred to mediation before they see a judge for trial. A large share of divorces resolve there, which means the financial disclosure and preparation done early in the case often matters more than any courtroom moment.

Contested and uncontested paths

An uncontested divorce, where the spouses agree on everything, can move from filing to final judgment relatively quickly, sometimes with a single brief final hearing. Florida also offers a simplified dissolution procedure for couples with no minor children and full agreement, handled through the Clerk with both spouses appearing together.

A contested divorce follows the longer arc of disclosure, negotiation, mediation, and if needed trial. Property division follows Florida’s equitable distribution framework, and support questions follow the alimony statute as reformed in 2023, which eliminated permanent alimony and set duration limits tied to the length of the marriage.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to file in Miami-Dade if I live here?

Venue for a dissolution case is generally proper where the spouses last lived together as a married couple or where the respondent resides. For most Miami-Dade residents that means filing here, but venue questions can matter when spouses have separated across county lines.

How long does a Miami-Dade divorce take?

It depends almost entirely on agreement. Uncontested cases can conclude in a matter of weeks after filing, while contested cases involving children or significant property routinely take many months. No specific timeline can be promised for any case.

Can I file without a lawyer?

Yes, and the courthouse’s self-help program exists for exactly that. Whether you should depends on what is at stake. Cases involving children, real property, retirement accounts, or a spouse with counsel are where self-representation most often goes wrong.

Is everything in my divorce file public?

Court files are generally public records in Florida, with specific categories of information kept confidential by rule. Financial affidavits and matters involving children receive certain protections, but the safest assumption is that filings can be seen.

Talk to a Miami divorce lawyer

Connect Attorneys helps people through divorce and family law matters from our office at 701 Brickell Avenue, a short Metromover ride from the family courthouse. If you have questions about your situation, schedule a free, no-obligation consultation and we will explain how Florida law may apply to your case. Fee arrangements for family law matters vary depending on the nature and complexity of your case. Contact us for details. Call 1-833-77CONNECT. Hablamos Español.