Overview

A simplified dissolution of marriage is Florida’s most streamlined way to obtain a divorce when—and only when—both spouses qualify and fully agree on every material issue. It is designed for cooperative, low-conflict circumstances: no minor or dependent children (and no pregnancy), no request for alimony by either spouse, a complete agreement on how to divide assets and debts, and a shared commitment to appear together for a short final hearing. If you meet those conditions and can present clean paperwork, the court’s job is largely administrative: confirm residency, confirm eligibility, ensure the settlement is voluntary and complete, and enter a Final Judgment that dissolves the marriage and incorporates your agreement so it is enforceable. The trade-off for speed is scope—this process is not built to resolve disputes, investigate finances, or craft complex parenting plans. It moves quickly precisely because you have nothing left to fight about. If any disagreement emerges, you should pivot to the standard dissolution track (you can still settle fast there). What follows is an end-to-end, 10-step playbook for pro se spouses who want to use the simplified route correctly the first time.

Who Benefits and Who Can File

You benefit from the simplified procedure if you and your spouse already function like a closing team: you have a complete list of assets and debts, you’ve assigned who keeps what, neither of you needs alimony, and there are no children together to plan for. It especially suits short marriages, couples who already separated their finances, and spouses seeking privacy and speed without litigating fault. To file, at least one spouse must have lived in Florida for the six months immediately before filing, both spouses must sign the simplified petition, and both must appear at the final hearing. If you cannot make the same hearing, if anyone seeks alimony, if a pregnancy exists, or if there are minor or dependent children together, the simplified path is unavailable—use the regular dissolution process instead.

Benefits of the Simplified Path

• Speed: Fewer forms, no formal service between spouses, and a brief prove-up hearing.
• Cost control: Minimal filings, no discovery battles, and fewer court appearances.
• Clarity: Your written settlement becomes part of an enforceable Final Judgment.
• Lower stress: A cooperative, paperwork-first approach that avoids fault narratives.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Verify every eligibility element and choose simplified for the right reasons

Before touching forms, run a strict qualification audit. You must be able to truthfully check all of the following boxes: (1) at least one spouse has been a Florida resident for the six months immediately before filing; (2) there are no minor or dependent children in common and no pregnancy; (3) both spouses agree the marriage is irretrievably broken; (4) neither spouse will seek alimony now or later through this case; (5) all assets and debts have been divided to both parties’ satisfaction; and (6) both spouses can appear together at a short final hearing. If any single box fails—or if either spouse is unsure about waiving alimony—use the regular dissolution instead. The simplified track moves fast because it assumes there is nothing material for a judge to decide; it is not a shortcut to hide information, pressure a quick signature, or avoid financial transparency. Choosing it for the right reasons keeps the hearing short and the decree durable.

Scrutinize edge cases honestly. Adult children from prior relationships do not disqualify you, but a dependent adult child in your joint care likely does. Pregnancy disqualifies simplified even if the child is not biologically the husband’s—the court will not end a marriage under simplified while a pregnancy exists. If a spouse is wavering about alimony because of temporary cash-flow fear, resolve that in writing with a finite equalizing payment or agreed short-term contribution toward a specific bill, rather than trying to “fit” alimony into a procedure that prohibits it. If either of you needs discovery to verify balances, valuations, or hidden debt, simplified is not appropriate; switch to the standard path and mediate quickly. Remember that creditors are not bound by your settlement. If your plan leaves a joint debt in only one person’s hands, the bank can still pursue both signers if the paying spouse defaults. Account for that risk now with refinancing or a sale rather than a handshake promise.

Finally, level-set expectations about pace and privacy. Simplified cases are public filings like any other civil matter, but fewer documents and a single brief hearing tend to reduce public friction and cost. To preserve momentum, agree on logistics in advance: who will e-file, how you will name and version documents, what email address to use for court notices, and how quickly each spouse must review drafts. Decide where you will appear (in person or by remote platform if your division allows) and pick a few date ranges you can both attend. When both spouses approach simplified dissolution as a joint administrative project—rather than a last chance to negotiate leverage—the process delivers exactly what it promises: a fast, clean, enforceable finish.

Step 2: Inventory assets and debts comprehensively and design a specific, enforceable settlement

The heart of a workable simplified case is a complete, concrete property and debt settlement that needs no court edits. Start by listing everything either of you owns or owes—treat this like a closing statement, not a memory exercise. Catalog cash, checking/savings, certificates of deposit, brokerage accounts, employer retirement plans (401(k), 403(b), 457), IRAs, HSAs, stock grants still vesting, cryptocurrency wallets, vehicles (with VINs and lienholders), real property (with legal descriptions and mortgage/HELOC details), business interests, life-insurance cash values, and personal property of meaningful value (musical equipment, specialty tools). On the debt side, list every credit card, personal loan, line of credit, student loan, auto loan, tax liability, and any BNPL balances. Add account identifiers masked to last four digits only; do not place full account numbers in public filings. For each asset/debt, write who keeps it, how and when title/obligation moves, and whether an equalizing payment is required to balance the division.

Settle real property with precision. If one spouse keeps the home, require a refinance by a date certain (e.g., 90–120 days) with an automatic sale fallback if refinancing fails. Specify listing agent, initial list price, reduction cadence (e.g., 2% every 21 days until under contract), and who pays carrying costs until closing. For vehicles, pair title transfer with loan assumption or refinance, exact transfer dates, and insurance updates the same day. For retirement accounts, decide between an in-kind division via a plan-approved order (QDRO or similar) or a cash equalization payment. In-kind splits are often cheaper and tax-efficient, but plans have timelines and fees—call the plan administrator now to confirm model language and processing steps so your decree can be implemented without a second trip to court.

Confront joint debts pragmatically. Because creditors can still pursue both of you, your best protection is to refinance a joint balance into the keeping spouse’s name or to pay and close it at or near judgment. If that is impossible, document a short-term clock (e.g., 120 days to refinance; if not, sell the collateral or liquidate a non-retirement asset to wipe the debt). For credit cards, plan immediate closure of joint accounts on the day the decree is entered and migrate autopays to individual cards. If you expect a tax refund or liability for the current year, memorialize who files, who claims which credits, and how any refund or tax due will be split. Precision—dates, dollars, “if/then” triggers—is what converts a friendly agreement into an order a clerk or administrator can execute without interpretation. When your spreadsheet reads like instructions a stranger could follow, you are ready to draft the settlement agreement that will ride with your simplified petition.

Step 3: Complete the Florida simplified forms accurately and attach a detailed settlement agreement

Use the statewide, court-approved simplified dissolution forms and follow their instructions line by line. The joint petition—signed by both spouses—states the core eligibility facts: the marriage is irretrievably broken; there are no minor or dependent children and no pregnancy; neither spouse seeks alimony; the parties have agreed on division of assets and debts; and both will appear at the final hearing. Attach your Marital Settlement Agreement that implements the inventory you built in Step 2. That agreement should identify each significant asset and liability, who receives or assumes it, exact deadlines for deeds, titles, loan assumptions or refinances, retirement plan splits (including who drafts any QDRO and pays plan fees), and any equalizing payments with method (wire, cashier’s check) and date. Include masked account identifiers (last four digits), full legal descriptions for real estate, and VINs for vehicles. Add a cooperation clause (each party will execute documents within X days of request) and a fees clause limited to enforcement, not modification.

Although simplified allows some financial-affidavit waivers, many divisions prefer that each spouse file a Financial Affidavit anyway because it memorializes informed consent and supports the court’s best-practice review. If you use affidavits, complete them accurately with current income, reasonable expenses, and recent pay/tax data. File a Notice of Social Security Number using the confidential information cover sheet required by your circuit; do not place SSNs on public pages. Prepare a proposed Final Judgment using your division’s template if available. Keep naming consistent across every document (full legal names that match your IDs), and ensure the case style (county, division, parties) is identical on the petition, settlement, and proposed judgment. Courts reject packages for small inconsistencies more often than people realize—do a side-by-side caption check before filing.

Finally, plan signatures and notarizations. Many forms require verification under oath, and some circuits prefer notarized settlement signatures even when not strictly required. If you anticipate a remote final hearing, check whether your judge wants PDF originals emailed in advance or hard copies brought to the courthouse later. Keep a single, organized PDF packet with bookmarks (Petition, Agreement, Affidavits, Proposed Judgment, Confidential Info) and a parallel paper set if your division still works from hard copies. When your forms and agreement read cleanly and consistently, you’ve transformed “we agree” into documents the court can adopt without edits—exactly what the simplified procedure expects.

Step 4: File jointly, pay the filing fee, and secure a short, mutually workable hearing date

File your joint simplified petition in the correct county—where either spouse resides—either in person with the clerk or through the statewide e-filing portal. Because you are filing together, you typically will not serve one another with a summons, which removes delay and cost from the timeline. Pay the dissolution filing fee (amount varies by county), and ask the clerk or consult your judge’s webpage for how to obtain a simplified final hearing. Some divisions allow you to select a date window at filing; others will issue a notice with a date the court assigns. Compare calendars and confirm you can both attend. If your division conducts remote prove-ups, ensure you have a quiet place, stable connection, and a way to display ID on camera upon request. Keep your e-filing receipt and a stamped copy set; these will anchor your packet at hearing.

Once you have a hearing date, create a tight countdown plan so nothing slips. Seven days after filing: double-check that the petition, settlement, affidavits (if used), and confidential information sheets all appear on the docket. If anything is missing, re-upload and call the clerk to confirm receipt. Fourteen days after filing: assemble a hearing binder (or final PDF) that includes your residency proof and the proposed Final Judgment. One week before the hearing: verify the judge’s preferences for receiving proposed orders (email in Word format? hard copy at hearing?). Two business days before: send a concise cover email to the judicial assistant (if permitted) with the case number, hearing date/time, confirmation that both parties will appear, and your proposed Final Judgment attached in editable format. This small courtesy reduces day-of friction and telegraphs that your case is truly “simplified” in both substance and logistics.

If a snag appears—someone cannot attend, a small asset was omitted, or an ambiguity emerges—decide early whether you can cure within the simplified framework. Minor errors (a missed account with a tiny balance) can often be fixed via a signed addendum you file before the hearing. Structural problems (a newfound desire for alimony, a dispute about home equity) require a pivot to the standard track. Do not attempt to “force” simplified when the facts no longer fit; a judge may decline to enter judgment, wasting your hearing slot. By filing cleanly, confirming your docket, and staging your hearing materials with a calm, administrative mindset, you put the court in position to do the one thing simplified dissolution exists to do: confirm eligibility and sign your Final Judgment.

Step 5: Prepare your prove-up packet and residency proof so the judge can sign without edits

The final hearing on a simplified dissolution is short only when your paperwork is impeccable. Think of Step 5 as assembling a “sign-without-edit” packet that anticipates the judge’s checklist and answers every procedural question before it is asked. Start by printing (or compiling into a single bookmarked PDF if your division is paperless) the joint simplified petition bearing both signatures, the Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) that fully divides assets and debts, and the Financial Affidavits if your division customarily expects them even in simplified cases. Place the proposed Final Judgment on top, using your court’s preferred template; ensure it recites the essential findings: residency, that the marriage is irretrievably broken, that there are no minor or dependent children and no pregnancy, that neither party is seeking alimony, and that the MSA is incorporated (often “incorporated but not merged”) with jurisdiction reserved to enforce. If one spouse seeks restoration of a former name, draft a paragraph with the exact full name to be restored; judges will copy this text verbatim, so accuracy matters.

Residency is frequently the only evidentiary wrinkle in a streamlined hearing. Bring a Florida driver license, state ID, or voter registration card issued at least six months before filing; a brand-new ID issued last week won’t prove six-month residency by itself. If neither spouse has documentary proof that pre-dates filing, prepare a short, sworn Residency Witness Affidavit from a Florida resident who can testify that the filing spouse lived in Florida for the six months immediately preceding filing, or ask that person to attend the hearing. Judges appreciate clean exhibits: a one-page index that lists “Petition – tab A,” “MSA – tab B,” “Affidavits – tab C,” “Residency – tab D,” and “Proposed Judgment – tab E” saves minutes the court does not have.

Scrub the record for privacy. Use the statewide confidential information cover sheet for Social Security numbers and redact full account numbers in the MSA, leaving only the last four digits. Replace casual labels (“my bank account”) with neutral identifiers (“Checking – Bank A – ending 1234”). Include full legal descriptions for real property (copied from the last recorded deed, not a realtor flyer) and VINs for vehicles, but leave out plate numbers unless your court requires them. For retirement accounts that will need a plan-approved order (QDRO or equivalent) later, do not embed full plan account numbers in public filings; the plan name and last four digits are sufficient for the judgment, and the QDRO will carry the private data under sealed processing if your division allows.

Confirm signatures and notarizations. Many MSAs in simplified cases are signed and notarized by both spouses; even if your local rules do not explicitly require notarization, a notarized MSA reduces later claims of misunderstanding. Cross-check every signature page against the caption: identical names, no initials in one place and full middle names in another. If you filed electronically, verify that all PDFs appear on the docket well before the hearing; if anything is missing, re-upload and call the clerk to confirm the record is complete. Where divisions prefer editable orders, attach a Word version of the proposed Final Judgment to a polite email to the judicial assistant (if permitted), with the case number and hearing date in the subject line.

Finally, rehearse the hearing script together. In simplified prove-ups, the judge typically asks each spouse to confirm: (1) residency (and how it is proven), (2) marriage date/place, (3) irretrievable breakdown, (4) no minor or dependent children and no pregnancy, (5) waiver of alimony by both, and (6) voluntariness and completeness of the MSA. Prepare short, consistent answers. If a former name will be restored, write it on an index card exactly as it should appear so you do not stumble on spelling. Bring one extra paper set for the courtroom deputy in case the judge requests a quick glance. When you can hand the court a tidy packet that answers every procedural requirement, the path to a same-day signature becomes frictionless.

Step 6: Attend the brief final hearing and give precise, consistent testimony (in person or by Zoom)

Treat the hearing like a concise deployment: arrive a few minutes early, dress neatly, silence phones, and bring one government ID each. If remote, test audio/video, rename your Zoom tile to your legal name, and position your camera at eye level with even lighting. When your case is called, both spouses are sworn. Keep your answers tight and use “yes, Your Honor / no, Your Honor.” The petitioner typically goes first. A model script: “My name is ______. I have resided in Florida for at least the six months immediately preceding filing, proven by my Florida [driver license/voter registration] issued on [date]. We were married on [date] in [city/state]. Our marriage is irretrievably broken, reconciliation is not reasonably possible. We have no minor or dependent children together and there is no pregnancy. Neither of us is seeking alimony. We signed the Marital Settlement Agreement freely and voluntarily; it fairly divides our assets and debts. I request the court dissolve the marriage, incorporate the agreement, and, if approved, restore my former name to [full name].”

The respondent’s testimony mirrors the same points, confirming voluntariness and waivers. Judges may ask a clarifying question: “Have you fully disclosed your assets and liabilities to each other?”; “Do you both understand there is no alimony under this simplified case?”; or “Does the agreement divide retirement accounts in a way you both understand?” Answer truthfully and succinctly. If the court has a form of Final Disposition Sheet or a local cover page, have it pre-filled to hand up. If your judge prefers editable orders, confirm that you emailed the Word version and offer a paper backup. When a former name is requested, the judge will read it into the record; speak slowly and spell it if asked.

Small mistakes can stall a quick signature. The most common are: (1) a residency document issued too recently, (2) inconsistent names between petition, MSA, and proposed judgment, (3) missing legal description for real property, and (4) an MSA that lacks dates or methods for transfers (e.g., “soon” instead of “on or before [date], by [wire/cashier’s check]”). If the judge flags a fixable detail, ask permission to handwrite a narrow interlineation on the proposed judgment (for example, inserting a correct middle initial) or to file a same-day amended MSA addendum correcting a typo. Judges appreciate pro se parties who solve problems in minutes rather than requesting continuances.

Once the court announces it will grant the dissolution, confirm logistics aloud: “Your Honor, may we e-file the signed MSA today?”; “Will the court upload the executed Final Judgment to the portal, or should we pick up a certified copy from the clerk?” If you need certified copies for DMV, Social Security, or a retirement plan, ask the clerk immediately after the hearing how to obtain them and the per-copy fee. The hearing ends with clarity when you exit knowing: (a) the judgment will be on the docket, (b) whether you must submit any supplemental forms, and (c) the exact steps and deadlines to implement your agreement.

Step 7: Implement property and debt terms immediately—deeds, titles, accounts, and retirement splits

A simplified decree is only as good as your follow-through. Treat post-judgment tasks as a punch list with owners, deadlines, and proof. Start with real property. If one spouse keeps the home, prepare a quitclaim deed containing the full legal description (copy it from the last recorded deed, not a listing sheet). Sign with a notary and two witnesses as your county requires, then record the deed with the clerk of court or county recorder and retain a certified copy. Update homeowner’s insurance and utilities the same day to avoid coverage gaps. If your MSA requires a refinance, calendar a midpoint check-in and the final deadline; if refinancing fails, execute the listing protocol exactly as written (agent, initial price, reduction schedule, showing instructions) so neither party is blamed for delay.

For vehicles, title transfer and loan responsibility must change together. Sign the title assignment, execute a bill of sale if recommended locally, and update registration and insurance the same day. Where a joint auto loan exists, either refinance into the keeping spouse’s name or, if that is impossible, sell according to a schedule set in the MSA. Maintain email receipts for every step; lenders and DMVs misplace paperwork more often than you’d expect, and documented compliance protects both of you.

Financial accounts require both separation and hygiene. Close joint checking and credit card accounts immediately. Move recurring autopays to individual accounts so a forgotten gym membership doesn’t keep tapping a closed card. If your agreement includes an equalizing payment, specify the method (wire details or cashier’s check), due date, and memo line referencing the case number; upload proof of payment to a shared folder so there is no ambiguity. Where joint debts will remain temporarily until refinance, write and exchange a simple ledger monthly: balance on the first, payments, and running total. It’s a small discipline that prevents disputes and supports any enforcement motion if needed.

Retirement accounts are the most technical step. If you are dividing a 401(k), 403(b), or pension, contact the plan administrator for its model order (QDRO or plan-acceptable order). Many plans will pre-approve the draft before court signature; use that service. Your MSA should assign responsibility for drafting and for plan fees and set a timeline (e.g., draft within 30 days, submit for pre-approval, then route for court signature within 15 days of pre-approval). Do not delay: some plans won’t process divisions after a participant retires or terminates employment without extra steps. Keep copies of every submission and approval letter. For IRAs, you can usually avoid a court order by using a trustee-to-trustee transfer pursuant to the decree; coordinate with the receiving custodian to avoid withholding or penalties.

Lastly, communicate like project managers. Share a two-column checklist—task and owner—with due dates and a status field. Examples: “Record deed—Taylor—by May 15—done 5/12;” “Close joint Visa—Jordan—by May 10—done 5/9;” “Submit QDRO draft—Taylor—by May 25—in review.” When you can prove concrete progress, mistrust does not creep back into a case that you intentionally kept simple.

Step 8: Clean up identity, benefits, taxes, and digital security to prevent post-divorce drift

Implementation is not just deeds and titles; it is also your legal identity, benefits, and the invisible systems that run your life. If a former name is restored, sequence updates properly: take a certified copy of the Final Judgment to Social Security first, then to the DMV for a new license, then to banks, payroll, retirement plans, insurance, and professional licenses. Expect each institution to require the certified judgment; make two or three certified copies so you are not waiting on the clerk between appointments. Where the decree allocates life-insurance responsibilities (for example, maintaining a policy until a refinance closes), update beneficiaries and premium autopays the same week so the paper promise becomes a real protection.

For taxes, decide now how you will handle the filing year that straddles the divorce. Your filing status depends on your marital status on December 31. If your MSA contemplates allocating a dependency exemption or child-related credit in alternating years (less common in simplified because no minor children, but relevant where adult dependents exist), write that into a short tax letter you both sign and keep with your returns. For retirement splits that generate 1099-R forms, confirm which party receives which tax document and how withholding will be handled on any cash distribution. When in doubt, favor in-kind transfers over cash to avoid unnecessary tax friction.

Tighten digital and financial security. Change passwords on email, cloud storage, banking, mobile carrier, and password managers; enable multi-factor authentication with an app rather than SMS where possible. Remove former partners as recovery contacts on Apple/Google accounts and verify device lists to sign out of forgotten tablets or laptops. Audit shared cloud folders, photo libraries, and smart-home apps (locks, thermostats, cameras). Close joint Amazon/Costco/warehouse memberships or split them into new accounts with distinct payment methods. If you are concerned about credit exposure, place a credit freeze with the major bureaus (it is free and reversible) and turn on transaction alerts for all cards. Consider a fresh P.O. box or a USPS mail forwarding order while you transition addresses.

Health care and benefits deserve attention. If one spouse loses coverage due to the divorce, COBRA may be available for a limited time; calendar the election deadline and the premium due date. Update emergency contacts with doctors and schools (if applicable) and confirm pharmacy profiles no longer auto-share data. Finally, document these updates. A one-page “identity & benefits change log” listing each platform, date changed, and confirmation number spares you guesswork in six months. Divorce is an event; stability is a system. Step 8 builds that system so the decree’s quiet simplicity endures.

Step 9: Maintain a shared done-list; fix snags with clarifying orders, not new fights

Even tidy simplified cases encounter small bumps—an underwriter asks for a document, a plan administrator rejects a QDRO draft, a title office needs a middle initial added. The difference between a hiccup and a headache is governance. Keep a single shared “done-list” with four columns: Task, Owner, Due Date, Status/Proof (link to a receipt or recording). Review it once a week until everything reads complete. When a step stalls, start with a calm, dated email quoting the exact MSA paragraph and proposing a reasonable cure window: “Per §3.2, please execute the quitclaim by Friday; I’ve attached the deed with the legal description and a prepaid return label.” Courts look favorably on parties who create a paper trail of reasonable requests before filing anything.

When the text of your judgment or MSA is unclear in a way that blocks execution, seek a clarifying order rather than relitigating the bargain. A two-page joint stipulation that says, “Paragraph 5 lacked a date for the refinance; the parties agree the deadline is August 31,” filed with a proposed order, often earns a same-week signature. If cooperation falters and a material step is missed (e.g., refusing to sign a deed or to submit a QDRO), prepare a short, exhibit-driven motion to enforce or for contempt with specific purge conditions: “Court to authorize clerk to sign deed if not executed within 10 days,” or “Order party to submit QDRO draft to plan within 14 days.” Keep the ask proportional and tied to the original text; judges reward precision.

Beware of turning clarifications into modifications. Clarification fills a gap or resolves ambiguity; modification changes the deal. If market or financing conditions make a term unworkable (say, rates spike and the refinance fails), negotiate a narrow amendment that preserves the economic balance (e.g., extend refinance window 30 days with a temporary cost-sharing tweak, or move to list-for-sale at an agreed price ladder). Sign it, file it, and keep the project moving. Avoid restarting fault narratives or using the simplified case to press for terms it does not permit (alimony; parenting arrangements). The virtue of a simplified dissolution is its tight scope; protect that scope by solving execution problems with small, documented fixes.

Finally, close the loop with a brief “completion memo” to yourselves: list each asset/debt transfer, the date, and the proof location (recording number, title receipt, plan acceptance letter). Archive your matter folder with the Final Judgment, MSA, deeds, titles, QDRO approvals, and the done-list. Six months from now, you will not remember which email contained the bank wire confirmation; your future self will thank you for making Step 9 a disciplined finish rather than a slow fade.

Step 10: Know when simplified no longer fits—pivot early to the regular track and preserve momentum

Simplified dissolution is a precise tool. If facts change or uncertainties surface, the smart move is to pivot early to the standard dissolution track instead of forcing an ill-fitting case through a narrow gate. Watch for these triggers: one spouse decides to seek alimony; a disagreement emerges over home equity, retirement valuation, or debt responsibility; a pregnancy is discovered; a party cannot appear at the same hearing; or you realize you need formal discovery to verify balances or income. None of these mean your case must become slow or expensive—they simply mean you should file (or amend to) a standard petition, exchange mandatory financial disclosure, and mediate quickly under the broader rules.

If you must pivot, carry over the work you have done. Convert your simplified petition into a regular petition by filing the appropriate form and serving process (now required). Re-use your asset/debt spreadsheet and your near-final MSA draft as a starting point for mediation. If you have already solved 90% of the issues, label the remaining 10% and ask the court for a short case management conference to set a mediation deadline and, if needed, a brief temporary-needs hearing to stabilize finances while you finish. Many circuits resolve regular cases nearly as fast as simplified ones when parties arrive organized and solution-oriented.

Preserve good will with transparency. If new information surfaced (for example, a forgotten retirement account), disclose it promptly with statements and a proposed path to fold it into the deal. Judges and mediators respond well to parties who self-correct rather than conceal. If an initial waiver of alimony now feels unsafe due to a job loss or health change, articulate a narrow, time-bound proposal tied to actual budgets; your spouse may agree at mediation once they see numbers instead of adjectives. Keep requests proportionate; the fastest way to finish a non-simplified case is to present realistic options instead of maximalist positions.

Finally, do not confuse tracks with destinations. The goal in both simplified and regular dissolution is a clean, enforceable Final Judgment that matches your real life. If simplified ceases to fit, shifting tracks early protects the integrity of the decree you are building. You can still finish with speed: exchange disclosures, lock a mediation date, sign a refined MSA, tender a standard final judgment with the necessary findings, and implement just as you would have under the simplified steps. Knowing when to pivot is not failure—it is craftsmanship. You picked the right tool for the job you actually have, and you preserved the momentum that matters most: from decision to decree to a stable next chapter.

Costs Associated

Expect a county-specific filing fee for dissolution, modest copy/certification costs, and implementation expenses if your agreement requires deeds, title transfers, or a plan-approved retirement order. Because simplified cases avoid service between spouses and contested hearings, total costs are usually lower than standard dissolutions. If you cannot afford fees, ask the clerk about applying for civil indigent status.

Time Required

Well-prepared simplified cases often conclude in weeks to a few months, driven by how quickly you file a complete packet and obtain a hearing date. Implementation tasks (deed recording, title transfers, retirement plan processing) typically add 30–90 days post-judgment depending on third-party timelines.

Limitations

• Not available if you have minor/dependent children together or if anyone is pregnant.
• No alimony may be requested by either spouse—now or via the simplified case.
• Both spouses must sign filings and appear at the final hearing together.
• Any material dispute means you should use the regular dissolution track.

Risks and Unexpected Problems

• Omitting an asset or debt can create enforcement headaches—inventory carefully.
• Joint debts left unrefinanced expose both parties to creditor collection despite the decree.
• Vague terms (no dates, no triggers) cause post-judgment conflict; write with specifics.
• A late discovery that one spouse wants support or disputes equity requires pivoting tracks.

Sources

• Florida Courts — Family Law Forms (Simplified Dissolution packet)
• The Florida Bar — Consumer Pamphlet: Divorce in Florida
• Florida Courts E-Filing Portal