Can You Get Divorced for Under $1,000?

DIY Filing Saves Hundreds 

You can file on your own when both parties agree.  If you download forms from the clerk’s website and fill them out yourself, you won’t pay a lawyer to type simple information. You’re responsible for gathering financial statements, child custody plans, and asset lists, but that work costs only your time. A self-filed divorce, with no disputes, often stays under $500.

Fee Waivers Slash Expenses 

If your income falls below a set threshold, you can ask the clerk for a fee waiver. Florida’s “in forma pauperis” rule lets you skip filing fees entirely when you qualify. You’ll submit an affidavit of indigency and proof of income. Once approved, you pay zero to start your case. This option can drop your total divorce spending to just the cost of certified mail.

Streamlined Agreements Cut Legal Hours 

When you and your spouse draft and sign a marital settlement agreement before filing, you avoid contested hearings. Courts don’t need multiple appearances, and attorneys bill fewer hours. A clear, written agreement on asset division, debt responsibility, and parenting time means you pay only for review instead of full representation. If you negotiate terms yourselves and hand over a clean document, lawyer fees can stay low, keeping your divorce cost Florida at a minimum.

Choosing Between Online and In-Person

Deciding whether to handle your divorce online or in person can significantly affect total expenses. Online services bundle document preparation and filing support for a flat fee, typically reducing divorce costs. You skip commuting, waiting rooms, and avoid hourly billing for simple tasks. However, in-person consultations can provide tailored advice and quicker problem resolution when issues arise. If your case is straightforward and uncontested, online channels deliver the cheapest route. For more complex splits, budgeting for brief face-to-face meetings ensures you stay informed without inflating the cost.

Mediation Beats Litigation 

If you hit a snag on terms, choose mediation over court battles. Mediators may charge $50–$100 per hour, split between both sides. Most cases resolve in two or three sessions. That’s a fraction of litigation costs, where each hearing can cost hundreds per hour. With mediation, you control the pace and topics, settle disputes quickly, and cap your expenses. Mediation often costs less than $400, including filing fees.

Online Services Offer Flat Fees 

Several Florida-approved platforms guide you through divorce forms for a single fee, typically $200–$300. You answer questions online, upload your documents, and receive court-ready paperwork. After you pay the service, your only extra cost is the clerk’s filing fee. No surprise legal bills, no hourly rates. Pair an online service with self-filing, and you can finalize your divorce for roughly $700 total.

How to Influence the Cost of a Divorce in Florida

Many factors could precipitate a divorce. You can only become eligible for a divorce if you are legally married. The union has to become irretrievably broken as well. There is a duration for which you have to be a resident in Florida to become eligible to file a divorce there. Spouses can either file a contested or an uncontested divorce in Florida. Most of us are familiar with the divorces that make the headlines in many media outlets. Although a divorce can be complicated, lengthy, and costly, it does not have to. Divorcing celebrity couples may invite attention from the public because of their stature. Wealthy spouses may have a hard time deciding who gets what during a divorce. It may also become challenging to determine who gets alimony and how much. Some spouses fight over child custody. If there are many contentious issues, the divorce may become expensive and protracted.

It is not easy to determine divorce cost Florida. However, couples have the freedom to decide how they want to go about the process. Their divorce could become complicated and costly if they cannot see each other eye to eye. It takes courage and tolerance for estranged spouses to discuss their issues privately and reach a consensus. Amicable spouses stand a better chance of protecting their income and savings. It is worth noting that attorney fees account for most divorce expenses. If spouses iron out all their differences, their divorce becomes affordable, quick, and less tiring. Divorce attorneys usually charge a flat fee for uncontested divorces and an hourly fee for contested divorces. If there are no issues for court arbitration, the judge has nothing to do other than grant the divorce.

Some spouses fear getting divorced because of the perception that it is an expensive and complicated process. The truth is that your divorce does not have to be dramatic. Convince your partner about the advantages of an amicable divorce. Don’t leave your fate at the hands of the legal system. You should protect your investments, savings, and income from an ugly divorce. An amicable process is desirable for parents because it shields children from trauma. Amicable spouses are likely to maintain healthy relations after the divorce.