www.mypinellasclerk.org
Ken Burke, CPA
Clerk Of The Circuit Court
And Comptroller
Pinellas County, Florida
A divorce can be led by a married person
or persons to end the marital relationship.
Along with restoring the parties to single status,
the court can issue orders for custody and
visitation of the minor children of the marriage,
child support, spousal support, and division
of property assets and debts.
Dissolution Of Marriage:
Divorce
7/09
Divorce
In the state of Florida, there are two methods for ling a divorce.
A Simplied Divorce May Be Appropriate When:
• You or your spouse have been a resident of Florida for at
least the past six months.
• You and your spouse are both able to appear at the Clerk
of the Court’s oce together to le the divorce forms and
to attend the nal hearing.
• You have no children together, born before or during
the marriage or by adoption, and the partner, to their
knowledge, is not pregnant.
• You and your spouse agree on the division of property,
assets and debts.
A General Divorce May Be Appropriate When:
• You have been a resident of Florida for at least the past six
months.
• Your spouse lives out of state or his/her whereabouts is
unknown.
• There is a minor child under age 18 or dependent child of
the marriage, or the partner is pregnant.
• You disagree on division of property, assets and debts.
• There is a need for spousal support (alimony).
PLEASE NOTE: In a General Divorce case, Service Of Family Law
Summonses, along with copies of the papers you are ling upon
the respondent, will be required.
If you are unable to locate the respondent, you will be required
to have the respondent served by constructive service (service
by publication). The service will be published in the newspaper
of your choice for 30 calendar days and you will be billed.
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HIRE AN ATTORNEY to le
for a divorce; however, attorney consultation may help
answer questions concerning ling forms or legal rights.
FORMS FOR FILING A SIMPLIFIED or GENERAL DIVORCE
ARE AVAILABLE in the Clerk’s oce and the Clerk’s Self
Help Centers for a fee they may also obtained online from
the Florida Courts website, www.courts.org, at no charge.
For more information, please call Civil Court Records at
(727) 464-7000.
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Persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations to use the services provided should call
(727) 464-4062 (TDD or Voice). Call 24 hours prior to coming to the courthouse.
