How Long Does a Divorce Take in Miami-Dade?

By Nadia Pazos, Family Law Attorney, Pazos Law Group · Updated May 28, 2026  ·  ← All blog posts

Florida law sets a 20-day minimum from filing to final judgment. The realistic timeline depends on whether the case is contested, the complexity of the marital estate, and the local court’s calendar.

“How long is this going to take?” is one of the first questions clients ask. The honest answer is: it depends on a handful of factors, most of which can be assessed at the first consultation. This article walks through the timing of a Florida divorce in the 11th Judicial Circuit (Miami-Dade), from filing to final judgment, with two worked case examples and the procedural rules that drive the schedule.

The § 61.19 20-Day Minimum

Under Fla. Stat. § 61.19, no final judgment of dissolution can be entered until at least 20 days after the petition is filed. This statutory waiting period applies to every Florida divorce. Even an uncontested case where both spouses agree on every issue cannot finalize before day 21. There is one narrow exception: a showing that injustice would result from the delay, which is rarely granted.

In practice, most uncontested cases take longer than 20 days — not because of the law, but because of court scheduling, the procedural requirements below, and the mandatory financial disclosure rule that adds its own clock.

Florida Family Law Rule 12.285: The Disclosure Clock

Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.285 requires both spouses to exchange a long list of financial documents within 45 days of service of the initial pleading. Mandatory disclosure includes:

• The most recent 3 years of personal tax returns
• The most recent 3 years of business tax returns for any closely-held business interest
• The most recent W-2s, 1099s, and pay stubs
• Bank, brokerage, retirement, and investment account statements (typically 12 months)
• Real estate deeds and any recent appraisals
• Loan and credit card statements (typically 12 months)
• Personal financial affidavit (long form or short form depending on income)

The 45-day window can be extended by agreement or court order. It is also a frequent source of dispute — one spouse failing to produce documents on time generates motion practice that adds weeks. Practitioner note: the fastest divorces are the ones where both spouses pre-assemble the Rule 12.285 disclosure package before the petition is even filed.

Uncontested Divorce: 60–90 Days

An uncontested divorce is one where the parties agree on all issues: division of assets and debts, alimony (or no alimony), parenting plan and time-sharing if children are involved, and child support. With cooperation, an uncontested divorce in Miami-Dade typically finalizes in 60 to 90 days.

The timeline includes:

• Week 1–2: Drafting and filing the petition; service or waiver of service.
• Week 3–6: Mandatory financial affidavits and document exchange under Florida Family Law Rule 12.285.
• Week 6–10: Drafting the marital settlement agreement and parenting plan.
• Week 10–13: Final hearing scheduling and entry of final judgment.

If the parties use the simplified dissolution procedure (which requires no minor children, no alimony, no real property dispute, and full agreement), the timeline can be shorter — sometimes as quick as 30–45 days — but very few cases qualify.

Contested Divorce: 6–18 Months

A contested divorce involves disputes that the parties cannot resolve on their own — over assets, alimony, custody, or any combination. Most contested divorces in the 11th Judicial Circuit (which covers Miami-Dade) take 6 to 18 months to reach final judgment, and complex cases involving substantial assets, business valuations, or international issues can take longer.

The phases of a contested divorce typically include:

• Pleadings (1–2 months): Filing, service, and answer/counter-petition.
• Temporary relief (1–3 months): Interim orders for support, exclusive use of the marital home, and time-sharing while the case is pending.
• Discovery (3–9 months): Mandatory disclosure, interrogatories, requests for production, depositions, and expert valuations. This is the longest phase in most contested cases.
• Mediation (typically 4–9 months in): The 11th Judicial Circuit requires mediation in most contested family law cases. A meaningful percentage of cases settle here.
• Trial preparation and trial (if needed): When mediation does not resolve the case, the matter proceeds to trial — often 12–18 months from filing.

Worked Case: Sarah's Uncontested Divorce, Week-by-Week

Sarah and Marcus, married 6 years, no children, agree on everything: they will keep their respective retirement accounts, sell the Brickell condo and split the equity, and waive alimony. Both have stable W-2 jobs. Here is what their realistic Miami-Dade timeline looks like:

• Day 1: Sarah signs the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage; attorney files at the 11th Circuit Family Division.
• Day 3: Marcus signs Answer and Waiver of Service (avoiding sheriff or process server cost and delay).
• Day 5–20: Both complete the Rule 12.285 mandatory disclosure (their pre-assembled package speeds this up).
• Day 21–45: Attorney drafts the Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) covering equity split and account preservation; both sign.
• Day 45–60: Final hearing scheduled with the Family Division. Sarah appears with attorney; Marcus appears or files a notarized consent (consent procedure available when both parties agree).
• Day 60–75: Judge enters Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage. Sarah and Marcus are legally divorced.

Total: roughly 60–75 days. This is what an uncontested Miami-Dade divorce can look like when both spouses are organized and cooperative.

Worked Case: Michael's Contested Divorce with Business Valuation, Month-by-Month

Michael, married 14 years, two minor children, owns a closely-held real estate brokerage. His wife seeks alimony and equitable distribution of the business. Here is what Michael's realistic 11th Circuit timeline looks like:

• Month 1: Petition filed and served via process server. Wife answers and files counter-petition for alimony and equitable distribution. Attorney files motion for temporary relief (interim alimony, child support, time-sharing).
• Month 2–3: Temporary relief hearing; the court enters interim orders. Both spouses begin Rule 12.285 mandatory disclosure.
• Month 3–6: Discovery: interrogatories, document requests, depositions of both spouses and the business’s bookkeeper. Wife’s counsel retains a business valuator; Michael’s counsel retains a counter-expert.
• Month 6–9: Business valuation reports exchanged. Discovery disputes over scope of business records prompt motion practice. Court orders production with limited redactions.
• Month 9–10: Mediation. Two-day mediation. Parties settle alimony amount and structure but cannot agree on business valuation. Case proceeds to trial on remaining issues.
• Month 11–13: Trial preparation: witness preparation, expert deposition, exhibit and trial brief preparation.
• Month 14: Three-day bench trial before Family Division judge.
• Month 14–15: Court enters written Final Judgment with findings on equitable distribution, alimony, parenting plan, and child support.

Total: roughly 14–15 months. Add 6–18 months if either side appeals (most do not). This is a typical schedule for a contested case with one substantial valuation issue. Cases with multiple businesses, international assets, or substantial allegations of hidden assets typically run longer.

11th Judicial Circuit Specifics

Miami-Dade family law cases are heard in the 11th Judicial Circuit’s Family Division, located primarily at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, 175 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, FL 33128. Key local factors that affect timing:

• Mandatory mediation referral: The 11th Circuit refers most contested family law cases to mediation before any contested final hearing.
• Trial calendar pressure: Miami-Dade Family Division dockets are heavy. Setting a multi-day trial often requires advance scheduling 3–6 months out.
• Case Management Conferences (CMCs): The court holds periodic CMCs to monitor case progress; missing deadlines triggers court attention and sometimes sanctions.
• Parenting Course requirement: Required for both parents in any case involving minor children before final judgment can enter. Available online; takes 4 hours and ~$20–$50.

What Slows a Case Down

Several factors lengthen a divorce case:

• Business valuation. A closely held business often requires a forensic accountant or business valuator. Reports take months and are frequently disputed.
• Real estate appraisals. Multiple properties, vacation homes, or out-of-state real estate require coordinated appraisals.
• International assets. Foreign accounts, properties abroad, or non-U.S. spouses raise jurisdictional, disclosure, and tax issues.
• Hidden assets allegations. If one spouse alleges the other has hidden assets, additional forensic work is required.
• Custody disputes. Disputed parenting plans frequently involve guardians ad litem, parenting evaluations, or psychological testing — all of which add time.
• Aggressive litigation tactics. Excessive motions, refusal to comply with discovery, or a strategy of delay can stretch a case considerably.

What Can Speed Up a Case

Conversely, several factors shorten a divorce:

• Cooperation. Parties willing to work together — even when they disagree on some issues — can resolve a divorce in months rather than years.
• Early mediation. Voluntary mediation before extensive discovery can resolve issues efficiently.
• Complete financial disclosure up front. Producing financial documents early reduces discovery cycles.
• Realistic expectations. Knowing what Florida law actually allows (and does not allow) helps avoid prolonged disputes over unrealistic positions.
• Pre-existing marital agreements. A valid prenuptial or postnuptial agreement can resolve significant issues quickly.

Time and Cost Are Linked

The longer the case takes, the more it generally costs. Discovery, expert witnesses, depositions, and litigation all carry significant fees. Settling earlier — through negotiation, mediation, or collaborative law — almost always costs less than going to trial.

For the dollar math behind this relationship, see How Much Does a Divorce Cost in Florida — the mediation-vs-litigation comparison in that article shows the typical $40,000–$100,000 per-side cost premium of going to trial instead of settling at mediation.

The Bottom Line

An uncontested Miami-Dade divorce typically finalizes in 60–90 days. A contested divorce typically takes 6–18 months. Complex high-net-worth cases can take longer. The single biggest variable is the parties’ willingness to resolve the issues without full trial.

If you are considering a divorce, an early consultation with a Miami-Dade family law attorney can help you understand the realistic timeline for your specific situation and develop a strategy that fits your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Reading

• Florida Divorce — Practice Area
• How Much Does a Florida Divorce Cost?
• First Divorce Consultation Checklist
• Mediation vs. Litigation in Florida Divorce
• Florida Family Law Glossary — 32+ Plain-English Definitions

Get Help in Your City

Pazos Law Group represents clients throughout South Florida:

• Coral Gables Divorce Attorney
• Doral Divorce Attorney
• Brickell Divorce Attorney

The information on this page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading or sharing this content does not create an attorney-client relationship with Pazos Law Group. Florida law and the application of statutes change over time; please consult a licensed Florida attorney about your specific situation.