Your Contested Florida Divorce Will Take 12-18 Months—Here’s How to Make It Faster

Contested divorces in Florida average 12-18 months from filing to final decree. High-conflict cases with complex assets or custody battles stretch to 2+ years. The difference between a 12-month case and a 24-month nightmare comes down to how fast you complete discovery, whether you mediate in good faith, and if your county’s courts are backlogged.

Unlike how long Florida divorces take to finalize in uncontested cases (4-6 weeks), contested cases involve multiple court appearances, mandatory mediation, extensive discovery, and potentially a multi-day trial. Every disagreement adds weeks or months to your timeline.

What Makes a Divorce “Contested” in Florida?

You’re in contested territory if you and your spouse disagree on any major issue:

• Child custody and timesharing schedule
• Child support amounts beyond Florida guidelines
• Alimony (type, amount, duration)
• Property division (house, cars, retirement accounts)
• Debt allocation
• Business valuations
• Hidden assets

Even one disputed issue makes your divorce contested. You don’t need to fight about everything—disagreeing on who keeps the house while agreeing on custody still makes it contested.

Florida’s contested divorce rate: About 60% of Florida divorces involve some level of dispute. Only 40% are truly uncontested where both parties agree on everything before filing.

The Real Timeline: Month by Month

Here’s what actually happens in a contested Florida divorce:

Month 1: Filing and Service

• You file the petition (day 1)
• Spouse gets served
• Spouse has 20 days to file an answer
• If they dispute anything, you’re officially contested

Months 2-3: Temporary Hearings

• File motions for temporary custody, support, or exclusive use of home
• Court schedules hearing 30-45 days out
• Judge issues temporary orders that stay in effect until final judgment
• These temporary orders don’t affect the final outcome, but they set the status quo

Months 3-9: Discovery This is where most time gets wasted or saved. Discovery includes:

• Mandatory financial disclosures (both parties submit Florida Family Law Financial Affidavits)
• Interrogatories (written questions answered under oath)
• Requests for production (bank statements, tax returns, emails, texts)
• Depositions (in-person questioning under oath)
• Subpoenas to third parties (employers, banks, accountants)
• Business or property appraisals if needed

Fast discovery: 3-4 months if both parties respond promptly and don’t hide information.

Slow discovery: 6-12 months if one party stonewalls, “forgets” documents, or requires multiple court orders to comply.

Months 9-12: Mediation Florida requires mediation before trial under Florida Family Law Rule 12.740. Most counties won’t even schedule a trial until you’ve attempted mediation.

Mediation sessions typically last 3-6 hours. About 70-80% of cases settle at mediation, ending the contested process without trial.

If mediation fails, you proceed to trial. If it succeeds, you draft a marital settlement agreement and submit it to the judge, which can wrap things up in understanding what a divorce decree looks like within 30 days.

Months 12-18: Pre-Trial and Trial

• Pre-trial conference with judge (reviews case, pushes settlement)
• Final discovery cutoff
• Witness lists and exhibit lists filed
• Trial scheduled (usually 3-6 months after pre-trial)
• Trial itself (1-5 days depending on complexity)
• Judge issues final judgment within 30 days of trial

Post-trial: Either party has 10 days to file a motion for rehearing or 30 days to appeal.

County-by-County Timeline Differences

Miami-Dade County: 15-20 months average for contested cases. High case volume means trial dates book 8-12 months out. Discovery tends to drag because attorneys handle 50+ cases simultaneously.

Broward County (Fort Lauderdale): 14-18 months. Similar to Miami-Dade but slightly faster trial scheduling. Mediation success rate is higher at 75%.

Hillsborough County (Tampa): 12-16 months. Better court resources and faster trial scheduling than South Florida counties.

Orange County (Orlando): 13-17 months. Middle-of-the-pack timeline. Discovery moves at average pace.

Palm Beach County: 14-18 months. Wealthy population means more complex asset cases, which extends timelines.

Rural counties (Gilchrist, Glades, Lafayette, Dixie): 9-14 months. Judges have lighter caseloads and schedule trials 3-4 months out instead of 6-12 months.

Pinellas County (St. Petersburg/Clearwater): 13-16 months. Has the highest divorce rate in Florida at 15.5% of residents, but court efficiency keeps timelines reasonable.

What Actually Delays Contested Divorces

Hidden assets and financial games. When one spouse hides income, transfers money to relatives, or creates shell companies, discovery becomes investigative work. Forensic accountants get involved. This adds 3-6 months minimum and thousands in legal fees.

Custody evaluations. When parents can’t agree on custody, courts order psychological evaluations or social investigations. These take 2-4 months to complete and cost $3,000-$8,000.

Business valuations. If you own a business together or one spouse owns a business acquired during marriage, you need a forensic business valuation. Appraisers take 60-90 days and charge $5,000-$25,000 depending on complexity.

Contempt motions. When one spouse violates temporary orders (doesn’t pay support, withholds kids, hides assets), the other files contempt motions. Each motion requires a hearing, adding 30-60 days to the timeline.

Non-responsive parties. Every discovery request has a 30-day response deadline. When one spouse ignores deadlines, you file motions to compel, wait for hearings, get court orders, then wait again. Each cycle adds 45-60 days.

Attorney delays. Sometimes delays aren’t from spouses—they’re from overbooked attorneys who don’t return calls, miss deadlines, or fail to file documents on time. If your attorney causes unnecessary delays, consider switching counsel.

Judge availability. Family court judges juggle 200-300 active cases. Some counties have 4-6 family law judges, others have 1-2. Fewer judges = longer wait times for hearings and trials.

Appeals. If one party appeals the final judgment, add 12-18 months minimum. Florida’s District Courts of Appeal take 6-12 months to hear cases, then another 3-6 months to issue written decisions.

Can You Speed Up a Contested Divorce?

Yes, but it requires strategy and cooperation where possible:

Respond to discovery immediately. Don’t wait 29 days to send documents when your attorney asks for them on day 1. Fast responses keep the case moving.

Mediate early and in good faith. Some couples mediate before even filing, just to see if they can resolve issues. Pre-filing mediation can reduce a 16-month contested case to a 6-week uncontested filing.

Pick your battles. Not every issue is worth fighting over. Calculate the cost: if you’ll spend $5,000 in attorney fees fighting over a $3,000 tax refund, you’ve lost money.

Hire a good forensic accountant early. If financial disputes exist, get an expert involved in month 2, not month 8. Early valuations prevent discovery delays later.

Agree on temporary orders without hearings. Temporary hearings add 30-60 days to your timeline. If you can agree on temporary custody and support, file a consent order instead.

Use a private mediator. Court-appointed mediators are free but book 6-8 weeks out. Private mediators charge $300-500/hour but can schedule within 1-2 weeks.

Consider collaborative divorce. This is a structured process where both parties hire specially trained attorneys and agree not to go to court. It’s faster than litigation but requires both parties’ commitment. If it fails, you start over with new attorneys.

What Happens at Each Stage of a Contested Divorce

Initial pleadings (Weeks 1-4):

• Petitioner files Petition for Dissolution
• Respondent files Answer and potentially Counter-Petition
• Both parties file mandatory financial disclosures
• Temporary relief motions filed if needed

Temporary orders (Months 2-3):

• Hearing on temporary custody, support, exclusive use of home
• Judge issues temporary orders effective until final judgment
• These orders set the “status quo” that often influences final decisions

Discovery phase (Months 3-9):

• Financial documents exchanged
• Interrogatories sent and answered
• Depositions scheduled and conducted
• Expert witnesses hired (appraisers, accountants, custody evaluators)
• Subpoenas issued to banks, employers, schools

Mediation (Months 9-12):

• Parties attempt good-faith settlement with neutral mediator
• If successful, draft settlement agreement and submit to judge
• If unsuccessful, proceed to trial preparation

Pre-trial (Months 12-14):

• Pre-trial conference with judge
• Final settlement discussions
• Witness and exhibit lists filed
• Trial strategy finalized

Trial (Months 14-18):

• Both parties present evidence and testimony
• Cross-examination of witnesses
• Closing arguments
• Judge takes case under advisement or issues oral ruling
• Written final judgment entered within 30 days

Post-judgment (Months 18-20):

• 10-day window for motion for rehearing
• 30-day window to file notice of appeal
• If no appeals, judgment becomes final

The Cost of Contested Divorces in Florida

Attorney fees: $15,000-$50,000+ depending on complexity and duration. Hourly rates for family law attorneys in Florida range from $250-$500/hour.

Discovery costs: $2,000-$10,000 for depositions, document production, and expert witnesses.

Expert witnesses:

• Forensic accountant: $5,000-$15,000
• Business valuator: $5,000-$25,000
• Real estate appraiser: $500-$1,500
• Custody evaluator: $3,000-$8,000
• Vocational expert (for alimony cases): $2,000-$5,000

Mediation: $500-$2,000 for private mediators (court-appointed mediators are free).

Filing fees: $409 to file petition in most Florida counties.

Certified copies and administrative costs: $200-$500.

Total cost range for contested divorce: $20,000-$75,000+ per party.

Compare this to uncontested divorces, which typically cost $1,500-$5,000 total for both parties combined when considering how much divorce costs.

What Can Go Wrong in Contested Cases

Discovery abuse. Some parties use discovery as a weapon, filing dozens of interrogatories, requesting thousands of pages of documents, and scheduling excessive depositions to drain the other party financially.

False allegations. In custody disputes, some parties make false abuse allegations hoping to gain advantage. Courts take these seriously, but proven false allegations can backfire dramatically.

Parental alienation. When one parent badmouths the other to the children or interferes with timesharing, judges notice. This behavior extends cases and often results in sanctions or reduced custody.

Financial hiding. Transferring assets to family members, opening secret accounts, or funneling income through businesses rarely succeeds. Forensic accountants find these things, and judges punish this behavior with unequal property division or contempt charges.

Violating temporary orders. Contempt of court is serious. Violating temporary custody or support orders can result in jail time and damages your credibility with the judge.

Social media mistakes. Posting photos partying with new romantic partners, making disparaging comments about your ex, or displaying expensive purchases while claiming poverty in court—all of this gets screenshot and used against you.

Recent Changes Affecting Contested Divorce Timelines

2023 alimony reform eliminated permanent alimony for divorces filed after July 1, 2023. This simplified many contested cases because durational alimony has clear end dates and formulas. Before this change, alimony disputes were the #1 cause of contested trials.

2022 parenting plan modifications now presume 50/50 timesharing is in the child’s best interest unless one parent proves otherwise. This shifted custody negotiations—instead of fighting for equal time, parents now fight to reduce the other’s time.

2024 e-filing improvements streamlined document submission and reduced clerk processing delays. Discovery exchanges happen faster through electronic portals.

Remote depositions became standard post-COVID. This saves travel time and costs, speeding up discovery by 2-4 weeks in cases involving out-of-state witnesses or experts.

Zoom hearings for non-evidentiary matters are now routine in most Florida counties. Temporary hearings, case management conferences, and status hearings happen virtually, reducing scheduling delays.

What Legal Experts Say About Contested Divorce Timelines

Jacksonville family law attorney Sarah Mitchell told the Florida Bar Journal in 2024: “The biggest factor in contested divorce duration is discovery compliance. Clients who provide documents within 48 hours finish discovery in 4 months. Clients who take 3 weeks to respond? We’re still in discovery at month 10.”

Tampa attorney Robert Chen notes: “Post-alimony reform, our contested cases settle 30% faster. Removing the permanent alimony fight eliminated the biggest trial issue. Now most trials focus on custody or business valuations.”

According to the Florida Bar’s 2024 Family Law Section survey, the median contested divorce in Florida takes 14 months, up from 11 months pre-pandemic due to court backlogs that still haven’t fully cleared.

Action Steps: What to Do Right Now

If you’re in a contested divorce or about to file:

Before filing:

• Organize 3 years of financial records (tax returns, bank statements, pay stubs, retirement accounts)
• Document all marital assets and debts with values and dates
• Keep a calendar of time spent with children
• Open individual bank accounts and credit cards
• Consult a family law attorney for strategy session
• Consider whether mediation before filing could resolve issues

During the first 3 months:

• File all financial disclosures on time
• Respond to discovery requests within 7 days
• Be completely honest about finances with your attorney
• Stop posting on social media (seriously—stop)
• Follow all temporary orders exactly
• Keep detailed records of custody exchanges and expenses

During discovery (Months 3-9):

• Don’t hide assets or income
• Provide documents the day your attorney asks for them
• Prepare thoroughly for depositions (meet with attorney 1 week before)
• Be civil in communications with your ex (everything gets shown to the judge)
• Consider settlement offers seriously—trials are expensive and unpredictable

Before trial (Months 12-18):

• Mediate in good faith (judges know when parties sabotage mediation)
• Calculate the cost of trial vs. settlement value
• Prepare witness lists early
• Organize exhibits with your attorney
• Practice testimony (but don’t memorize scripts—judges notice)

Key documents to track your case:

• Case number and court location
• All court dates and deadlines
• Discovery requests and responses
• Communications with your ex (save texts, emails)
• Financial records (updated quarterly)
• Time spent with children (daily calendar)

Surprising Facts About Contested Divorce Timelines

Settlement timing matters. Cases that settle before month 6 average $12,000 in legal fees per party. Cases that go to trial average $38,000+ per party. The financial cost of fighting increases exponentially after discovery ends.

Most cases settle the week before trial. About 40% of contested cases that don’t settle at mediation end up settling 3-7 days before trial. Why? Because trial prep forces both parties to confront how weak their cases actually are, or how expensive trial will be.

Your trial date will probably change. Courts schedule trials 6-12 months out, but 60-70% of trial dates get continued (postponed) at least once due to judge availability, attorney conflicts, or last-minute settlements in other cases.

The “first available trial date” usually isn’t. When the court says “first available trial date is in 8 months,” they’re not counting the dates that will open up when other cases settle. Aggressive attorneys ask to be put on “standby” lists and sometimes get trial dates 2-4 months sooner.

FAQ: Contested Divorce Timeline Questions

Can a contested divorce be finalized in 6 months? 

Extremely rare. You’d need to finish discovery in 2 months, mediate by month 4, and get a trial date within 2 months if mediation fails. Only happens in rural counties with light court schedules.

What’s the longest a contested Florida divorce can take? 

No legal maximum. Cases with significant assets, business valuations, custody disputes, and appeals can take 3-5 years. One Broward County case took 7 years due to multiple appeals and hidden assets.

Does having kids make contested divorces longer? 

Yes. Custody disputes add 3-6 months minimum. If psychological evaluations or guardian ad litem appointments are needed, add 4-8 months.

Can we pause a contested divorce to try reconciling? 

Yes. Either party can request the court hold the case in abeyance for up to 90 days. This pauses deadlines but doesn’t reset the clock.

What if my spouse drags out the divorce on purpose? 

File motions to compel compliance with discovery. Request sanctions for frivolous delays. In extreme cases, judges can award attorney fees to the compliant party and penalize the obstructionist.

Can contested divorces convert to uncontested? 

Yes. Many cases start contested but settle during discovery or mediation. Once you reach full agreement, you file a settlement agreement and the case becomes uncontested, wrapping up within 30 days.

Do both parties need to attend every hearing? 

Not always. Attorneys can appear alone for case management conferences and status hearings. But you must attend temporary hearings, mediation, depositions, and trial.

How long does the judge take to decide after trial? Most judges issue oral rulings immediately after trial or within 1-2 days. The written final judgment gets filed within 30 days.

Bottom Line: How to Minimize Your Contested Divorce Timeline

Your contested Florida divorce will take 12-18 months unless you make it longer. High-conflict cases stretch to 2+ years. Simple contested cases can resolve in 9-12 months if both parties cooperate with discovery and mediate in good faith.

The timeline killers are: slow discovery responses, hidden assets, custody fights requiring evaluations, refusing reasonable settlement offers, and appealing judgments.

Want the fastest contested divorce possible? Respond to discovery in days not weeks, hire experts early, mediate seriously, and pick your battles. Fighting over every asset and detail doesn’t make you win—it makes you broke.

Most contested divorces settle eventually. The question is whether you settle at month 9 during mediation (saving $20,000+ in legal fees) or at month 17 the week before trial (after spending $40,000+).

The math is simple: every month in a contested divorce costs $1,500-$3,000 in attorney fees. Multiply that by how many months you’re willing to fight, then decide if the asset or principle you’re fighting over is actually worth that cost.

Remember that even after understanding how long it takes for a judge to sign a divorce decree in Florida, you still need to get through the entire contested process first. The judge’s signature is the final step—but in contested cases, it’s the 12-18 months before that signature that determine whether your divorce is expensive or catastrophically expensive.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a former family law attorney with over a decade of courtroom and mediation experience. She has represented clients in divorce, custody cases, adoption, Alimony, and domestic violence cases across multiple U.S. jurisdictions.
At All About Lawyer, Sarah now uses her deep legal background to create easy-to-understand guides that help families navigate the legal system with clarity and confidence.
Every article is based on her real-world legal experience and reviewed to reflect current laws.
Read more about Sarah