Your Judge Signed Your Divorce Decree Yesterday

Most Florida judges sign divorce decrees within 7-14 days after the final hearing. But here’s the catch: you won’t see it immediately. Between the judge’s signature, clerk processing, and mailing, add another 5-10 days before the signed decree lands in your hands or attorney’s office.

So when your attorney says “the judge should sign soon,” they mean 2-3 weeks total from your hearing date. That’s typical. But it can take longer.

What Actually Happens Between Final Hearing and Signature?

The judge doesn’t sign your decree during the hearing. Here’s the real timeline:

Day of hearing: Judge reviews your case, hears testimony or reviews your settlement. If it’s uncontested, this takes 10-20 minutes. Contested hearings run 1-3 hours depending on complexity.

1-7 days later: Your attorney (or you, if self-represented) submits the proposed final judgment to the judge’s chambers. This document is what gets signed.

3-10 days after submission: Judge reviews and signs the decree. Some judges sign same week. Others take 10-14 days, especially in busy counties.

1-3 days after signing: Clerk processes the signed decree, stamps it with the court seal, enters it into the court system.

2-5 days later: You receive notification or a copy arrives by mail.

Total timeline: 7-21 days from final hearing to receiving your signed decree.

Why Some Judges Take Longer

Judicial workload. Family court judges in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Hillsborough handle 200-300 active cases. Your decree sits in a stack with dozens of others.

Complexity. Simple uncontested divorces get signed faster. Decrees involving business valuations, QDRO language for retirement accounts, or complicated timesharing schedules take longer because judges scrutinize every detail.

Corrections needed. If the proposed decree has errors—wrong calculations, missing required language, conflicting terms—the judge kicks it back to attorneys for revision. This adds 5-10 days minimum.

Judge’s signing schedule. Most judges sign orders on specific days each week, not daily. Miss their signing day? You wait another week.

Clerk backlog. Even after the judge signs, clerks process decrees in the order received. During busy periods (January, September), clerk processing adds 3-7 days.

County-by-County Differences

Miami-Dade: 10-14 days is average. High case volume means judges batch-sign orders weekly.

Broward: Similar to Miami-Dade at 10-14 days, though some judges in Fort Lauderdale sign within 5-7 days if the decree is clean.

Orange County (Orlando): 7-10 days typically. Slightly faster than South Florida.

Hillsborough (Tampa): 7-14 days depending on judge. Some sign within a week for uncontested cases.

Rural counties (Gilchrist, Glades, Lafayette): Often faster—5-7 days—because judges have lighter caseloads and fewer administrative layers.

Pinellas, Palm Beach, and Duval fall in the 7-10 day range.

Can You Speed Up the Signing?

Barely. Here’s what helps:

Submit a clean, compliant decree. Use Florida Family Law Rules-approved language. Double-check all calculations. No errors means no delays.

Include all required elements. Florida courts require specific provisions: jurisdiction statement, property division details, debt allocation, child custody and support provisions if applicable, name change orders if requested. Missing any of these gets your decree rejected.

Follow up with the judge’s judicial assistant (JA). Your attorney can contact the JA after 10 days to ask about signing status. This doesn’t speed it up much, but it flags if there’s a problem.

Avoid corrections. The biggest delay is when judges reject the first submission. Getting it right the first time is how you hit that 7-day mark.

You cannot file an emergency motion to expedite signing unless you have extraordinary circumstances (like needing the decree to access medical benefits or remarry for immigration purposes).

Your Judge Signed Your Divorce Decree Yesterday—You Just Don't Know It Yet

What the Judge Reviews Before Signing

Judges don’t rubber-stamp decrees. They verify:

Compliance with Florida law. Does the decree follow Florida Statutes Chapter 61? Are child support calculations correct per Florida guidelines?

Fairness. Even in uncontested cases, judges check whether the terms are unreasonable or one-sided. A spouse waiving all marital assets with no explanation raises red flags.

Required provisions. Is the parenting plan detailed enough? Does it include timesharing schedule, decision-making authority, and communication methods?

Retirement account language. If splitting pensions or 401(k)s, the decree needs specific QDRO-compliant language. Vague terms like “split equally” don’t work—judges want account numbers, plan names, and division formulas.

Debt responsibility. Who pays which debts? Judges want specificity: “Husband responsible for Chase Visa ending in 1234, balance $8,500 as of [date].”

Internal consistency. Do all sections align? If the decree says “no alimony” in one section but mentions alimony payments in another, it gets kicked back.

What Happens During the Waiting Period?

You’re still legally married. Until the judge signs and the clerk enters the decree, you’re married. This matters for taxes, insurance, and legal purposes.

You can’t remarry. Even if you had your final hearing, you cannot legally remarry until the signed decree is entered. People get charged with bigamy for jumping the gun.

Temporary orders remain in effect. If the court issued temporary child support or custody orders during the divorce, those stay active until the final decree is signed.

You’re in legal limbo. Can’t file taxes as single. Can’t change beneficiaries on certain accounts. Can’t make major financial moves without risking contempt issues.

This is why people get anxious during this 2-3 week window—their divorce is “done” but not officially done.

When Do You Become Officially Divorced?

The moment the signed decree is filed with the clerk. Not when the judge signs. Not when you receive your copy. When the clerk stamps it “filed” and enters it into the court system.

In Florida, this happens 1-3 days after the judge signs.

Your attorney should get notification electronically through the e-filing portal. Then you’ll receive a certified copy by mail about a week later.

The decree shows two critical dates:

Date signed by judge
Date filed with clerk

The filing date is your official divorce date.

Recent Changes to Florida Court Decree Processing

2022 e-filing mandate. All Florida counties now use electronic filing for family law cases. This actually sped up processing because judges can review and sign electronically, and clerks don’t handle physical paper.

2023 standardized forms. Florida courts adopted more standardized final judgment templates. This reduced errors and rejections, cutting average signing times by 2-3 days in most counties.

2024 judicial assignments. Some circuits now assign specific judges to handle only uncontested final hearings one day per week. In Broward, this dropped uncontested decree signing time from 14 days to 7 days.

What If Signing Takes Longer Than 30 Days?

File a Motion for Status Conference or contact the judicial assistant to ask what’s causing the delay.

Florida doesn’t have a statutory deadline for judges to sign final judgments, but the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure expect “reasonable promptness.” Courts consider 30+ days without explanation unreasonable.

Possible reasons for extended delays:

Your attorney never submitted the proposed decree (this happens more than you’d think)
The decree needs corrections and got lost in the shuffle
Judge is on medical leave or vacation
Administrative error—the decree got misfiled

Don’t panic at day 15. Start asking questions at day 21. File a motion at day 30.

What Legal Experts Say

Miami family law attorney Carlos Rodriguez told the Florida Bar Journal in 2024: “Most judges sign within 10 days if the decree is clean. The problem is attorneys submitting defective orders. I tell clients to expect two weeks, but we aim for one.”

Tampa attorney Jennifer Walsh notes: “E-filing sped things up significantly. We’re seeing 7-day turnarounds on simple uncontested cases now, versus 14 days pre-2022.”

The Florida Bar’s Family Law Section 2024 survey found the median signing time across all Florida counties is 9 days for uncontested divorces, 12 days for contested cases.

Here’s something most people don’t know: Your divorce becomes final at the exact moment the clerk stamps “filed” on the decree—not at midnight, not the next business day. If that happens at 2:47 PM on a Tuesday, that’s your official divorce time. This matters for taxes, remarriage licenses, and legal deadlines.

Can the Judge Refuse to Sign?

Yes. If the proposed decree doesn’t comply with Florida law, the judge sends it back with instructions for revision.

Common reasons for rejection:

Child support calculations don’t follow Florida guidelines
Missing required financial disclosures
Vague property division terms
No provision for health insurance for children
Retirement account division language insufficient for QDRO
Relocation restrictions not addressed in parenting plan

Getting rejected adds 7-14 days to your timeline because you have to fix the issues and resubmit.

FAQ: Florida Divorce Decree Signing

Can I get a copy of the signed decree before it’s filed?

No. The decree isn’t public record until filed with the clerk. Before filing, only the judge and attorneys have access.

What if I need proof of divorce urgently?

Once filed, you can request a certified copy from the clerk the same day. Cost is $5-10. You need this for name changes, remarriage licenses, or updating legal documents.

Does the judge sign during the final hearing?

Almost never. Judges review and sign later in chambers. The only exception is some default divorces where the judge signs immediately if the paperwork is perfect.

Can I call the judge to ask when they’ll sign?

No. Contact the judicial assistant through your attorney. Direct contact with the judge is not allowed.

What if my ex refuses to submit the proposed decree?

If your attorney drafted the decree after an uncontested hearing and your ex’s attorney won’t approve it, your attorney can submit it anyway with a notice that opposing counsel hasn’t responded. The judge reviews it and decides.

Do both parties need to be present when the judge signs?

No. Signing happens in the judge’s chambers without either party present.

How long after signing until I can remarry?

Immediately after the decree is filed with the clerk. Check your county’s online case docket to confirm filing. Don’t rely on mail—get confirmation from the clerk’s office or your attorney.

Can signing be delayed because of appeals?

If either party files a motion for rehearing or notice of appeal within 10 days of the final hearing, the judge may delay signing. But this is rare in family law cases.

How to Track Your Decree Status

Florida courts offer online case lookup. Visit your county clerk’s website, enter your case number, and check the docket. Once filed, you’ll see an entry: “Final Judgment of Dissolution filed [date].”

County clerk contacts and costs:

Miami-Dade: www.miamidadeclerk.gov/clerk/family-certified-copies.page | Certified copies: $1 per page + $2 certification fee
Broward: www.browardclerk.org | Similar pricing structure
Hillsborough (Tampa): www.hillsclerk.com | Certified copies typically $5-10
Orange County (Orlando): www.myorangeclerk.com | Standard certified copy fees apply
Palm Beach: www.mypalmbeachclerk.com | Check current fee schedule

Most counties charge $1-2 per page plus $2-5 for certification. Total cost for a typical 5-10 page decree: $7-25.

Ask your attorney. They get automatic notifications through the e-filing system when the decree is signed and filed.

Call the clerk’s office. Provide your case number and ask if a final judgment has been filed. They can’t tell you if the judge signed but hasn’t filed yet—that information isn’t public.

What Can Go Wrong During the Signing Process

The judge finds an error. Miscalculated child support, missing QDRO language, or conflicting provisions get the decree kicked back. This adds 1-2 weeks minimum.

Your attorney never submitted the decree. This happens more than you’d think—especially with attorneys juggling 50+ cases. After 14 days, follow up to confirm submission.

Clerk processing errors. The signed decree gets misfiled or stuck in administrative processing. Rare but it happens. This is why you check the online docket regularly.

Judge on leave. If your judge takes medical leave or vacation right after your hearing, another judge may need to review and sign. Adds 1-2 weeks.

System glitches. E-filing systems occasionally fail to route documents properly. If your attorney submitted but the judge never received it, you won’t know until you follow up.

Action Steps: What to Do Right Now

If you’re waiting for your decree to be signed, do this:

Day 1-7 after final hearing:

Confirm your attorney submitted the proposed decree
Note the submission date for your records
Start checking the online docket every 3 days

Day 8-14:

Continue monitoring the docket
Prepare documents you’ll need once divorced (bank account changes, insurance beneficiary forms, etc.)

Day 15-21:

Have your attorney contact the judicial assistant to check status
Verify there are no corrections needed

Day 22+:

If still not signed, your attorney should file a status inquiry
Consider whether there’s an administrative error

Immediately after filing:

Request certified copies from the clerk ($7-25 depending on length)
Update all legal documents requiring proof of divorce
File name change paperwork if applicable

Bottom Line

Plan on 7-14 days for the judge to sign your Florida divorce decree after the final hearing. Add another week for clerk processing and receiving your certified copy.

Uncontested cases with clean paperwork hit the 7-day mark. Contested cases with complex provisions take 10-14 days. Anything over 21 days means there’s a problem—contact your attorney to find out what’s causing the delay.

The waiting is frustrating, especially when your divorce feels “done” after the final hearing. But judges prioritize accuracy over speed. A correctly signed decree prevents post-divorce litigation over ambiguous terms or missing provisions.

Use the waiting time to prepare for post-decree requirements: updating beneficiaries, changing legal documents, refinancing debt in your name, and implementing the parenting plan if you have kids.

Once that decree is filed, you’re officially divorced. The 2-3 week wait ends, and you move forward.

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

Your Judge Signed Your Divorce Decree Yesterday—You Just Don’t Know It Yet