Family Law

The Clerk’s Office is responsible for processing all adoptions in Orange County. We ensure that all paperwork is filed with the appropriate department and adhere to strict confidentiality laws.

The Clerk's Office is prohibited from offering legal advice regarding adoptions. Please refer any adoption questions to your attorney or adoption agency.

All records of adoption are confidential and exempt from the provisions of Section 119.07 (1) Florida Statutes, except as provided in Section 63.162 F.S. A court order is required to allow access to an adoption file.

Simplified Dissolution of Marriage
A married couple may obtain a divorce through the simplified dissolution procedure if all of the following statements are true about both spouses at the time that they jointly file a petition for simplified dissolution of marriage:

• The couple has no minor or dependent children
• The couple has no adopted children under 18 years of age
• A spouse is not pregnant 
• At least one of the spouses has lived in Florida for the past six months 
• The couple has made arrangements for the division of property and the payment of their obligations
• Both parties agree that the marriage is irretrievably broken
• Both parties agree to use the simplified dissolution of marriage procedure
• Both parties must be present at the hearing 
• Both parties are aware of the following: 
  • After the dissolution becomes final, neither spouse has any right to expect money or support from the other, except for what is included in the property settlement agreement
  • By choosing the simplified dissolution procedure, both spouses give up certain legal rights that they would have if they used the regular dissolution procedure

Dissolution of Marriage with No Children and No Property
A married couple may obtain a divorce using this process if they have no marital assets and/or marital liabilities, have no dependent children and neither spouse is pregnant. 

At least one of the parties must have lived in Florida for 6 months prior to filing.

Dissolution of Marriage with No Children
A married couple may obtain a divorce using this process if they have marital assets and/or marital liabilities, but have no dependent children and neither spouse is pregnant. 

At least one of the parties must have lived in Florida for 6 months prior to filing.

Dissolution of Marriage with Children
A married couple may obtain a divorce using this process if they have dependent or minor children together or if either spouse is pregnant. 

At least one of the parties must have lived in Florida for 6 months prior to filing.

All divorcing parents are required to attend an approved parenting class. This class attempts to reduce the impact of divorce on young children. Visit the Florida Department of Children and Families website for approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course Providers.

Dissolution of Marriage is the legal term for divorce.

Forms
Forms and filing instructions may be purchased in room 320 or 340 of the Orange County Courthouse or a dissolution of marriage packet can be purchased online from our website. Customers may obtain individual forms by visiting flcourts
 

Filing for Divorce

• Take completed forms to room 340 of the courthouse before 3:30 p.m. to be reviewed and notarized
• Once the case is filed, Family Court Services will contact the petitioner with instructions
• If no further filing is required, the petitioner will receive a hearing date and time by mail

Requirements 
Before a name change hearing can be set, the petitioner must have fingerprints taken electronically by an authorized agency.

The fingerprints are then submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for criminal history records checks. The results are sent to the Clerk’s Office by FDLE.  

A background check is not required for petitions to restore a former name or for changes of name in proceedings for divorce or adoption of children.

If the name change request is on behalf of a minor, consent may be required from the parent not filing the request. Note that if the name change is for a minor, the fingerprints of the adult petitioner must be taken and submitted, not the minor’s.

Forms
Forms and filing instructions may be purchased in room 320 and 340 of the Orange County Courthouse or a name change packet can be purchased online from our website. Customers may obtain individual forms by visiting flcourts. 

When filing for a name change at the courthouse, you must first go to Family Court Services in room 340 before 3:30 p.m. to have your pleadings reviewed and notarized.

Filing Description Fee

Other Filing Fees  

Forms of Payment

• Cash (in person only)
• Personal check, cashier's check or money order (payable to the Orange County Clerk of Courts)
• MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express (a $3.50 surcharge will apply)

The Clerk’s Office has a Self Help Center that is designed to provide legal assistance to Orange County citizens who do not have a private attorney.

The Self Help Center staff can assist customers with family law cases.

Self Help Center services include attorney consultations, form completion assistance and notary and copy services.

To learn more about the Clerk’s Self Help Center, including how to schedule low-cost attorney consultations, visit the Self Help Center section of our website.


Once you have filed the required document(s) with the Court in the Self Help Center and/or online through eportal, you must inform the Family Court Case Management Department through the submission of an online inquiry form for an update, case status or a court date on Paternity, Dissolution of Marriage, Name Change or Extending Family cases.
 

• Go to www.ninthcircuit.org
• Click on Programs & Services
• Click on Family Court Case Management
• Click on Inquiry form for Orange County (right side of page 'Orange County Courthouse')