Once you've been served divorce papers, you have 20 days to respond. If you don't respond, the petitioning spouse can file a motion to default and the divorce can be finalized without your input.
So long as there are no violations of Florida laws, the final mediated agreement can be anything the spouses agree to with the help of their mediator. Litigating a divorce results in both parties operating under attack and defend mode.
Divorce proceedings in Florida don't require both parties to agree. Even if your spouse refuses to cooperate or sign divorce papers, you can still file for a no-fault divorce. In Florida, irretrievable breakdown of marriage is recognized as a valid reason for divorce.
It's a myth that your Florida divorce can't move forward if you don't sign divorce papers. Florida is a no-fault divorce state, which means a spouse can file for divorce without the other spouse's approval.
If your spouse refuses to “sign” the divorce papers or rather respond to the Petition by Answer and potentially a Counter-Petition, then the court will assume that they do not have any interest in participating in the proceedings. As such, a judge may grant a default divorce.
Copies of final judgments can be purchased through the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court at the Lawson E. Thomas Courthouse Center, Family Court, 175 NW 1st Avenue, 14th Floor, Miami, FL 33128 or any of the District Offices. Copies may also be purchased online here.
A divorce can take anywhere between 3 and 24 months depending on whether it is contested or uncontested. The average uncontested divorce takes 3 months. The average contested divorce takes 12 months. The amount of time varies ing to the judge, the county, and the will of the parties to speed things up or delay.
You must arrange to have the petition served on your spouse by a certified process server or a deputy sheriff. That person must also prepare documents to file in the court file certifying the petition was properly served.
The divorce of marriage (DOM) process begins when a petitioner files a DOM petition with the court. The respondent is then served with paperwork. The parties will exchange certain information during discovery.