Filing a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court costs $408, per the 13th Judicial Circuit's fee schedule. That's separate from attorney costs — with Marble Law, you pay only for the services you need, not an hourly rate or retainer.

You can't serve your spouse yourself — Florida law requires service by a sheriff's deputy or certified process server. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office charges $40 to serve a summons in Florida, or $70 out of state, under Fla. Stat. § 30.231(4); many filers instead use the 13th Judicial Circuit's certified private process servers.

Under the 13th Judicial Circuit's Family Law Mediation order, the judge may refer some or all issues in your dissolution case to the Family Diversion Program — discretionary for an initial filing, not automatic. Once a final judgment is entered, any post-judgment dispute, like a request to change time-sharing or support, is automatically sent to mediation first.

Florida requires parents in cases involving minor children to complete a parenting course, and Hillsborough County families must use a Department of Children and Families-approved provider — the circuit's list includes Interventions Enterprises in Tampa, Terem Education, and Education Programs at several Tampa-area locations.

Divorce cases are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court's Family Division at the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse, 800 E. Twiggs Street in downtown Tampa, and heard by a judge in the 13th Judicial Circuit's Family Law Division. You can also file electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal.

You can ask the court to waive your filing and service fees by submitting an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status with your petition, based on your income, assets, and debts. If approved, you won't pay the standard fees up front — though the court can reassess your indigent status later if your circumstances change.