How to Fill Out Florida Form 12.903(a) (w/Examples) + FAQs

Florida Family Law Form 12.903(a) is the Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, the short, agreed-upon divorce petition that spouses file together when they meet every eligibility rule under Florida Statute § 61.052 and Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.105. You fill it out by entering both spouses’ identifying information, confirming residency, checking the eligibility boxes, listing property and debt division, and signing in front of a notary or deputy clerk. The form is part of the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms packet.

The problem is that one missed checkbox, one missing notarization, or one wrong eligibility answer kicks the case back, costs another filing fee, and forces couples into the longer regular dissolution path. According to the Florida Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics, Florida records roughly 75,000–80,000 dissolutions every year, and self-help intake clerks across the state report that simplified petitions are rejected at first review more than 30% of the time because of avoidable paperwork errors.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

• 📋 The exact line-by-line walk-through of every box, blank, and signature line on Form 12.903(a)
• ⚖️ The strict eligibility rules under Fla. Stat. § 61.0903 and how to know if you really qualify
• 🧾 The companion forms you must file alongside 12.903(a), including the financial affidavit and marital settlement agreement
• 🏛️ Real named-person examples in Broward, Orange, and Duval counties showing correct and incorrect filings
• 🚫 The seven costliest mistakes self-represented filers make and how to dodge each one

What Form 12.903(a) Actually Is

Florida Family Law Form 12.903(a) is the joint petition both spouses sign when they want a simplified dissolution of marriage. It lives inside the official Florida Courts family law forms library and is approved by the Florida Supreme Court under the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure. The form replaces the longer, contested Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Form 12.901(b)(1)) when the couple agrees on everything.

The simplified path exists because the legislature wanted a low-cost, low-conflict exit for couples with no children, no pregnancy, no alimony fight, and full agreement on dividing property and debts. The plain-English idea is simple: if you both agree, sign together, and meet the rules, you skip most of the formal divorce process. The consequence of trying to use this form when you do not qualify is dismissal of the case, loss of the filing fee, and a forced restart on the regular track.

A common misconception is that 12.903(a) by itself ends the marriage. It does not. The petition only opens the case. The marriage ends only when a judge signs Form 12.990(a), the Final Judgment of Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, which you can read about on the Florida Courts final judgment forms page.

Federal Background First

Although divorce is a state matter, several federal rules touch every Florida dissolution. The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, 50 U.S.C. § 3901 protects active-duty military spouses from default judgments, so a simplified divorce involving a deployed spouse may not be available. Federal tax law under IRC § 71 and the post-2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act alimony rules controls how alimony is taxed, but simplified dissolution forbids alimony entirely, so this rarely applies. Federal pension division under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the use of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order can also affect what you write into the property section.

The consequence of ignoring federal overlays is real. Imagine a couple in Pensacola who signs 12.903(a) while the husband is deployed overseas: the court can later vacate the judgment under the SCRA, undoing the divorce. A real-world example is a Jacksonville Navy couple who refiled twice because the deployed spouse could not appear at the final hearing in person, which the simplified track requires.

Florida-Specific Authority

The controlling state authority is Florida Statutes Chapter 61, specifically § 61.052 (no-fault dissolution) and § 61.0903 (simplified dissolution). The procedural rules sit inside the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, and the form itself is published with line-by-line instructions on the Florida Courts simplified dissolution forms page.

The plain-English rule is that both spouses must personally appear before the judge at the final hearing. The consequence of skipping that hearing is automatic dismissal under Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.105. A common misconception is that you can mail in the final hearing or appear by Zoom; some Florida circuits allow remote appearance, but several, including the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, still require in-person attendance for simplified cases.

Who Qualifies for Simplified Dissolution

Eligibility is the gate. If any answer below is wrong, you cannot use Form 12.903(a) and must instead use Form 12.901(b)(1) regular petition. The qualifying conditions are spelled out at Fla. Stat. § 61.0903(1).

You qualify only if all of the following are true:

• Both spouses agree the marriage is irretrievably broken
• Neither spouse wants alimony of any kind, now or ever
• There are no minor or dependent children of the marriage
• The wife is not pregnant
• At least one spouse has lived in Florida for 6 months before filing, proven by a Florida driver license, voter card, or affidavit of corroborating witness using Form 12.902(i)
• Both spouses agree on how every asset and debt is divided
• Both spouses are willing to sign the petition together and appear in court at the final hearing

The plain-English consequence of lying on any line is severe. Filing a false statement in a Florida court pleading is perjury under Fla. Stat. § 837.02 and can lead to criminal charges and a vacated judgment. Imagine a couple in Tampa who hid a pregnancy to speed the divorce; once discovered, the judgment was set aside and both faced perjury exposure.

A common misconception is that “no children” means no children at all. The rule is no minor or dependent children of this marriage. Adult, financially independent children from the marriage do not block eligibility. Adopted minor children, however, count the same as biological minor children and disqualify the simplified path.

Companion Forms You Must File

Form 12.903(a) never travels alone. The simplified packet always includes several other documents, each with its own purpose and pitfalls.

Family Law Financial Affidavit

Both spouses must file Form 12.902(b) (Short Form) if individual gross income is under $50,000 per year, or Form 12.902(c) (Long Form) if income is $50,000 or more. The plain-English rule is that the court wants to see income, expenses, assets, and debts before approving any property split. The consequence of skipping the affidavit is rejection at intake, even though simplified couples sometimes assume it is optional. A real example: an Orlando filer named Jenna assumed the short form was waived because the couple had a marital settlement agreement; the clerk bounced the packet the same day.

Marital Settlement Agreement

The simplified-specific Form 12.902(f)(3) Marital Settlement Agreement lists every asset, every debt, and who keeps what. The plain-English rule is that this contract is the heart of the case; the judge enforces it as written. The consequence of vague language, like “split the household goods fairly,” is that judges may refuse to approve the agreement until specifics are added. A common misconception is that a notarized marital settlement agreement is binding before the final judgment, but it only becomes enforceable when the judge incorporates it into Form 12.990(a).

Notice of Social Security Number

Form 12.902(j) discloses both spouses’ Social Security numbers to the court but keeps them off the public docket. The consequence of forgetting it is automatic clerk rejection under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.425. Picture David in Jacksonville filing without it; his case sat in pending status for 11 days until he refiled the missing form.

Final Judgment Form

Form 12.990(a) is the order the judge signs to dissolve the marriage. You bring this to the final hearing already filled out. The consequence of arriving without it is a continued hearing and another wait of up to 30 days.

Step-by-Step: Filling Out Form 12.903(a)

The form has a caption, body paragraphs, signature blocks, and notarization sections. Each section is walked through below using the current Florida Supreme Court approved version, available at the 12.903(a) direct download link.

The Caption Block

The caption sits at the top and identifies the court. You write the circuit number (for example, “Seventeenth Judicial Circuit” for Broward), the county, the case number (left blank for the clerk to assign), and the division (usually “Family”). You then list both spouses as joint petitioners, not as petitioner and respondent, because both are filing together.

The plain-English consequence of writing the wrong circuit is that the clerk in the wrong county will refuse to file your case under Fla. Stat. § 47.011, the venue statute. A real example: Maria and Carlos in Hollywood, Florida, almost filed in Miami-Dade because Carlos worked there; the correct venue was Broward, where they lived.

Paragraphs 1–3: Jurisdiction and Residency

Paragraph 1 asks you to confirm the court has jurisdiction. You check the box stating that one or both of you have resided in Florida for at least 6 months before filing. Paragraph 2 asks for the date and place of marriage. Paragraph 3 asks you to state the marriage is irretrievably broken.

The consequence of failing to prove residency is dismissal under Gillman v. Gillman, 413 So. 2d 412 (Fla. 4th DCA 1982), which held that residency is a jurisdictional prerequisite. A common misconception is that owning a Florida vacation home counts; it does not. You need physical residence with intent to remain.

Paragraph 4: No Children, No Pregnancy

Paragraph 4 requires both spouses to swear there are no minor or dependent children of the marriage and the wife is not pregnant. This single paragraph is the most-litigated line on the form. The consequence of an incorrect answer is criminal perjury exposure plus voiding the judgment.

Paragraph 5: Property and Debts

Paragraph 5 confirms the spouses have divided their marital assets and debts to their mutual satisfaction and have signed Form 12.902(f)(3). The plain-English rule is that you are telling the judge, “We agree, here is the agreement, please sign off.” The consequence of leaving this paragraph blank or unchecked is rejection of the entire packet.

Paragraph 6: No Alimony

Paragraph 6 is the alimony waiver. Both spouses confirm they understand they are giving up any right to alimony, now and forever. Once the judgment is signed, you cannot come back later under Fla. Stat. § 61.08 and ask for alimony. The consequence is permanent. Imagine Anita in Duval County who waived alimony at age 38 and then lost her job at 41; she had no path back.

Signature and Notarization Block

Both spouses must sign in front of a notary public or a deputy clerk of the court. The form has two notarization stamps, one per spouse. Self-notarization is forbidden under Fla. Stat. § 117.107(11). The consequence of an unsigned or improperly notarized form is immediate rejection.

A common misconception is that an online remote notary is invalid in Florida divorce filings; in fact, Fla. Stat. § 117.201 authorizes Florida-commissioned remote online notaries (RONs) for family law forms.

Three Real-World Filing Scenarios

Below are three named-person scenarios drawn from common patterns at Florida self-help intake desks. Each shows what happens when filers either follow or miss the rule.

Scenario 1: The Broward County Couple

What Maria and Carlos Did	What the Court Did
Filed 12.903(a) in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit, Broward County, with both signatures notarized at a UPS Store	Accepted the petition the same day
Attached Form 12.902(f)(3) listing the 2019 Honda Civic to Maria and the credit-card debt to Carlos	Approved the agreement at the final hearing
Appeared together 22 days after filing	Judge signed Form 12.990(a) and dissolved the marriage

Scenario 2: The Orange County Couple

What Jenna and Tyler Did	What the Court Did
Filed 12.903(a) in Orange County but skipped Form 12.902(b) financial affidavit	Clerk rejected the packet at intake
Refiled 9 days later with both affidavits attached	Clerk accepted and set hearing
Tyler missed the final hearing because he was traveling for work	Judge dismissed the case under Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.105

Scenario 3: The Duval County Couple

What David and Anita Did	What the Court Did
Filed 12.903(a) listing one minor child as “emancipated”	Clerk flagged the inconsistency
Court ordered the case converted to regular dissolution under Form 12.901(b)(1)	Required full parenting plan and child-support filings
Lost the simplified track and paid second filing fee	Final judgment delayed by 7 months

Filing Fees, Venue, and Timing

The filing fee in 2026 ranges from about $408 to $410 across Florida’s 67 counties, set under Fla. Stat. § 28.241. Some counties add a small technology surcharge. You can apply for a fee waiver using Form 12.902(k) Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status if your household income falls below 200% of the federal poverty line.

Venue is the county where either spouse lives. The plain-English rule is file where you live, not where you married. The consequence of filing in the wrong county is transfer or dismissal under Fla. Stat. § 47.122.

Timing matters. Florida imposes a statutory cooling-off period of 20 days under Fla. Stat. § 61.19, meaning the judge cannot enter the final judgment until 20 days after filing. Most simplified cases close in 30 to 45 days from filing to final judgment, far faster than the 6-month-plus regular track.

E-Filing Through the Florida Portal

You file electronically through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, which is mandatory for attorneys and optional for self-represented filers. The plain-English consequence of e-filing without uploading every required exhibit is rejection within 24 hours. A common misconception is that e-filing replaces the in-person final hearing; it does not.

County Clerk Self-Help Programs

Most large counties run self-help centers. The Broward Clerk Self-Help Center, the Orange County Clerk Self-Help Family Law Program, and the Duval County Family Law Self-Help Program all review forms before filing for a small fee. The consequence of skipping self-help review is a higher rejection rate.

Mistakes to Avoid

The following errors are the most frequent, most expensive, and most fixable problems on Form 12.903(a).

• Filing with minor children of the marriage: The simplified track forbids this; the negative outcome is forced conversion to a regular dissolution and a second filing fee
• Missing notarization: An unsigned or self-notarized form is void under Fla. Stat. § 117.107(11), and the clerk will reject it
• Skipping the financial affidavit: Filers wrongly assume Form 12.902(b) is optional in agreed cases; the result is rejection under Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.285
• Vague property descriptions: Writing “household goods divided fairly” instead of itemizing items leads judges to refuse to incorporate the agreement
• Filing in the wrong county: Venue errors trigger transfer or dismissal and waste the filing fee
• Waiving alimony without understanding permanence: Once Paragraph 6 is signed and the judgment entered, alimony is gone forever, even if circumstances change drastically
• Missing the final hearing: Both spouses must appear in person in most circuits, and a no-show triggers dismissal under Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.105
• Forgetting the Notice of Social Security Number (Form 12.902(j)): Mandatory under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.425, and its absence freezes the case
• Using an outdated form version: The Florida Supreme Court revises forms regularly; using a stale RTF from a third-party site can cause rejection

Do’s and Don’ts

The simplified track rewards careful filers and punishes shortcuts.

• Do download the current form directly from the Florida Courts forms library because third-party copies may be outdated and rejected
• Do itemize every asset and debt in Form 12.902(f)(3) so the judge can enforce the agreement word for word
• Do notarize both signatures the same day to avoid mismatched dates that raise judge questions
• Do confirm residency with a Florida driver license issued more than 6 months before filing, which gives the strongest proof
• Do call the clerk’s self-help line before filing to confirm county-specific procedures, since each circuit has local rules
• Don’t sign Paragraph 6’s alimony waiver without understanding it is permanent and unmodifiable under Fla. Stat. § 61.14
• Don’t file simplified dissolution if either spouse owns a business, has a complex retirement account, or has significant separate property issues
• Don’t assume your marital settlement agreement is enforceable until the judge signs Form 12.990(a)
• Don’t skip the financial affidavit even when you both agree, because Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.285 makes it mandatory
• Don’t miss the 20-day waiting period under Fla. Stat. § 61.19; judges cannot waive it

Pros and Cons of Simplified Dissolution

Simplified is fast and cheap but gives up rights. Weigh both columns honestly.

• Pro — Speed: Most cases finish in 30 to 45 days, compared to 6 months or more for regular dissolution
• Pro — Cost: Only one filing fee around $408 covers both spouses, and no service of process fee applies because both file together
• Pro — Privacy: Less paperwork on the public docket, since there is no parenting plan or child-support guidelines worksheet
• Pro — Low conflict: Both spouses sign together, reducing the emotional toll and avoiding contested hearings
• Pro — Clean break: A signed final judgment ends the marriage with no lingering alimony or support obligations
• Con — No alimony, ever: You permanently waive any future alimony claim under Fla. Stat. § 61.08
• Con — No appeal of property division: By signing the marital settlement, you waive most appellate rights under Casto v. Casto, 508 So. 2d 330 (Fla. 1987), which limits later challenges
• Con — Not available with children: Couples with minor or dependent children cannot use this path
• Con — Mandatory in-person hearing: Both spouses must appear, which is a barrier for traveling or military couples
• Con — Limited discovery: There is no exchange of detailed financial discovery, so a hidden asset stays hidden

Key Entities and Players

Several organizations and people shape every Form 12.903(a) case. The Florida Supreme Court approves the form itself. The Florida Bar Family Law Section drafts and updates the rules of procedure. The Florida Department of Children and Families gets involved only when the parties later disagree about a non-existent child issue. The county clerk of court files and dockets the case. The presiding circuit judge signs Form 12.990(a) and dissolves the marriage.

The plain-English roles fit together like a chain. The Supreme Court writes the rules, the Bar refines them, the clerk processes the paperwork, and the judge enters the judgment. The consequence of misunderstanding the chain is sending forms to the wrong place. Imagine a filer mailing the petition to the Florida Bar instead of the clerk; the Bar cannot file court documents, so the case never starts.

Court Rulings That Shape the Form

Two cases drive how judges read 12.903(a). Canakaris v. Canakaris, 382 So. 2d 1197 (Fla. 1980) sets the framework for property and alimony decisions, even though simplified cases waive alimony. Casto v. Casto, 508 So. 2d 330 (Fla. 1987) holds that a freely signed marital settlement agreement is hard to undo absent fraud or duress.

The plain-English consequence is that you cannot come back two years later and complain you got a bad deal. Picture a Tallahassee filer who signed away the marital home and tried to reopen the case under Casto; the court refused. A common misconception is that you can renegotiate property after the judgment; only fraud, coercion, or material misrepresentation reopens the agreement.

After You File: The Final Hearing

After filing, the clerk schedules a final hearing at least 20 days out, usually 25 to 35 days from filing. Both spouses must appear in person at the hearing, bring a photo ID, bring the original signed Form 12.990(a), and answer brief questions under oath about residency, agreement, and irretrievable breakdown.

The plain-English rule is that the judge confirms by short questions that nothing has changed since filing. The consequence of any “yes” answer to “are you pregnant,” “do you have minor children,” or “do you want alimony” is immediate dismissal of the simplified case. A common misconception is that you can bring a lawyer to argue the case; the simplified hearing is so short and uncontested that lawyers rarely add value.

What the Judge Says and Signs

The judge reads each paragraph of the petition aloud, asks both spouses to confirm under oath, and then signs Form 12.990(a). Marriage ends the moment the judge signs, not when the clerk later mails the certified copy. The consequence of leaving the courthouse without a stamped certified copy is a delay in updating Social Security records, driver license, and property titles.

FAQs

Can both spouses sign Form 12.903(a) on different days?

Yes. Each notarization can occur on a different date, but both signatures must be in place before the petition is filed with the clerk. Mismatched dates within 30 days are usually accepted without question.

Do we need a lawyer for simplified dissolution?

No. Florida designed simplified dissolution for self-represented spouses, and most clerks publish step-by-step packets. A lawyer is still wise if assets, debts, or alimony issues feel uncertain.

Can we use Form 12.903(a) if we have an adult child together?

Yes. Adult, financially independent children of the marriage do not block eligibility under Fla. Stat. § 61.0903. Only minor or dependent children disqualify the simplified path.

Is a Marital Settlement Agreement always required?

Yes. Form 12.902(f)(3) is required because it documents the property and debt agreement that the judge incorporates into the final judgment. Without it, the petition is incomplete.

Can we avoid the 20-day waiting period?

No. Fla. Stat. § 61.19 sets the 20-day cooling-off period, and judges have no authority to waive it absent extraordinary circumstances of the strictest kind.

Can we file simplified dissolution if one spouse lives out of state?

Yes. Only one spouse must meet the 6-month Florida residency requirement, but both still must appear in person at the final hearing in most circuits.

Does the simplified divorce show up on a public record?

Yes. All Florida dissolution judgments are public records, although Social Security numbers and minor-child information are shielded under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.425.

Can we modify the final judgment later?

No. Property division and alimony waivers in simplified dissolution are final and not modifiable, except for narrow fraud claims under Casto v. Casto.

Do I need to change my name on the same form?

Yes. You can request restoration of a former name in Paragraph 7 of Form 12.903(a), and the judge can grant it in the final judgment without a separate name-change petition.

Is the filing fee refundable if our case is dismissed?

No. Florida clerks do not refund filing fees once the case is opened, even if the petition is rejected the same day for an eligibility error.

Can active-duty military couples use simplified dissolution?

Yes. Active-duty servicemembers can file, but the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protections under 50 U.S.C. § 3901 may complicate scheduling the in-person final hearing during deployment.

Does Florida recognize remote online notarization for Form 12.903(a)?

Yes. Fla. Stat. § 117.201 authorizes Florida-commissioned remote online notaries to notarize family law forms, including the simplified dissolution petition.