Purpose of Florida Chapter 61 & Proceedings
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Florida Statute 61.001 - Purpose of chapter.
(1) This chapter shall be liberally construed and applied.

(2) Its purposes are:

(a) To preserve the integrity of marriage and to safeguard meaningful family relationships;

(b) To promote the amicable settlement of disputes that arise between parties to a marriage; and

(c) To mitigate the potential harm to the spouses and their children caused by the process of legal dissolution of
marriage.

Florida Statute 61.011 - Dissolution in chancery.
Proceedings under this chapter are in chancery.

Florida Statute 61.031 - Dissolution of marriage to be a vinculo.
No dissolution of marriage is from bed and board, but is from bonds of matrimony.

Florida Statute 61.043 - Commencement of a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or for alimony and child
support; dissolution questionnaire.
(1) A proceeding for dissolution of marriage or a proceeding under s. 61.09 shall be commenced by filing in the
circuit court a petition entitled “In re the marriage of ____, husband, and ____, wife.” A copy of the petition together
with a copy of a summons shall be served upon the other party to the marriage in the same manner as service of
papers in civil actions generally.

(2) Upon filing for dissolution of marriage, the petitioner must complete and file with the clerk of the circuit court an
unsigned anonymous informational questionnaire. For purposes of anonymity, completed questionnaires must be
kept in a separate file for later distribution by the clerk to researchers from the Florida State University Center for
Marriage and Family. These questionnaires must be made available to researchers from the Florida State University
Center for Marriage and Family at their request. The actual questionnaire shall be formulated by researchers from
Florida State University who shall distribute them to the clerk of the circuit court in each county.

Florida Statute 61.044 - Certain existing defenses abolished.
The defenses to divorce and legal separation of condonation, collusion, recrimination, and laches are abolished.

___________________________________________________________

Please review the following Florida Statutes for some more information on Dissolutions of Marriage, Alimony,
Child Support and Time-Sharing in Florida:

Florida Statute 61.001 - Purpose of chapter.
Florida Statute 61.011 - Dissolution in chancery.
Florida Statute 61.021 - Residence requirements.
Florida Statute 61.031 - Dissolution of marriage to be a vinculo.
Florida Statute 61.043 - Commencement of a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or for alimony and child
support; dissolution questionnaire.
Florida Statute 61.044 - Certain existing defenses abolished.
Florida Statute 61.046 - Definitions.
Florida Statute 61.052 - Dissolution of marriage.
Florida Statute 61.061 Proceedings against nonresidents.
Florida Statute 61.071 - Alimony pendente lite; suit money.
Florida Statute 61.075 - Equitable distribution of marital assets and liabilities.
Florida Statute 61.076 - Distribution of retirement plans upon dissolution of marriage.
Florida Statute 61.077 - Determination of entitlement to setoffs or credits upon sale of marital home.
Florida Statute 61.079 - Premarital agreements.
Florida Statute 61.08 - Alimony.
Florida Statute 61.09 - Alimony and child support unconnected with dissolution.
Florida Statute 61.10 - Adjudication of obligation to support spouse or minor child unconnected with dissolution;
parenting plan.
Florida Statute 61.11 - Writs.
Florida Statute 61.12 - Attachment or garnishment of amounts due for alimony or child support.
Florida Statute 61.122 - Parenting plan recommendation; presumption of psychologist’s good faith; prerequisite to
parent’s filing suit; award of fees, costs, reimbursement.
Florida Statute 61.125 - Parenting coordination.
Florida Statute 61.13 - Support of children; parenting and time-sharing; powers of court.
Florida Statute 61.13001 - Parental relocation with a child.
Florida Statute 61.13002 - Temporary time-sharing modification and child support modification due to military
service.
Florida Statute 61.13003 - Court-ordered electronic communication between a parent and a child.
Florida Statute 61.13015 - Petition for suspension or denial of professional licenses and certificates.
Florida Statute 61.13016 - Suspension of driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registrations.
Florida Statute 61.1301 - Income deduction orders.
Florida Statute 61.1354 - Sharing of information between consumer reporting agencies and the IV-D agency.
Florida Statute 61.14 - Enforcement and modification of support, maintenance, or alimony agreements or orders.
Florida Statute 61.16 - Attorney’s fees, suit money, and costs.
Florida Statute 61.17 - Alimony and child support; additional method for enforcing orders and judgments; costs,
expenses.
Florida Statute 61.18 - Alimony and child support; default in undertaking of bond posted to ensure payment.
Florida Statute 61.181 - Depository for alimony transactions, support, maintenance, and support payments; fees.
Florida Statute 61.1811 - Clerk of the Court Child Support Enforcement Collection System Trust Fund.
Florida Statute - 61.1812 Child Support Incentive Trust Fund.
Florida Statute 61.1814 - Child Support Enforcement Application and Program Revenue Trust Fund.
Florida Statute 61.1816 - Child Support Clearing Trust Fund.
Florida Statute 61.1824 - State Disbursement Unit.
Florida Statute 61.1825 - State Case Registry.
Florida Statute 61.1826 - Procurement of services for State Disbursement Unit and the non-Title IV-D component of
the State Case Registry; contracts and cooperative agreements; penalties; withholding payment.
Florida Statute 61.1827 - Identifying information concerning applicants for and recipients of child support services.
Florida Statute 61.183 - Mediation of certain contested issues.
Florida Statute 61.19 - Entry of judgment of dissolution of marriage, delay period.
Florida Statute 61.191 - Application.
Florida Statute 61.20 - Social investigation and recommendations regarding a parenting plan.
Florida Statute 61.21 - Parenting course authorized; fees; required attendance authorized; contempt.
Florida Statute 61.29 - Child support guidelines; principles.
Florida Statute 61.30 - Child support guidelines; retroactive child support.
Florida Statute 61.401 - Appointment of guardian ad litem.
Florida Statue 61.402 - Qualifications of guardians ad litem.
Florida Statute 61.403 - Guardians ad litem; powers and authority.
Florida Statute 61.404 - Guardians ad litem; confidentiality.
Florida Statute 61.405 - Guardians ad litem; immunity.
Florida Statue 61.45 - Court-ordered parenting plan; risk of violation; bond.

Additional Family Law Statutes

NOTE:   Florida Statutes are modified and updated from time to time by the Florida Legislature and Governor and
the latest version of the Florida Statute may not be posted on this website.  In addition, you should consult with an
experienced Florida Divorce and Family Law Attorney to understand how the Florida Statutes apply and interact with
Florida case law, Florida Family law Rules of Procedure and other applicable laws and Florida Statutes.  

For more information,
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Saint Cloud, Sanford, Windermere, Winter Garden, Winter Park and Winter Springs, as well as Lake County, Orange
County, Osceola County, Seminole County, and Volusia County, Florida.
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