Divorce education by state · Florida
Divorce Education Classes in Florida
Florida’s divorce-education requirement is the Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course (Fla. Stat. 61.21): all parties to a divorce with minor children must finish a DCF-approved course before final judgment.
Based on 3 cited official sources · Reviewed Jul 2026
- Required?Yes, statewideFor divorcing parents with minor children
- Typical length4 hours minimum
- Online?YesDCF-approved online courses
- CostAbout $25–$60
At a glance
| Is divorce education required? | Yes — required statewide for divorcing parents with minor children |
|---|---|
| Who takes it & when | All parties to a Florida dissolution of marriage (divorce) that involves minor children — and paternity actions involving parental responsibility — must complete the course before the court enters a final judgment. |
| Course name | Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course |
| Legal basis | Fla. Stat. § 61.21 |
| Deadline | The petitioner must finish within 45 days of filing the petition and every other party within 45 days after being served; completion is required before the court enters a final judgment. |
| Typical length | Minimum 4 hours |
| Typical cost | Commonly about $25–$60, depending on the DCF-approved provider. |
| In person or online? | Online classes accepted |
| Format & approval | In Florida, divorce education and the court-ordered parenting class are the same statewide course: Fla. Stat. 61.21 requires all parties to a divorce with minor children to complete a DCF-approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course (minimum 4 hours) before a final judgment. Online is accepted statewide — the law requires DCF to keep at least one approved Internet course on its list — and DCF-approved online courses are the most common way Florida parents satisfy it. The circuit court (family law division) handling your divorce decides what counts — confirm the course and format before you enroll or pay. |
Comparing states? See divorce classes by state — whether each state requires one, typical length and cost, and whether online classes count, side by side.
Florida-specific rules to know
- Both parents must complete it — the statute applies to 'all parties' to the divorce, not just one spouse.
- Deadlines: the petitioner must finish within 45 days of filing and every other party within 45 days after being served; all before the court enters a final judgment.
- Use only a provider approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families (Fla. Stat. 61.21; Rule 65C-32, F.A.C.) — a course not on the DCF-approved list may not be accepted.
- A judge may excuse a party for good cause; a parent who refuses can be held in contempt, denied shared parental responsibility or time-sharing, or otherwise sanctioned.
- If the children have identified special needs or emotional concerns, the parents must choose a course tailored to those needs.
Find an approved divorce-education class in Florida
Start with the official state or court list — that's the one the circuit court (family law division) handling your divorce is most likely to accept — then confirm the specific course with your court or clerk:
Prefer to look on a map? Search Google Maps for divorce-education classes in Florida — then check any provider against the official guidance above and your court's order before enrolling.
Divorce education vs. a parenting class: "divorce education" focuses on the divorce process itself and how it affects children, while a court-ordered parenting class is the broader custody / co-parenting requirement. In many states the two overlap or are the same course. See how Florida's requirements line up on our Florida parenting-classes page.
Source & accuracy: compiled from the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), which approves the providers; the requirement itself is imposed statewide by Fla. Stat. 61.21 and official Florida court sources. Requirements change and can vary by county and case — always confirm the course, format, hours, cost, and deadline with your court before enrolling. Sources: flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/61.21, myflfamilies.com/services/child-family/child-and-family-well-being/parent-education-and-family-stabilization, myflfamilies.com/parent-education-and-family-stabilization-course-providers-list.