How do I get divorce by default in Florida?

Well, there are multiple ways that you could get a divorce by default in the State of Florida. The most common is what’s called a clerk’s default where when the opposing party is served with your initial pleading, your petition for dissolution of marriage, they have 20 days to file a responsive pleading which is usually an answer. It could be several other things. If they don’t do that, then the clerk can approve what’s called a clerk’s default and the court will determine that the other party does not wish to participate in the litigation. Other ways are once the case is ongoing, you could apply for a file for a judicial default which is where you have to have a hearing in front of a judge and a judge would determine whether or not the person is defaulted.