Divorce is a legal process, but recovering from it is a financial, emotional, and personal one. This page gathers the support for all of it, free, and free of advertising.
The Divorce Survival Guide
The information people wish they had before the process started: how it actually works, how assets get divided, why the exact wording of your agreement matters, and the steps that protect you before you even file. Free, no email required.
Divorce is governed state by state, so the forms you file and the rules you follow depend on where your case is. Pick your state to see the official court forms and the state-specific rules worth knowing before you file.
Choose your state above to load its forms and filing rules.
We're still building this state's guide. Until it is ready, your state court's official self-help website is the authoritative source for current forms and rules.
Your roadmap
What you file
4A-101 Domestic Relations Information Sheet, required in every case
4A-102 Petition for Dissolution, no minor children
4A-103 Petition for Dissolution, with minor children
4-206 Summons
4A-201 Temporary Domestic Order
4A-301 Marital Settlement Agreement, 4A-302 Parenting Plan
4A-305 Final Decree of Dissolution
4-222 Application for Free Process, the fee waiver
Where you fileDistrict court in the county where either spouse lives. No separate county residency rule.
What it costsAbout $137, ranging roughly $130 to $160 by county. Waivable with Form 4-222.
The sequence
1. Pick your packet: A contested without children, B contested with children, C uncontested without children, D uncontested with children.
2. File the petition plus Form 4A-101 at the district court, bringing the original and two copies.
3. Serve your spouse a packet containing the filed petition, the Temporary Domestic Order, and a blank 4A-101.
4. Your spouse has 30 days to respond. No response can lead to a default judgment.
5. File the Marital Settlement Agreement, plus a Parenting Plan and child support worksheet if you have children.
6. The judge signs the Final Decree, Form 4A-305.
Forms are issued by the New Mexico Supreme Court (Forms 4A-100 through 4A-403 NMRA). Fees and forms change, so confirm both with the court before filing.
Court forms
New Mexico uses standardized Domestic Relations Forms approved by the state Supreme Court, organized into packets: A (contested, no children), B (contested, with children), C (uncontested, no children), and D (uncontested, with children). Every case also needs the Domestic Relations Information Sheet, Form 4A-101.
You usually have only 10 days to remove your assigned judge Verified Jul 2026
New Mexico lets each party excuse their assigned district judge one time, without giving a reason. But the person who files generally must do it within 10 days of filing, or of learning which judge was assigned. You can also lose this right sooner if you first ask that judge for any discretionary ruling, even an agreed extension of time. Asking a judge to step aside for actual bias is a separate process with no 10-day limit, but it requires stated grounds.
Source: NMSA 1978 Section 38-3-9 and Rule 1-088.1 NMRA. Confirm the current rule with the court or the State Bar before relying on it.
You must live in New Mexico for 6 months before filing Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must have resided in New Mexico, and kept a domicile here, for at least 6 months before the divorce petition is filed. You file in the district court of the county where you or your spouse lives.
Source: NMSA 1978 Sections 40-4-4 and 40-4-5.
New Mexico is a community-property state Verified Jul 2026
Property and debt acquired during the marriage are generally treated as community property to be divided between spouses. Separate property, owned before the marriage or received by gift or inheritance, stays with the spouse who owns it. How a specific asset is classified can be disputed, so retirement accounts and the marital home deserve extra care.
Source: New Mexico Courts self-help (Dissolution of Marriage) and NMSA 1978 Chapter 40, Article 3.
Your roadmap
What you file
UD-1 Summons with Notice, or UD-1a Summons with UD-2 Verified Complaint
UD-3 Affidavit of Service
UD-4 Sworn Statement of Removal of Barriers to Remarriage, with UD-4a Affidavit of Service
UD-5 Affirmation of Regularity, required in every uncontested case
UD-6 Affidavit of Plaintiff, UD-7 Defendant's Affirmation if your spouse agrees
UD-8(1)(2)(3) Income, Maintenance, and Child Support Worksheets
UD-9 Note of Issue, UD-13 Request for Judicial Intervention
UD-10 Findings of Fact, UD-11 Judgment of Divorce, UD-12 Part 130 Certification
UD-14 Notice of Entry, served with an affidavit of service after the judgment is signed
Poor Person application, the fee waiver, under CPLR 1101
Where you fileSupreme Court in your county. The clerk assigns an index number that must appear on every later filing.
What it costsAround $335 total, built from a $210 index number fee plus judicial intervention and note of issue fees. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Download the Uniform Uncontested Divorce Packet, Forms UD-1 through UD-14, free from the court system.
2. Buy an index number with the Application for Index Number, then file your summons and complaint.
3. Serve your spouse and file the Affidavit of Service.
4. If your spouse agrees, have them sign the Defendant's Affirmation, Form UD-7, which speeds the calendar.
5. Put the case on the calendar with the Note of Issue and Request for Judicial Intervention.
6. Submit the proposed Findings of Fact and Judgment of Divorce for the judge to sign, then file the Notice of Entry.
Uncontested cases can often be completed without ever appearing in court, though they commonly take four to six months. Confirm current fees and forms with the court.
Court forms
In New York, only the Supreme Court grants divorces (not Family Court). The state provides free forms, and for simple cases without children under 21 there is a free interactive DIY program that builds your papers by asking questions.
All statewide divorce formsThe full library of uncontested and contested divorce forms from the NY Unified Court System.
Free DIY uncontested divorce programInteractive tool for cases with no children under 21 where the marriage has been over 6+ months. A fee waiver is available for financial hardship.
State rules and gotchas
Filing freezes both spouses' finances immediately Verified Jul 2026
The moment a divorce is filed in New York, Automatic Orders take effect on both spouses. Until the case ends or the court says otherwise, neither of you may sell, transfer, or hide assets, take on unusual debt, change insurance beneficiaries, or move the children out of state without the other's written consent or a court order. Violating them can be treated as contempt of court.
Source: NY Domestic Relations Law Section 236, served as the Notice of Automatic Orders with the summons.
Family Court cannot grant your divorce Verified Jul 2026
Many people assume Family Court handles divorce. In New York it does not. Family Court can decide custody, child support, and orders of protection, but the divorce itself must be filed in the Supreme Court of the county. Filing in the wrong court costs time.
Source: New York State Unified Court System (nycourts.gov).
Property is split "equitably," which is not always 50/50 Verified Jul 2026
New York is an equitable-distribution state. Marital property is divided fairly based on a list of statutory factors, which can produce an uneven split. Separate property, owned before the marriage or received by gift or inheritance, generally stays with the spouse who owns it.
Source: NY Domestic Relations Law Section 236(B).
Your roadmap
What you file
Complaint for Divorce, which opens the case and states what you are asking for
Certification of Verification and Non-Collusion
Summons, notifying your spouse and explaining how to respond
CN 10486 Confidential Litigant Information Sheet, not shared with your spouse
CN 10889 Certification of Notification of Dispute Resolution Alternatives
CN 10482 Family Part Case Information Statement, required if alimony or child support is at issue
Custody and Parenting Time Plan, if you have children
Fee waiver certification, if you cannot afford the filing fee
Where you fileChancery Division, Family Part of the Superior Court, in the county where the grounds arose, usually where you live.
What it costs$300 for the complaint, plus $25 for the required parenting workshop if children are involved. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Complete the Complaint for Divorce and supporting certifications, listing your grounds under N.J.S.A. 2A:34.
2. File the originals plus two copies with the Family Division, with the fee or a fee waiver request.
3. Serve your spouse, typically by sheriff or process server, then file proof of service.
4. Your spouse has 35 days to file an Answer, an Answer and Counterclaim, or an Appearance. Missing it risks default.
5. Exchange financial information and complete the parenting workshop if you have children.
6. Settle or go before a judge, ending in a Final Judgment of Divorce.
Forms carrying CN numbers are published by the New Jersey Judiciary. Redact Social Security numbers on copies you serve. Confirm current fees with the court.
Court forms
In New Jersey, divorce is called "dissolution" and is filed in the Family Division of the Superior Court, in the county where you last lived together. The Judiciary publishes CN-numbered forms and self-help kits, the authoritative source for current versions.
Self-help divorce center and formsStep-by-step guide plus the core forms: complaint, summons, certifications, and confidential information sheet.
County ombudsman helpA neutral court staffer who explains procedures and forms (but not legal advice). A fee waiver is available if your income is low.
State rules and gotchas
Skipping the Case Information Statement can sink your case Verified Jul 2026
When custody, support, alimony, or property is disputed, you must file a Family Part Case Information Statement (CN 10482), a full financial disclosure with tax returns and recent pay stubs, generally within 20 days after the answer or appearance. Failing to file it can bring sanctions or adverse orders and can put your claims at risk, so it is not optional paperwork.
Source: New Jersey Court Rule 5:5-2 and Form CN 10482.
No-fault needs 12 months of residency and a 6-month clock that runs before you file Verified Jul 2026
For the common no-fault ground (irreconcilable differences), at least one spouse must have lived in New Jersey for 12 months before filing, and the irreconcilable differences must already have lasted at least 6 months. That 6-month period runs before you file, not after, and there is no mandatory waiting period once the case is in.
Source: N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2 and 2A:34-10; njcourts.gov self-help.
Property is split "equitably," which is not always 50/50 Verified Jul 2026
New Jersey is an equitable-distribution state. Marital property is divided fairly based on statutory factors rather than automatically in half. What counts as marital versus separate property can be disputed, so document what you brought into the marriage.
Source: N.J.S.A. 2A:34-23.1.
Your roadmap
What you file
FL-100 Petition for Dissolution, FL-110 Summons
FL-105 Declaration Under UCCJEA, required if you have children
FL-120 Response, filed by the other spouse
FL-140 Declaration of Disclosure, FL-142 Schedule of Assets and Debts
FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration, FL-141 proof you served the disclosures
FL-180 Judgment, FL-190 Notice of Entry of Judgment
FW-001 Request to Waive Court Fees
FL-700 joint petition, available since January 2026 for couples who agree on everything
Where you fileSuperior Court in the county where you or your spouse lives. Some counties add their own local forms.
What it costsAbout $435 to $450 by county, and the same again if your spouse files a Response. Waivable with FW-001.
The sequence
1. File the Petition and Summons, plus FL-105 if you have children. The clerk returns stamped copies with your case number.
2. Have someone 18 or older, not you, personally serve your spouse with the stamped petition, summons, and a blank FL-120.
3. Your spouse has 30 days to respond. No response can lead to a default judgment.
4. Exchange preliminary financial disclosures. This step is mandatory and skipping it stalls the judgment.
5. Settle the terms, or ask for temporary orders with Form FL-300 while the case runs.
6. Submit the Judgment, Form FL-180. You are not divorced until the court enters it.
Filing order matters here, and filing out of order is a common self-represented mistake. Fees vary by county, so confirm with the court.
Court forms
California divorce uses Judicial Council forms filed in the Superior Court. Almost every case starts with the Petition (FL-100) and the Summons (FL-110). You must meet the residency rule before filing.
Official divorce forms libraryThe full set of Judicial Council divorce forms with plain-language guides from the CA Courts Self-Help Center.
Fee waiver (Form FW-001)If you cannot afford the roughly $435 filing fee, file this to ask the court to waive it.
State rules and gotchas
There is a mandatory 6-month waiting period, even if you both agree Verified Jul 2026
The earliest a California divorce can be final is 6 months and 1 day after the responding spouse is served or first appears in the case. This applies to every divorce, even a fully agreed one. You can settle everything sooner, but the court cannot end the marriage before that date.
Source: California Family Code Section 2339.
Filing freezes both spouses' finances (the ATROS) Verified Jul 2026
The FL-110 Summons carries standard family law restraining orders, the ATROS, that take effect the moment the case is served. Until the case ends, neither spouse may transfer or hide property, change insurance beneficiaries, or take the children out of California without written consent or a court order. Violating them can bring contempt and an unequal property split against the violator.
Source: California Family Code Section 2040 (printed on the FL-110 Summons).
You must meet a 6-month state and 3-month county residency rule Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must have lived in California for 6 months and in the filing county for 3 months before you can file for divorce. If you do not qualify yet, you can file for legal separation (no residency requirement) and later amend to a divorce.
Source: California Family Code Section 2320.
Your roadmap
What you file
Original Petition for Divorce, which opens the case but does not grant the divorce
Civil Case Information Sheet, required at filing
Waiver of Service or Respondent's Answer, depending on cooperation
SAPCR provisions, the Suit Affecting the Parent-Child Relationship, if you have children
Final Decree of Divorce, the document that actually ends the marriage
Affidavit for Prove-Up, where your county allows finishing without a hearing
VS-165 Bureau of Vital Statistics report
Statement of Inability to Afford Payment of Court Costs, the fee waiver
Where you fileDistrict court in a county where you or your spouse has lived 90 days, with one of you a Texas resident 6 months.
What it costsRoughly $250 to $400 by county, plus service fees and a parenting course of about $25 to $50 if you have children.
The sequence
1. File the Original Petition with the district clerk. Use the version matching your situation, since filing the no-children set when you have children is a common rejection trigger.
2. Serve your spouse, or have them sign a Waiver of Service if they are cooperative.
3. Your spouse's answer is due by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days from service. Missing it risks default.
4. During the 60-day wait, exchange financial disclosures, take the parenting course if you have children, and negotiate the decree.
5. Wait the full 60 days from filing. Day 61 is the earliest you can finish, waived only for documented family violence.
6. Attend a short prove-up hearing, usually 10 to 15 minutes, and the judge signs the Final Decree.
Afterward, transfer property titles, send any QDRO to the retirement plan administrator, and update your will and beneficiaries. Confirm fees and local rules with your county.
Court forms
Texas has only one Supreme Court-approved form set (agreed divorce, no children and no property). For other situations, use the free TexasLawHelp toolkits. Divorce is filed in the district court, and many counties add automatic "standing orders" the moment you file.
TexasLawHelp divorce toolkitFree instructions and forms for agreed and default divorces, with and without children (separate toolkits).
Check your county's standing ordersMany Texas counties impose automatic orders on both spouses at filing. Ask the district clerk which apply to you.
State rules and gotchas
There is a mandatory 60-day wait that runs from filing Verified Jul 2026
A Texas court generally cannot grant a divorce until 60 days after the Original Petition is filed (day 1 is the day after filing). It cannot be waived except where there is a documented family-violence conviction or an active protective order. This clock runs from filing, not from when your spouse is served.
Source: Texas Family Code Section 6.702.
You need 6 months in Texas and 90 days in the county Verified Jul 2026
Before filing, at least one spouse must have lived in Texas for 6 months and in the filing county for 90 days. Either spouse meeting both lets you file, so you can file even if you personally moved recently, as long as your spouse qualifies.
Source: Texas Family Code Section 6.301.
Community property is split "just and right," not automatically 50/50 Verified Jul 2026
Texas is a community-property state, but the court divides the marital estate in a way it considers just and right, which can be uneven. Fault, earning power, and who has the children can all shift the split. Separate property (owned before marriage, or by gift or inheritance) stays with its owner if you can prove it.
Source: Texas Family Code Section 7.001.
Your roadmap
What you file
12.901(a) Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution, if you both agree and qualify
12.901(b)(1) Petition for Dissolution with dependent or minor children
12.901(b)(2) Petition for Dissolution with property but no dependent children
12.901(b)(3) Petition for Dissolution with no dependent or minor children and no property
12.902(d) UCCJEA Affidavit, required if you have children
12.902(b) or (c) Family Law Financial Affidavit, short or long form
12.902(f)(3) Marital Settlement Agreement, 12.902(j) Notice of Social Security Number
12.902(i) Affidavit of Corroborating Witness, used to prove residency
12.990(a) Final Judgment of Simplified Dissolution
Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status, the fee waiver
Where you fileCircuit court in your county. Forms are Florida Supreme Court approved and accepted statewide.
What it costsAround $400 to $410 by county. Waivable through the civil indigent status application.
The sequence
1. Decide your track. Simplified dissolution is faster but requires no minor children, no pregnancy, agreement on all property, and both spouses appearing.
2. Prove six months of Florida residency with a driver license, state ID, voter card, live testimony, or a corroborating witness affidavit.
3. File the petition with the clerk of the circuit court and pay the fee or apply for indigent status.
4. Serve your spouse, unless you are filing a joint simplified petition together.
5. Complete mandatory disclosure under Rule 12.285, exchanging documents and filing financial affidavits. Skipping it can get your case dismissed.
6. Attend the final hearing and the judge signs the Final Judgment of Dissolution.
Simplified dissolution is exempt from the mandatory disclosure rule, but every other dissolution is not. Confirm current fees and local practice with your clerk.
Court forms
Florida uses Supreme Court-approved Family Law Forms (the 12.900 series) filed in the circuit court. If you have no children, agree on everything, and waive financial affidavits, you may qualify for a faster simplified dissolution (Form 12.901(a)).
Official family law forms libraryEvery 12.900-series form free in PDF and RTF, including the petitions (12.901) and financial affidavits (12.902).
Simplified dissolution option (Form 12.901(a))Joint petition path for couples with no minor children who agree on everything. A fee waiver (civil indigent status) is available through the clerk.
State rules and gotchas
Skipping the financial affidavit can get your case dismissed Verified Jul 2026
Florida requires each spouse to file a Family Law Financial Affidavit (short form 12.902(b) or long form 12.902(c)) and exchange financial documents. The affidavit is required in nearly every case and cannot be waived except in a simplified dissolution. Failing to comply can lead the court to dismiss your case or disregard your filings.
Source: Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.285 (mandatory disclosure).
You must live in Florida 6 months before filing, and prove it Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must have lived in Florida continuously for 6 months before filing. You must prove it, usually with a Florida driver's license, ID, or voter card issued at least 6 months before filing, or a sworn Affidavit of Corroborating Witness (Form 12.902(i)).
Source: Florida Statutes Section 61.021.
Property starts at a 50/50 presumption, but a judge can move it Verified Jul 2026
Florida is an equitable-distribution state. The division of marital property starts from a presumption of an equal split, but the court can order an unequal one based on statutory factors. Separate (non-marital) property generally stays with its owner.
Source: Florida Statutes Section 61.075.
Your roadmap
What you file
JDF 1000 Case Information Sheet, filed with the petition
JDF 1101 Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
JDF 1102 Summons, not needed if you file jointly as co-petitioners
JDF 1111 Sworn Financial Statement, with supporting schedules
JDF 1104 Certificate of Compliance with mandatory disclosure
JDF 1115 Separation Agreement, covering property, debt, and maintenance
JDF 1113 Parenting Plan and a child support worksheet, if you have children
JDF 1018 Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance, and JDF 205 for a fee waiver
Where you fileDistrict court in your county, after 91 days of Colorado residency. Children must have lived here 182 days for parenting orders.
What it costsAbout $230 plus a $12 e-filing fee that cannot be waived. A response costs $116. Service runs $50 to $100.
The sequence
1. Download fresh forms right before filing. Colorado updates the JDF forms periodically and courts reject outdated versions.
2. File the petition with the case information sheet. Filing triggers automatic temporary injunctions that freeze assets and insurance immediately.
3. Serve your spouse unless you file jointly. They have 21 days to respond in Colorado, or 35 days out of state.
4. Attend the Initial Status Conference, which happens no later than 42 days after filing.
5. Exchange financial disclosures within about 40 days. Most disclosure documents go to your spouse only, not to the court.
6. After the 91 days from service or joint filing, submit the separation agreement and proposed decree. With everything agreed, an Affidavit for Decree Without Appearance can finish it with no hearing.
If you change your mind, you must file a Stipulated Motion to Dismiss. Otherwise the paperwork can carry through and you may find yourself divorced anyway. Confirm current fees with the court.
Court forms
Colorado calls divorce "dissolution of marriage," filed in the district court. It uses one statewide set of JDF forms that works in all 64 counties, so the same petition (JDF 1101) and financial statement (JDF 1111) apply everywhere.
Official JDF self-help formsEvery current JDF divorce form free from the Colorado Judicial Branch. Expand the divorce/family topic to find them.
Colorado legal help centerPlain-language guidance and e-filing info. A fee waiver (Motion to File Without Payment) is available if you cannot afford the fee.
State rules and gotchas
There are two 91-day clocks, and neither can be rushed Verified Jul 2026
You must have lived in Colorado for 91 days before you can file, and then at least 91 more days must pass after the court has jurisdiction (through service, waiver, or joint filing) before the decree can be entered. Even a fully agreed case cannot be finalized before that second 91-day mark.
Filing freezes both spouses (the Automatic Temporary Injunction) Verified Jul 2026
The moment the case is filed and served, an Automatic Temporary Injunction on the summons restrains both spouses from transferring or hiding marital property, removing the children from the state, changing insurance beneficiaries, or canceling policies, until the decree is entered. Violations can be enforced by contempt.
Source: Colorado Revised Statutes Section 14-10-107 (printed on the dissolution Summons).
Colorado recognizes common-law marriage, and you must formally divorce to end it Verified Jul 2026
Colorado is one of a few states that still recognizes common-law marriage (mutual agreement to be married, living together, and holding yourselves out as married). If you have one, you cannot end it by simply separating. You go through the same full dissolution process, forms, and 91-day clocks as a ceremonially married couple.
Source: Colorado common-law marriage doctrine; dissolution under C.R.S. Title 14, Article 10.
Your roadmap
What you file
Complaint for Absolute Divorce, plus a notarized Verification
AOC-CV-100 Civil Summons
AOC-CV-750 Domestic Civil Action Cover Sheet
AOC-G-250 Servicemembers Civil Relief Act Affidavit, required even if your spouse never served
AOC-CV-710 Judgment for Absolute Divorce
AOC-CV-711 Certificate of Absolute Divorce or Annulment, for vital records
Notice of Hearing and Certificate of Service
AOC-G-106 Petition to Proceed as an Indigent, with AOC-CV-226 Affidavit of Indigency
Where you fileClerk of Superior Court in the county where you or your spouse lives. Leave the case number blank until the clerk assigns one.
What it costs$225 statewide, combining a $150 civil fee and a $75 absolute divorce fee, plus $30 for sheriff service and $10 if you request your maiden name back.
The sequence
1. Complete the full separation year first. You cannot file until you have lived apart, in separate residences, for one year and a day.
2. Bring three copies of the complaint, cover sheet, and servicemembers affidavit, and four copies of the summons. Personal checks are not accepted.
3. File and pay, and ask the clerk to sign extra summons copies and file-stamp your extra complaint copies.
4. Serve your spouse by sheriff or certified mail. You cannot serve the papers yourself, and you cannot serve before filing.
5. Wait 30 days from service for your spouse to answer.
6. On day 31 or after, set the hearing. The clerk or a judge signs the Judgment of Absolute Divorce, and you complete the vital-records certificate in court.
Raise property division and alimony before the divorce is granted. In North Carolina those claims are lost permanently once the absolute divorce is entered.
Court forms
North Carolina calls it "absolute divorce," filed in district court. Note that the court does not provide a standard complaint form; the official Divorce Packet includes a sample you adapt. You must have lived in NC for 6 months before filing.
Official North Carolina Divorce PacketStep-by-step packet with the sample complaint and the AOC forms (summons, cover sheet, judgment). Guide & File online prep is available.
Separation and divorce help topicExplains separation, property, and alimony. A fee waiver (Petition to Proceed as an Indigent) is available.
State rules and gotchas
You must be separated a full year and a day before you can even file Verified Jul 2026
North Carolina requires living separate and apart for at least one year and one day before you can file for divorce, with at least one spouse intending it to be permanent. Separate bedrooms in the same home do not count; you must live in separate residences. Moving back in together can restart the clock, and courts treat the question as fact-specific, so do not assume a brief return is harmless.
Source: North Carolina General Statute Section 50-6.
Raise property and alimony before the divorce is final, or lose them forever Verified Jul 2026
This is North Carolina's most costly trap. If the absolute divorce is granted before you have formally raised claims for equitable distribution (property division) or alimony, you lose the right to raise them, permanently. A "simple divorce" that only ends the marriage can quietly forfeit your financial claims.
Source: North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 50 (see the NC Divorce Packet warnings).
You need 6 months of North Carolina residency Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must have been a resident of North Carolina for at least 6 months before filing. File in the county where you or your spouse lives.
Source: North Carolina General Statute Section 50-6.
Your roadmap
What you file
FA-4110V or FA-4111V Joint Petition, when you both agree
FA-4108V Petition and FA-4104V Summons, when filing alone
GF-179 Confidential Petition Addendum, holding Social Security numbers and birth dates
FA-4139V Financial Disclosure Statement, from each spouse
FA-4113V Response, filed by your spouse
FA-4147V Proposed Parenting Plan, due within 60 days if custody or placement is at issue
FA-4150V or FA-4151V Marital Settlement Agreement, with or without children
CV-410A fee waiver, and FA-4119V Admission of Service or FA-4120V Declaration of Service
Where you fileCircuit Court in your county, after 6 months in Wisconsin and 30 days in that county.
What it costs$184.50, or $194.50 with support requests, plus about $20 to e-file and $25 to $100 for service. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Decide whether to file jointly or alone. A joint petition starts the clock at filing; a solo petition starts it at service.
2. File the petition with the confidential addendum at your county Circuit Court.
3. If filing alone, serve your spouse within 90 days or the case is dismissed. You cannot serve the papers yourself. Your spouse then has 20 days to respond.
4. File your Financial Disclosure Statement within 90 days. Missing it can mean the court simply accepts your spouse's numbers.
5. Wait the 120 days, the longest mandatory period in the country. It is waived only for genuine health or safety emergencies.
6. Attend the final hearing, usually 15 to 30 minutes when you have a signed settlement agreement, where someone testifies the marriage is irretrievably broken.
Wisconsin has moved toward an affidavit-based option that may let some spouses finish without a court appearance. Confirm the effective date, who is eligible, and the current forms with the circuit court before counting on it. Hiding assets can trigger sanctions or a constructive trust. Confirm current fees and forms with the court.
Court forms
Wisconsin divorce is filed in the Circuit Court using statewide FA-series forms. You need 6 months of Wisconsin residency and 30 days in the filing county before you can file.
Divorce forms and guidesLinks to the Wisconsin Court System's FA-series forms and the Basic Guide to Divorce (FA-4100V), with county-specific guides.
Financial disclosure and fee waiverBoth spouses file a Financial Disclosure Statement (FA-4139V). A fee waiver (Form CV-410A) is available for low income.
State rules and gotchas
There is a mandatory 120-day waiting period, one of the longest in the country Verified Jul 2026
A Wisconsin court cannot hold the final hearing until at least 120 days have passed from the date of service (or from filing, for a joint petition). It cannot be waived except in rare emergencies involving health or safety. Plan your timeline around this even in a fully agreed case.
Source: Wisconsin Statutes Section 767.335.
Wisconsin is a community-property state (unusual for the region) Verified Jul 2026
Wisconsin is one of only nine community-property states, so the court presumes marital property should be divided roughly equally (50/50) unless equal division would be unfair. This surprises people who assume the Midwest follows the equitable-distribution model most of its neighbors use.
Source: Wisconsin Statutes Section 767.61.
You cannot remarry for 6 months after the divorce is granted Verified Jul 2026
Once the divorce is final, neither spouse may marry anyone else, anywhere in the world, for at least 6 months. A marriage entered during that window can be invalid, so this matters if either of you is planning to remarry soon.
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, verified, in with-children or without-children versions
Civil Cover Sheet and Summons, which the clerk issues with the automatic temporary injunction notice
Entry of Appearance and Waiver of Summons, notarized, for uncontested cases
Agreed Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, holding your settlement terms
Joint Custody Plan and Child Support Computation, if you have children
Parenting class certificate, from the Helping Children Cope with Divorce course
Application to Waive the 90-Day Waiting Period, where it applies
Pauper's affidavit, the fee waiver
Where you fileDistrict Court Clerk in the county where you or your spouse lives, after 6 months of Oklahoma residency.
What it costsRoughly $183 to $262 by county, plus $10 for the summons and $40 to $100 for service. Parenting classes run $10 to $100.
The sequence
1. Prepare the verified petition and cover sheet, and bring one original plus two copies to the clerk.
2. File and pay. Filing plus service triggers an automatic temporary injunction binding both spouses.
3. Wait a full 24 hours. Your spouse cannot sign the Entry of Appearance and Waiver until at least one day after the petition is filed, a rule meant to prevent coercion and strictly enforced.
4. Either serve your spouse formally, or have them sign the notarized waiver and the agreed decree, then file the waiver.
5. If you have children, both parents complete the parenting class and file the certificates.
6. Wait the period, 10 days without minor children or 90 days with them, then request your court date. Uncontested hearings usually run 15 to 30 minutes and often only the petitioner appears.
The 90-day period runs from service, first publication, or entry of appearance, whichever comes first, and can be waived for cause. Signing the waiver gives up real rights, including the temporary injunction protections, so read it carefully before signing.
Court forms
Oklahoma calls it "dissolution of marriage," filed in the district court. Statewide forms are maintained through the Oklahoma State Courts Network, and free guided forms are available through Legal Aid. You need 6 months of Oklahoma residency and 30 days in the county.
Oklahoma State Courts Network (OSCN)Statewide court forms, e-filing, and case lookup. A fee waiver (Application to Proceed In Forma Pauperis) is available.
OKLaw free divorce forms and guidesFree forms and plain-language help from Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma, aimed at self-represented filers.
State rules and gotchas
With kids it is 90 days plus a required parenting class; without kids, just 10 days Verified Jul 2026
Oklahoma has a short 10-day wait for divorces without minor children, but a mandatory 90-day waiting period when there are minor children, even if everyone agrees. If you have kids, both parents must also complete a court-approved class on the impact of divorce on children before the divorce can be finalized.
Source: Oklahoma Statutes Title 43, Sections 107.1 and 107.2.
You cannot marry a new person for 6 months after the decree Verified Jul 2026
Oklahoma bars you from marrying someone new for 6 months from the date the divorce decree is finalized. The one exception is remarrying the same ex-spouse, which you can do sooner. This trips up people who plan to remarry quickly.
Source: Oklahoma Statutes Title 43, Section 123.
Residency is 6 months state plus 30 days county, and property is split "just and reasonable" Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must have lived in Oklahoma for 6 months and in the filing county for 30 days. Oklahoma is an equitable-distribution state: the court divides marital property in a way it finds just and reasonable, which is not automatically 50/50, and separate property (owned before marriage, or by gift or inheritance) is set aside to its owner.
Source: Oklahoma Statutes Title 43, Sections 102 and 121.
Your roadmap
What you file
FM-005 Divorce Complaint without children, or FM-004 with minor children
FM-002 Family Matter Summary Sheet
CV-CR-FM-PC-200 Social Security Number Confidential Disclosure
FM-038 Family Matter Summons and Preliminary Injunction, bought from the clerk for a small fee
CV-036 Acknowledgment of Receipt of Summons and Complaint, two copies
FM-043 Financial Statement, filed under seal, or FM-042 Certificate in Lieu of it
FM-050 Child Support Affidavit and FM-040 Worksheet, if you have children
CV-067 Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees, with the CV-191 affidavit
Where you fileDistrict Court in the county where either spouse lives.
What it costs$120, plus $5 for the summons. Cases with children add a $160 mediation fee, $80 per party. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Download the packet from courts.maine.gov, but get form FM-038 in person from the clerk. It carries the clerk's original signature and seal and cannot be downloaded or copied.
2. File the complaint, summary sheet, and Social Security disclosure with the District Court and pay the fee.
3. Serve your spouse within 90 days, by acknowledgment, certified mail with restricted delivery, or sheriff. They have 21 days to respond.
4. File financial statements at least three business days before mediation, and child support worksheets at least three days before any support hearing.
5. If you have minor children and the case is contested, mediation is mandatory. If either of you owns real estate, file the FM-056 real estate certificate at least seven days before the final hearing.
6. Wait the 60 days from service, then attend the final hearing. The judgment becomes final 21 days later, or immediately if you both waive appeal.
Do not send the Social Security disclosure or the fee waiver forms to your spouse. If your spouse never appears, you must file a Federal Affidavit (FM-052) confirming they are not in the military.
Court forms
Maine uses statewide Family Division forms (the FM series). A divorce without children uses the Complaint for Divorce (FM-005) plus the Family Matter Summary Sheet (FM-002); with children you use FM-004. The filing fee is about $120, and you can ask the court to waive it with an Application to Proceed Without Payment of Fees if you cannot afford it.
The 60-day waiting period runs from service, not filing, and cannot be waived Verified Jul 2026
Maine cannot finalize your divorce until at least 60 days after your spouse is served with the papers, not 60 days from the day you file. The court has no power to shorten or waive this period, even if you both agree and have settled every issue.
Source: 19-A M.R.S. Section 901. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Both spouses usually have to appear at a final hearing Verified Jul 2026
Unlike states that let you finish by affidavit or mail, Maine generally requires the parties to appear before a judge at a final hearing before the divorce judgment is signed, even in a fully agreed, uncontested case. Plan for a court date.
Source: Maine Judicial Branch, Divorce and Family Separation. Confirm with the court.
Maine is an equitable-distribution state, and the property split is permanent Verified Jul 2026
Marital property is divided fairly but not necessarily 50/50, and separate property (owned before the marriage or received by gift or inheritance) stays with its owner. Once the judgment divides property, that division generally cannot be reopened later, so getting it right the first time matters.
Source: 19-A M.R.S. Section 953. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Complaint for Divorce, filed with the Family Court clerk
DR-6 Financial Statement, the detailed asset, income, and debt disclosure
Summons, or a signed waiver if your spouse cooperates
Marital Settlement Agreement, for uncontested cases
Parenting Plan and child support guideline figures, if you have children
Decision Pending Entry of Final Judgment, issued after the nominal hearing
Request for Entry of Final Judgment, which you must file yourself
VS-4 Report of Divorce, and a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis if you need the fee waived
Where you fileFamily Court in your county. Some forms must be collected from the clerk rather than downloaded.
What it costsAbout $160, plus service fees. Waivable for filers at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.
The sequence
1. Confirm the one-year residency rule, and line up a witness who can corroborate it at the hearing.
2. File the complaint and DR-6 with the Family Court clerk. Incomplete DR-6 disclosures are one of the most common causes of delay and rejected settlements.
3. Serve your spouse, or have them sign a waiver. They have 20 days to answer.
4. Attend the nominal hearing, usually scheduled about 65 to 75 days after filing and often over in 5 to 10 minutes. The judge grants the divorce there, but you are not divorced yet.
5. Wait the 90-day nisi period. It cannot be shortened or waived. Divorces on the separate-and-apart ground use a much shorter period instead.
6. File the Decision Pending Entry of Final Judgment and then request entry of the Final Judgment. It does not enter automatically.
Plan on roughly five months minimum. You cannot remarry until the final judgment is actually entered, because until then you are still legally married and a new marriage would not be valid.
Court forms
Rhode Island divorces run through Family Court. The core forms are the Complaint for Divorce (FC-56) and the DR-6 financial statement; the $160 filing fee can be waived with a Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis if your household income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines.
RI Family Court: Guide and FileThe Judiciary's official interview tool that prepares your divorce forms, including the final-judgment steps.
The 90-day "nisi" period cannot be waived, and you stay married through it Verified Jul 2026
After a judge grants your divorce at the nominal hearing, Rhode Island imposes a mandatory 90-day (three months and a day) "nisi" cooling-off period before the divorce is final. Neither the parties nor the court can shorten or waive it, and you cannot remarry until it ends.
Source: R.I. Gen. Laws Section 15-5-23. Confirm with the court.
Your divorce is not final automatically; you have to file for it Verified Jul 2026
Even after the nisi period passes, Rhode Island does not enter final judgment on its own. The prevailing party must file the Decision Pending Entry of Final Judgment (within 30 days of the decision) and then request the Final Judgment. Miss the window and finalizing gets harder.
Source: R.I. Family Court Rules of Practice 1.8 and R.I. Gen. Laws Section 15-5-23. Confirm with the court.
You need one year of residency, and a witness to prove it Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must have been a domiciled Rhode Island resident for a full year before filing, and this is jurisdictional. Rhode Island also requires corroborating testimony: a witness who can confirm your residency, usually presented at the nominal hearing.
Source: R.I. Gen. Laws Section 15-5-12. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
SCA-FC-100 Petitioner's Divorce Packet Instructions, your step-by-step guide
SCA-FC-101 Petition for Divorce
SCA-FC-103 Civil Case Information Statement, filed with three copies
SCA-FC-104 Vital Statistics Form
SCA-FC-106 Financial Statement, filed and served on your spouse
SCA-FC-121 Proposed Parenting Plan and SCA-FC-113 BCSE child support application, if you have children
Parent Education Registration Form and certificate of completion
Fee Waiver Affidavit, if you cannot afford the filing fee
Where you fileCircuit Clerk's Office in the county where either spouse lives or where you last lived together. The case is heard in Family Court.
What it costsAbout $135, plus $25 per parent for the parent education class. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Download the free packet from courtswv.gov and work through the SCA-FC-100 instructions first.
2. File the petition with the case information statement, vital statistics form, and financial statement. All four are due together, and the parent education fee is paid at filing.
3. Gather the required financial backup: two years of tax returns with W-2s, and receipts for childcare, extraordinary medical costs, or special needs expenses.
4. Serve your spouse. As of January 2025 they have 30 days to answer, up from the old 20-day deadline.
5. If you have children, both parents complete the parent education class and file certificates before the first hearing, and file proposed parenting plans.
6. Attend the hearing. Some judges will approve an agreed divorce at the first hearing. Request several certified copies of the Final Order.
West Virginia enforces deadlines strictly. If your spouse meets a deadline and you miss it, the court can simply accept their version of the information. Circuit clerks are legally barred from helping you complete or check your forms.
Court forms
West Virginia divorces are heard in Family Court, and the filing fee runs about $135 depending on the county. Self-represented filers can build their paperwork with the state's guided self-help forms, and a fee waiver (Affidavit of Indigency) is available for low-income filers.
Your residency requirement flips depending on where you married Verified Jul 2026
If you were married in West Virginia, either spouse only needs to be a bona fide resident when filing, with no minimum length. If you married anywhere else, one spouse must have lived in West Virginia for a full continuous year before filing. Same divorce, very different clock.
Source: W. Va. Code Section 48-5-105. Confirm with the court.
"Irreconcilable differences" only works if your spouse agrees Verified Jul 2026
West Virginia's fastest no-fault ground requires the other spouse to file an answer admitting irreconcilable differences. If they refuse or never respond, you cannot use it, and you fall back to proving a full year of voluntary separation instead.
Source: W. Va. Code Sections 48-5-201 and 48-5-202. Confirm with the court.
Any reconciliation resets the one-year separation clock Verified Jul 2026
If you rely on the voluntary-separation ground, living apart has to be continuous. Even a brief reconciliation restarts the full one-year clock from zero, so a short attempt to work things out can cost you months.
Source: W. Va. Code Section 48-5-202. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
MP-112 Petition without children, or MP-113 with children, when filing alone
MP-115 or MP-116 Joint Petition, which removes the need for service
MP-400 Summons and Automatic Economic Restraining Order
MP-500 Financial Disclosure and Proposed Property Distribution, and MP-510 Income and Expenses
MP-300 Proposed Parenting Plan, if you have children
Vital Statistics Reporting Form
MP-701 Request for Hearing and Statement of Compliance with Financial Disclosure
MP-713 Dissolution Decree, plus a Statement of Inability to Pay if you need fees waived
Where you fileClerk of District Court in your county, after 90 days of Montana residency. Bring three complete sets of forms.
What it costsRoughly $200 to file plus a $45 to $50 judgment fee. Waivable, but a judge must approve before your case proceeds.
The sequence
1. Pick your path. A joint petition with a cooperative spouse eliminates formal service and is much faster.
2. Download the free packet from courts.mt.gov, which includes instructional cheat sheets and videos for each form.
3. File three sets with the Clerk of District Court. The Automatic Economic Restraining Order binds you on filing and your spouse on service, restraining both of you from moving money or property.
4. Your spouse has 21 days to file a verified response, which is also the minimum before a decree can be entered.
5. Serve preliminary financial disclosures within 60 days of service. These are served on your spouse, not filed with the court.
6. File the request for hearing, attend the short hearing, and the judge signs the decree. It is final on entry, and either spouse may remarry immediately.
Montana also offers summary dissolution for couples with no real property, unsecured debt of $20,000 or less, marital assets under $50,000, no pregnancy, and a willingness to waive maintenance and appeal rights. That path can finish about 20 days after filing.
Court forms
Montana calls divorce a "Dissolution of Marriage." Couples who agree can file a Joint Petition; otherwise one spouse files a Petition for Dissolution (forms MP-112, MP-115, and related packets). The filing fee is about $200 to $250, with a fee waiver available for households at or below 125% of federal poverty guidelines.
Montana can divide property you would expect to keep, including premarital assets, inheritances, and gifts Verified Jul 2026
Montana equitably divides all property owned by either spouse, regardless of when it was acquired or whose name is on the title. Premarital assets, inheritances, and gifts can all be pulled into the marital estate, unlike many states that shield them by default.
Source: MCA Section 40-4-202. Confirm with the court.
A court will not decide parenting until the children have lived here 6 months Verified Jul 2026
For a Montana court to rule on custody (called a parenting plan), the children generally must have lived in the state for at least six consecutive months before filing, the UCCJEA "home state" rule. You may be able to divorce sooner, but parenting could have to be decided in another state.
Source: MCA Sections 40-4-211 and 40-7-201. Confirm with the court.
Your spouse cannot block the divorce by fighting it Verified Jul 2026
Montana's only ground is irretrievable breakdown. If one spouse denies it, the court can pause up to 60 days for counseling, but if it still finds the marriage broken, it must grant the dissolution. There is no way to veto a Montana divorce.
Source: MCA Section 40-4-104. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
FL Divorce 201 Petition for Divorce, FL Divorce 200 Summons
FL All Family 001 Confidential Information Form
DOH 422-027 Certificate of Dissolution
FL All Family 119 Agreement to Join Petition, which removes the need for service
FL All Family 131 Financial Declaration
FL All Family 140 Parenting Plan and the WSCSS child support worksheets, if you have children
FL Divorce 231 Findings and Conclusions, FL Divorce 241 Final Divorce Order
GR 34 fee waiver, for households at or below 125% of federal poverty level
Where you fileSuperior Court in any county where either spouse lives. Most counties e-file. No minimum residency, only residency on the filing date.
What it costsRoughly $280 to $400 by county. Waivable under GR 34.
The sequence
1. Prepare the petition, summons, confidential information form, and dissolution certificate, adding a parenting plan and support worksheets if you have children.
2. File with the Superior Court clerk and keep your stamped copies, since the file date drives your deadline.
3. Serve your spouse, or have them sign the Agreement to Join Petition so no formal service is needed.
4. Your spouse has 20 days to respond if served in Washington, 60 days if served out of state, or 90 days if served by publication.
5. Wait the 90 days, counted from the later of filing or service. It cannot be waived by you or the court. If you have children, many counties require a parenting seminar within 60 days.
6. On day 91 or later, submit the Findings and Conclusions and the Final Divorce Order.
Even cooperative couples commonly take four to six months because of court calendars. Child support worksheet versions change, and courts reject filings made on outdated forms. Download the current worksheets from the Washington Courts forms site immediately before you file rather than reusing a saved copy.
Court forms
Washington calls divorce a "dissolution of marriage." You start with a Petition for Dissolution (FL Divorce 201) and Summons (FL Divorce 200) in Superior Court, plus a Financial Declaration (FL All Family 131). Filing fees run about $300 to $360 by county, and can be waived under GR 34 for households at or below 125% of the federal poverty level.
No waiting to establish residency, but a 90-day clock you cannot skip Verified Jul 2026
Washington has no minimum length-of-residency rule; you can file the day you become a resident (or if you are military stationed here). But once you file and serve, a mandatory 90-day waiting period runs before any decree, and it cannot be waived or shortened even when you agree on everything.
Source: RCW 26.09.030. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Community property, but not an automatic 50/50, and even separate property is on the table Verified Jul 2026
Washington is a community-property state, yet courts divide everything in a way that is "just and equitable," not strictly in half. Judges can even reach separate property (owned before the marriage, or received by gift or inheritance) when fairness requires it.
Source: RCW 26.09.080. Confirm with the court.
Your spouse cannot stop the divorce, only argue the terms Verified Jul 2026
Washington is pure no-fault. If you state the marriage is irretrievably broken, the court grants the dissolution regardless of the other spouse's objection. They can contest property, parenting, and support, but not the divorce itself.
Source: RCW 26.09.030. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, which must state everything you are asking for
Summons, issued by the clerk as an original plus two copies
Preliminary Injunction, which freezes assets and takes effect immediately
Sensitive Data Sheet, kept confidential and not viewable by the public
Notice Regarding Creditors
Notice of Right to Convert Health Insurance
Parent Information Program Class Notice, if you have children
Affidavit of Financial Information, plus a fee waiver or deferral application if needed
Where you fileClerk of the Superior Court in your county, after 90 days of Arizona domicile.
What it costsRoughly $270 to $350 by county. Waivable or deferrable for low-income filers.
The sequence
1. Assemble the full packet. The petition must include every issue you want decided, because the court cannot award what you did not ask for.
2. File with the clerk and have the summons and preliminary injunction issued. Separate your documents into three sets.
3. Understand the Preliminary Injunction. It binds you the moment you file and binds your spouse on service, barring either of you from moving assets, hiding property, or changing insurance.
4. Serve your spouse by process server, sheriff, mail, or publication.
5. Your spouse has 21 days to respond if served in Arizona. Their answer determines whether the case is contested.
6. Wait the 60 days from service, exchange financial information, complete the parent information class if you have children, then the judge signs the decree.
Violating the Preliminary Injunction is one of the worst ways to start an Arizona divorce, and it stays in force until the decree is entered. Confirm current fees and local requirements with the court.
Court forms
Arizona calls divorce a "dissolution of marriage." One spouse files a Petition for Dissolution in Superior Court (separate forms for with or without children) plus an Affidavit of Financial Information. Filing fees run roughly $270 to $350 by county, with fee waivers for low-income filers. Statewide self-service divorce packets are available.
The 90-day residency and the 60-day wait are two separate clocks Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must be domiciled in Arizona for 90 days before you can file. Then the court cannot finalize until 60 days after your spouse is served. That 60-day cooling-off period cannot be waived, even if you have already agreed on everything.
Source: A.R.S. Sections 25-312 and 25-329. Confirm with the court.
A covenant marriage cannot be ended with a simple no-fault divorce Verified Jul 2026
If you signed a covenant marriage in Arizona, the ordinary "irretrievably broken" ground does not apply. Unless both spouses agree, you must prove a specific fault ground such as adultery, a felony, abandonment for a year, abuse, or a two-year separation.
Source: A.R.S. Section 25-903. Confirm with the court.
Community property splits the debts too, not just the assets Verified Jul 2026
Arizona is a community-property state: most assets and debts acquired during the marriage are owned equally and divided roughly 50/50, regardless of whose name is on them. Separate property (owned before the marriage, or received by gift or inheritance) stays with its owner.
Source: A.R.S. Sections 25-211 and 25-318. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Complaint for Divorce, plus a Verification swearing the facts are true
Summons and General Civil and Domestic Relations Case Filing Information Form
Settlement Agreement, for uncontested cases
Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit, required under Uniform Superior Court Rule 24.2 when child support, alimony, or property is at issue
Acknowledgment of Service, if your spouse will sign instead of being served
Parenting Plan and Child Support Addendum with worksheets, if you have children
Final Judgment and Decree of Divorce, filed with the Case Disposition Information Form
Poverty Affidavit or Affidavit of Indigence, the fee waiver
Where you fileClerk of Superior Court, generally in the county where your spouse lives. Many counties have a standing order you must file and serve.
What it costsRoughly $200 to $256 by county, plus about $50 to $100 for service. Waivable if your income is at or below 125% of federal poverty guidelines.
The sequence
1. Confirm you meet the six-month residency rule and identify the right county, which is usually where your spouse lives.
2. Prepare the complaint and supporting forms, notarizing anything with a notary block.
3. File with the Superior Court clerk, in person or through your county's e-filing portal, and pay the fee.
4. Serve your spouse by sheriff or process server, or have them sign an Acknowledgment of Service.
5. Wait the 30 days that run from service, not from filing. Your spouse has 30 days to answer, or 60 to 90 if out of state or abroad.
6. Submit the final paperwork. An uncontested hearing usually runs 15 to 30 minutes, and with a complete signed agreement some counties finish without one.
Georgia has no single statewide packet, so counties differ on local forms and standing orders. Check with the clerk in your filing county before you submit.
Court forms
Georgia divorces are filed in Superior Court. Core documents include the Complaint for Divorce, a Verification, a Summons, and a Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit; with children you add a Parenting Plan and Child Support Worksheet. Filing fees run about $200 to $230 by county.
Six months of residency, and the 30-day wait only applies to no-fault Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must be a bona fide Georgia resident for six months before filing. On the standard no-fault ground, the court cannot grant the divorce until 30 days after your spouse is served. Filing on a fault ground skips that 30-day wait.
Source: O.C.G.A. Sections 19-5-2 and 19-5-3. Confirm with the court.
Georgia is one of the few states where a jury can decide your divorce Verified Jul 2026
Unlike almost everywhere else, either spouse can demand a jury trial on contested money issues like property division and alimony (custody is still decided by the judge). That option can raise the stakes and cost of fighting instead of settling.
Source: O.C.G.A. Section 19-5-1 and Georgia court practice. Confirm with the court.
Equitable distribution, and adultery can cost you alimony Verified Jul 2026
Georgia divides marital property fairly, not automatically 50/50, and it is not a community-property state. Fault matters here: a spouse whose adultery or desertion caused the divorce can be barred from receiving alimony entirely.
Source: O.C.G.A. Sections 19-5-13 and 19-6-1. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Notice to Defend and Complaint in Divorce, which opens the case
Affidavit of Service, matching the service method you chose under Rule 1930.4
Affidavit of Consent, signed by each spouse, for a mutual-consent divorce
Counter-Affidavit, used to raise economic claims
Waiver of Notice, or Notice of Intention to File Praecipe to Transmit Record
Praecipe to Transmit Record, which asks the court to enter your decree
Proposed Divorce Decree, plus any county-specific forms
Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and Affidavit, the fee waiver
Where you fileProthonotary of the Court of Common Pleas in your county, called the Office of Judicial Records in Philadelphia.
What it costsRoughly $150 to $390 by county. Waivable by petitioning to proceed in forma pauperis.
The sequence
1. File the Notice to Defend and Complaint, checking 3301(c) for mutual consent or 3301(d) for a one-year separation.
2. Serve your spouse within 30 days, or 90 days if they live outside Pennsylvania, then file the Affidavit of Service.
3. Wait 90 days from service. You cannot file the consent forms before that.
4. Both spouses sign and file Affidavits of Consent, then serve them along with the counter-affidavit.
5. Either sign Waivers of Notice, or serve the Notice of Intention and wait another 20 days.
6. File the Praecipe to Transmit Record with the proposed decree. Include stamped self-addressed envelopes so the court can mail your decree back.
Pennsylvania runs on a chain of waiting periods rather than one clock, and skipping a step sends the paperwork back. Resolve economic claims before the decree, since they are waived once it is entered.
Court forms
Pennsylvania files divorce at the county Court of Common Pleas (the prothonotary, or Office of Judicial Records in Philadelphia). The mutual-consent path uses a Notice to Defend and Complaint in Divorce plus Affidavits of Consent; fees run about $150 to $390 by county. A fee waiver is available through a Petition to Proceed In Forma Pauperis.
If your spouse will not consent, you wait a full year Verified Jul 2026
The fast no-fault path (mutual consent) needs both spouses to sign consent affidavits after a 90-day wait from service. If your spouse refuses, your only no-fault route is proving one year of living separate and apart, which can even happen under the same roof if you truly stop living as a couple.
Source: 23 Pa.C.S. Section 3301(c) and (d). Confirm with the court.
Raise your money claims before the decree, or you lose them for good Verified Jul 2026
You must file for equitable distribution, alimony, and counsel fees before the divorce is granted. If the decree is entered first, those economic claims are waived permanently, so never let the divorce be finalized before the financial issues are resolved or formally preserved.
Source: 23 Pa.C.S. Section 3323 and Pa.R.C.P. 1920. Confirm with the court.
Equitable distribution, and marital fault does not shrink your share Verified Jul 2026
Pennsylvania divides marital property fairly, often in the 50/50 to 60/40 range, not by community-property rules. Unlike some states, marital misconduct cannot be used to reduce a spouse's property share, though it can still affect alimony.
Source: 23 Pa.C.S. Section 3502. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Form 17 Petition for Dissolution and Waiver of Service, the joint filing when you agree
Form 19 Separation Agreement, which must be filed with the petition
Affidavit 1 Basic Information, Income and Expenses
Affidavit 2 Property and Debt
Affidavit 3 Parenting Proceeding, Affidavit 4 Health Insurance
Form 20 Shared Parenting Plan or Form 21 Parenting Plan, if you have children
Form 18 Judgment Entry, Decree of Dissolution
Poverty Affidavit, the fee waiver
Where you fileClerk of Courts, Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division, in your county. Counties add their own local forms.
What it costsRoughly $200 to $400 by county. Waivable with a Poverty Affidavit, though you may still owe the fee at the end.
The sequence
1. Choose your track. Dissolution is the agreement-first path filed jointly. If you cannot agree on everything, you need a divorce instead.
2. Put every agreement in writing in the Separation Agreement, covering property, debt, spousal support, and any parenting terms.
3. File the petition, separation agreement, and all applicable affidavits with the clerk, and check your county for extra local forms.
4. The court schedules a hearing between 30 and 90 days after filing. This window is set by statute.
5. Both spouses must appear at that hearing and confirm the agreement is still voluntary.
6. The judge signs the Judgment Entry, Decree of Dissolution.
Forms are the Ohio Supreme Court's Uniform Domestic Relations Forms, free and fillable. Willful failure to disclose property can lead to an award of up to three times its value. Dissolution is generally not advisable in an abusive relationship, since it requires cooperating with your spouse.
Court forms
Ohio offers two paths. A dissolution (both spouses agree) uses a joint petition with a signed separation agreement; a divorce (one spouse files, contested or not) uses a Complaint. Both use the Supreme Court of Ohio's Uniform Domestic Relations Forms, filed in the Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division. Fees run about $250 to $400 by county, waivable with a poverty affidavit.
Ohio splits into two tracks: dissolution needs full agreement, divorce does not Verified Jul 2026
A dissolution is fast (final hearing 30 to 90 days) but requires both spouses to agree on everything up front and file jointly. A traditional divorce lets one spouse file alone, but carries a non-waivable 42-day minimum from service before a hearing can be held.
Source: ORC Section 3105.64 and Ohio Civil Rule 75(K). Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
You need six months in Ohio and 90 days in your county Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must have lived in Ohio for six months before filing (jurisdictional), and you must file in a county where you or your spouse has lived at least 90 days. File in the wrong county and the case can be transferred, costing weeks.
Source: ORC Section 3105.03 and Ohio Civil Rule 3(C). Confirm with the court.
Willfully hiding assets can cost you up to three times their value Verified Jul 2026
Ohio is equitable distribution, starting from a 50/50 split of marital property. Fault usually does not change the division, but financial misconduct does. General misconduct such as dissipation or concealment can bring a distributive award or a larger share of property. The steeper penalty, an award of up to three times the hidden value, applies only where a spouse substantially and willfully failed to disclose, and the amount is capped at three times, not automatic.
Source: ORC Sections 3105.171(E)(4) and (E)(5). The treble figure is a statutory maximum and requires a finding of substantial, willful nondisclosure. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, filed with the original plus two copies
Summons, notifying your spouse
Financial Affidavit, the statewide Supreme Court form, filed impounded so it stays private
Proof of Delivery, confirming you served the affidavit
Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution, plus the joint affidavit and asset agreement, for the fast track
Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage
Certificate of Dissolution, provided by the clerk for vital records
Application for Waiver of Court Fees
Where you fileCircuit court in the county where either spouse lives. No separate county residency rule.
What it costsRoughly $250 to $390 by county, plus about $50 to $100 for service. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Gather your marriage certificate, tax returns, pay stubs, and account statements before filing, since disclosure is required.
2. Decide your track. Joint Simplified Dissolution is quicker but caps marriage length, property, and income, and requires no children plus both spouses in court.
3. File the Petition and Summons with the circuit clerk. Simplified forms must be notarized before filing, and the clerk cannot notarize for you.
4. Serve your spouse and file proof of service.
5. Exchange Financial Affidavits with supporting documents. False information can reopen the judgment later.
6. Attend the hearing and the judge signs the Judgment of Dissolution.
An Illinois dissolution judgment is final and cannot be appealed, and reopening it requires proving fraud, duress, mistake, or similar grounds. Confirm fees with your circuit clerk.
Court forms
Illinois files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in the county Circuit Court. Filing fees run about $250 to $390 by county, with waivers for low-income filers. Couples married under 8 years, with no children and limited property, may qualify for the faster Joint Simplified Dissolution.
Illinois Legal Aid OnlineFree guided interviews that assemble your Illinois divorce paperwork step by step.
State rules and gotchas
The 6-month separation is a shortcut, not a requirement Verified Jul 2026
Illinois is pure no-fault, and its only ground is irreconcilable differences. You do not have to be separated to divorce. Living apart six months just gives you an automatic, unchallengeable presumption that the marriage is broken, and you can waive even that by agreement. Separate lives under one roof can count.
Source: 750 ILCS 5/401. Confirm with the court.
You can file before 90 days, but not finish before it Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must be an Illinois resident for 90 days. That deadline governs when the judgment can be entered, not when you file, so you can start the case early and let the clock run during proceedings.
Source: 750 ILCS 5/401(a). Confirm with the court.
Cheating will not change your property split, but hiding money will Verified Jul 2026
Illinois divides marital property in "just proportions," and since fault was abolished in 2016, misconduct like adultery does not affect the division. Dissipation (wasting or hiding marital assets) is the exception and can shift the split against the offending spouse.
Source: 750 ILCS 5/503. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Complaint for Divorce, stating your grounds and residency
MC 01 Summons, issued and signed by the clerk
MC 416 UCCJEA Affidavit, required whenever custody or parenting time is involved
FOC 23 Verified Statement, for the Friend of the Court, if children or support are involved
CC 320 Domestic Relations Verified Financial Information Form, exchanged between spouses, not filed
MC 03 Answer, filed by your spouse, with no filing fee
Judgment of Divorce, plus FOC 100 Judgment Information
DCH-0838 Record of Divorce or Annulment, and a Fee Waiver Request if needed
Where you fileFamily Division of the Circuit Court where either spouse lives. Many courts use MiFILE e-filing, case type code DM with children.
What it costsAt least $175, plus an $80 judgment fee when children are involved, plus service and any mediation costs. Waivable.
The sequence
1. File the Complaint and Summons with the Circuit Court and pay the fee or file a Fee Waiver Request. Your case does not start until one of those happens.
2. Serve your spouse within 91 days of the summons issue date, or the case is dismissed. Anyone over 18 who is not a party can serve.
3. Your spouse has 21 days to answer if served personally in Michigan, or 28 days if served by mail or out of state.
4. Within 28 days of that response, both spouses exchange the CC 320 financial form with four recent pay stubs and last year's tax returns.
5. Wait the mandatory period: 60 days without minor children, 180 days with them. If you have children, both parents complete the SMILE parenting program.
6. Attend the hearing. Michigan requires a hearing with proofs taken before any judgment is entered, then the judge signs the Judgment of Divorce.
The Friend of the Court handles support and parenting time and receives copies of key filings. Confirm current fees and e-filing availability with your circuit court.
Court forms
Michigan files a Complaint for Divorce in the Circuit Court (Family Division), often through the MiFILE e-filing system. The base fee is about $175 without minor children or $255 with them, waivable with form MC 20. Cases with children run through the Friend of the Court for support and parenting time.
Two residency clocks: 180 days in the state, 10 days in your county Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must have lived in Michigan 180 days and in the filing county 10 days before filing. Both are jurisdictional and cannot be waived, with a narrow exception only where a foreign-citizen spouse poses a child-abduction risk.
Source: MCL 552.9. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
The wait doubles to six months when children are involved Verified Jul 2026
The mandatory waiting period runs from the filing date: 60 days without minor children, but 180 days (six months) with them. The 60-day floor can never be waived; the 180-day version can be trimmed only for unusual hardship, and never below 60 days.
Source: MCL 552.9f. Confirm with the court.
No-fault to get the divorce, but fault can still cost you Verified Jul 2026
Michigan is pure no-fault, so your spouse cannot stop the divorce. Yet unlike some no-fault states, fault (adultery, abuse, dissipation) can still tilt property division, spousal support, and custody in the other spouse's favor.
Source: MCL 552.6 and Sparks v. Sparks. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Complaint for Divorce, which you draft yourself since Virginia publishes no statewide forms
Verification, swearing the complaint is true
Property Settlement Agreement, filed as an original and attached to later filings
Plaintiff's Affidavit, covering residency, separation, military status, and children
VS-4 Vital Statistics form, filled out by hand at the clerk's office
Waiver of Notice or Acceptance of Service, if your spouse cooperates
Proposed Final Decree of Divorce, including any name restoration
Motion and Order to Proceed without Payment of Fees, the fee waiver
Where you fileCircuit court in your city or county. Self-represented filers can use eFileVA or file in person.
What it costsRoughly $60 to $144 depending on jurisdiction, plus about $12 for sheriff service. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Complete the separation period before filing: six months with a signed agreement and no minor children, otherwise a full year. Every element of your grounds must be in place first, or you dismiss, pay again, and start over.
2. Draft the complaint yourself. Court staff cannot give advice and the court provides no form pleadings.
3. File the complaint with the original settlement agreement, and fill out the VS-4 at the clerk's office.
4. Serve your spouse, or have them sign an Acceptance or Waiver of Service to skip formal service.
5. Your spouse has 21 days to respond. No response allows a default divorce.
6. Submit the Plaintiff's Affidavit and proposed Final Decree. Many jurisdictions decide in chambers with no hearing, typically in three to four weeks.
Virginia has no post-filing waiting period, so the wait happens before you file. Because you draft your own pleadings, an unrepresented filer can unknowingly waive custody, support, or property rights. Confirm local procedure with your circuit court.
Court forms
Virginia files a Complaint for Divorce in Circuit Court. Unlike many states, Virginia does not publish statewide fill-in divorce forms, so the complaint is drafted to fit your grounds; filing fees run about $85 to $95. A notarized property settlement agreement is what unlocks the shorter six-month no-fault track.
Virginia Legal AidFree plain-language divorce guidance and resources for self-represented Virginians.
There is no quick no-fault option; you must live apart first Verified Jul 2026
Virginia has no "irreconcilable differences" filing. The only no-fault path is living separate and apart, without cohabitation, for a full year, or six months if you have no minor children and a signed property settlement agreement. Even one night back together restarts the clock.
Source: Va. Code Section 20-91(A)(9). Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Virginia dropped the corroborating-witness rule in 2021, but only for uncontested no-fault cases Verified Jul 2026
Older guides still say you need a witness to confirm your separation. Since July 1, 2021, a corroborating witness affidavit is no longer required for an uncontested no-fault divorce, and your own sworn affidavit can carry it. Contested and fault-based cases can still require corroboration, and adultery in particular needs clear and convincing proof plus corroboration.
Source: Virginia divorce procedure under Code Title 20. Confirm with the court.
Your own adultery can bar you from receiving spousal support Verified Jul 2026
Virginia still weighs fault. If you committed adultery, you are generally barred from receiving permanent spousal support unless denying it would be a manifest injustice, and fault is one of the factors the court uses when dividing property.
Source: Va. Code Sections 20-107.1 and 20-107.3. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
CJD-101A Joint Petition for Divorce, signed by both spouses, for the 1A track
CJD-101B Complaint for Divorce plus a summons, for the 1B track
Joint Affidavit of Irretrievable Breakdown
Separation Agreement, notarized, covering property, debt, alimony, and health insurance
CJD-301S or CJD-301L Financial Statement, short form under $75,000 income, long form at or above
R-408 Record of Absolute Divorce, a statistical form for vital records
Certified marriage certificate, from the city or town where you married
OCAJ-1 TRC IV care and custody affidavit, CJD-304 child support worksheet, and a parent education certificate, if you have children
Where you fileProbate and Family Court. If either of you still lives in the county where you last lived together, file there.
What it costsAbout $215 for a 1A, or $220 for a 1B because of the summons, plus a constable for service. Waivable with an Affidavit of Indigency.
The sequence
1. Choose your track. A 1A is a joint petition where you agree on everything up front. A 1B is filed by one spouse, and your spouse has 20 days to respond.
2. Complete both financial statements, then write the separation agreement and sign it before a notary.
3. Order a certified copy of your marriage certificate and fill out the R-408.
4. If you have children, complete the parent education program unless the court waives it, and file the certificate.
5. File everything with the Probate and Family Court, in person, by mail, or online.
6. Attend the hearing. Both spouses must appear unless the court waives it, then the nisi period runs before the divorce is truly final.
Remember the nisi period: 120 days after a 1A, 90 days after a 1B. You are still legally married during it and cannot remarry. Confirm current fees with the court.
Court forms
Massachusetts handles divorce in the Probate and Family Court. An uncontested 1A joint petition uses Form CJD-101A plus a notarized Separation Agreement and financial statements (CJD-301); a contested 1B uses Form CJD-101B. Filing fees run about $215 to $305 by division, waivable with an Affidavit of Indigency.
The "nisi" period means you are still married after the judge signs off Verified Jul 2026
A Massachusetts divorce is not final when the judge approves it. A nisi waiting period runs first: 120 days for an uncontested 1A joint petition, 90 days for a 1B. You cannot remarry, and banks and the IRS still treat you as married, until the divorce becomes absolute.
Source: M.G.L. c. 208 and Mass.gov. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
You need a full year of residency, and even an uncontested divorce requires a hearing Verified Jul 2026
Unless the breakdown happened in Massachusetts, at least one spouse must have lived here a continuous year before filing, and you cannot move here just to divorce. Massachusetts also makes both spouses appear in person at a final hearing, even for a fully agreed 1A.
Source: M.G.L. c. 208 Sections 4 and 5. Confirm with the court.
Everything is on the table, including inheritances and premarital assets, and conduct counts Verified Jul 2026
Massachusetts equitable distribution can divide all property, including gifts, inheritances, and assets owned before the marriage. And unlike many states, the court is required to weigh each spouse's conduct during the marriage when splitting property.
Source: M.G.L. c. 208 Section 34. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Verified Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, which starts the case
Appearance Form, filed at the same time as the petition
Domestic Relations Summons, or a signed Waiver of Service of Summons
Financial Declaration Form, filed sealed and marked confidential
Verified Waiver of Final Hearing, for agreed cases after 60 days
Marital Settlement Agreement, notarized
Decree of Dissolution of Marriage, the proposed final order
Child Support Obligation Worksheet and parenting time schedule, if you have children
Where you fileCircuit or Superior Court in your county, after 6 months in Indiana and 90 days in that county.
What it costsRoughly $157 to $177, and it is generally the only court fee for the case. Service runs $13 to $75. Waivable.
The sequence
1. File the Verified Petition, both Appearance forms, and either the summons or a waiver of service. Bring originals plus copies, and note that many clerks do not take personal checks.
2. Get your case number from the clerk and write it on every form, including the ones you will file later.
3. Hold the rest of your paperwork. Do not file the settlement agreement and decree yet.
4. Serve your spouse by sheriff, process server, certified mail, or a signed waiver. They have 20 days to respond.
5. Wait the full 60 days from the filing date. This cannot be shortened.
6. After day 60, file the settlement agreement, decree, and a Verified Waiver of Final Hearing. If both spouses sign the waiver, the judge can grant the divorce with no court appearance at all.
Indiana schedules nothing for you. It is the petitioner's job to move the case forward and request the final hearing. Free forms are at indianalegalhelp.org. Confirm county requirements with your clerk.
Court forms
Indiana files a Verified Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in the Circuit or Superior Court. You must have lived in Indiana six months and in the filing county three months. Fees run about $155 to $180 by county, waivable for low-income filers, and uncontested couples can waive the final hearing.
Indiana Legal HelpFree guided interviews that assemble your Indiana divorce forms for uncontested cases.
State rules and gotchas
The 60-day clock starts at filing and cannot be shortened Verified Jul 2026
Indiana requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period that begins the day you file the petition, not the day your spouse is served. No divorce can be finalized before day 61, even if you agree on everything and sign all documents at the start.
Source: IC 31-15-2-10. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
The "one pot" rule puts your premarital and inherited property in play Verified Jul 2026
Indiana is unusual: virtually all property either spouse owns, including assets brought into the marriage, gifts, and inheritances, goes into a single marital pot subject to division, with a starting presumption of a 50/50 split. Only a valid prenup reliably keeps property out.
Source: IC 31-15-7-4 and 31-15-7-5. Confirm with the court.
Alimony is rare, and the estate freezes the day you file Verified Jul 2026
Indiana grants spousal maintenance only in narrow cases, such as incapacity or caring for a disabled child, so do not count on it. The marital estate is also generally valued as of the filing date, so income you earn after filing is treated as separate.
Source: IC 31-15-7-2 and Indiana practice. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Verified Complaint for Divorce, notarized, stating irreconcilable differences
Marital Dissolution Agreement, notarized, covering property, debt, alimony, and insurance
Civil Case Cover Sheet and the Statutory Injunction
Permanent Parenting Plan and Child Support Worksheet, if you have children
Proposed Final Decree of Divorce
Divorce Certificate, requested from the clerk and filed later
Parenting class certificate, a four-hour seminar required when children are involved
Uniform Civil Affidavit of Indigency, the fee waiver
Where you fileCircuit or Chancery Court in the county where your spouse lives, or where you both lived when you separated.
What it costsRoughly $125 to $200 by case type, commonly landing between $184 and $382 with added county fees. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Download the Supreme Court-approved packet, choosing the version for with or without minor children. All 95 counties must accept these forms.
2. Complete and notarize the Verified Complaint and the Marital Dissolution Agreement. Missing notarization is a common rejection.
3. File everything at once. When your spouse signs the notarized agreement, they effectively waive formal service and the need to file an answer.
4. If you have children, both parents take the four-hour parenting seminar as soon as possible after filing and file the certificates.
5. Wait the cooling-off period, 60 days without minor children or 90 days with them, counted from the filing date.
6. Both spouses attend the final hearing, usually 10 to 15 minutes, where the judge reviews the agreement and signs the Final Decree.
Tennessee's forms are free at tncourts.gov and legally sufficient statewide when properly completed. Using outdated forms or skipping notarization are the most common reasons filings get rejected.
Court forms
Tennessee files a Verified Complaint for Divorce in Circuit or Chancery Court, using Supreme Court-approved forms. An uncontested irreconcilable-differences case requires a signed, notarized Marital Dissolution Agreement (and a Permanent Parenting Plan if you have children). Fees run about $180 to $380 by county.
Irreconcilable differences requires your spouse to sign, or you are on fault grounds Verified Jul 2026
Tennessee's quick no-fault ground only works if both spouses agree and sign a notarized Marital Dissolution Agreement covering everything. If your spouse will not cooperate, your no-fault options narrow to a two-year separation, or you must prove a fault ground like inappropriate marital conduct at trial.
Source: T.C.A. Sections 36-4-101 and 36-4-103. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
The wait is longer with kids, and no judge can shorten it Verified Jul 2026
A mandatory cooling-off period runs from the filing date: 60 days without minor children, 90 days with them. Tennessee courts cannot waive or shorten it for any reason, even if you agree on everything and file a complete agreement on day one.
Source: T.C.A. Section 36-4-101(b). Confirm with the court.
Filing freezes your finances automatically Verified Jul 2026
The moment a Tennessee divorce is filed, automatic mutual temporary injunctions take effect against both spouses, barring them from transferring, hiding, or dissipating marital property, changing insurance beneficiaries, or similar moves, until the case ends.
Source: T.C.A. Section 36-4-106. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
CAFC001 Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, which must be notarized
CAFC050 Statement of Income and Expenses
CAFC040 Statement of Property and Debt and Proposed Separation Agreement
Confidential Case Filing Information Sheet
Certificate of Dissolution of Marriage, for vital records
CAFC501 Parenting Plan with a Form 14 child support calculation, if you have children
CAFC010-R Respondent's Answer, or an Entry of Appearance and Waiver of Service
CAFC070 Judgment and Decree of Dissolution, plus an In Forma Pauperis motion if you need the fee waived
Where you fileCircuit court in the county where either spouse lives. St. Louis city counts as its own county.
What it costsRoughly $102 to $233 by circuit, plus about $25 to $45 for service, and $25 to $75 for the parenting class. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Complete the petition and have it notarized. The court does not provide notary service, though most banks will for a few dollars.
2. File the petition with the income, property, and filing information forms, adding a parenting plan and Form 14 if you have children.
3. Serve your spouse. You cannot serve your own papers. They can instead sign a notarized Entry of Appearance and Waiver of Service, which skips sheriff service.
4. If you have children, both parents complete an approved parenting education program.
5. Wait the 30 days from filing. Most uncontested cases still take 60 to 90 days in practice.
6. Submit the proposed Judgment and Decree for the judge to sign.
If you and your spouse never lived together in Missouri and they do not voluntarily enter an appearance, the court may lack jurisdiction over them. Many circuits add local forms, so check your county. Free official forms are at selfrepresent.mo.gov.
Court forms
Missouri files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Form CAFC001), verified before a notary, in the Circuit Court of either spouse's county. Fees run about $130 to $230 by county, waivable with an In Forma Pauperis motion. Supreme Court pro se forms are required for self-represented filers.
One of the shortest waits in the country, but you still cannot skip it Verified Jul 2026
Missouri needs only 90 days of residency for one spouse and a 30-day waiting period from filing before a judge can finalize. That 30-day cooling-off period cannot be waived, even in a fully agreed case, though most uncontested divorces still take 60 to 90 days in practice.
Source: RSMo Section 452.305. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
If your spouse denies the marriage is broken, you may have to prove a reason Verified Jul 2026
Missouri is no-fault, but "modified." If your spouse contests that the marriage is irretrievably broken, you must prove one of five specific facts, such as adultery, abandonment for six months, or living apart for 12 to 24 months. That can turn a quick divorce into a slower, evidence-based one.
Source: RSMo Section 452.320. Confirm with the court.
Misconduct will not block the divorce, but it can shrink your share Verified Jul 2026
Fault does not stop a Missouri dissolution from being granted, yet the judge can weigh marital misconduct when dividing property and deciding maintenance. And once entered, the property division is final and cannot be modified later.
Source: RSMo Section 452.330. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
CC-DR-020 Complaint for Absolute Divorce, revised August 2024
CC-DCM-001 Civil Domestic Case Information Report, which helps the court set your schedule
CC-DR-116 Marital Settlement Agreement, required for the mutual consent ground
Financial statements, required from both parties
CC-DR-050 Answer, filed by your spouse
CC-DR-034 or CC-DR-035 Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, primary or shared custody
CC-DR-109 Maryland Parenting Plan Tool, if you have minor children
CC-DR-054 Request for Order of Default, if your spouse never responds
Where you fileCircuit court in the county where you or your spouse lives. Self-represented filers may e-file through MDEC, but are not required to.
What it costs$165 for self-represented filers, plus service costs. Waivable if you cannot afford it.
The sequence
1. Pick your ground: mutual consent with a signed agreement and no waiting, a six-month separation, or irreconcilable differences.
2. If you are using mutual consent, finish and sign the settlement agreement first, since it must be attached to the complaint.
3. Read the instruction sheets, forms CC-DRIN and CC-DRIN-020, which walk through the complaint paragraph by paragraph.
4. File the complaint and case information report with the circuit court, keeping date-stamped copies for yourself.
5. Serve your spouse, which is required even in an uncontested case. They have 30 days to respond in Maryland, 60 days out of state, or 90 days abroad.
6. File financial statements, attend the hearing, and the judge enters the Judgment of Absolute Divorce.
Maryland rewrote its divorce law effective October 1, 2023, so older guidance is often wrong. On mutual consent, neither spouse may file a written objection before the hearing without losing that ground. If retirement or pension benefits are being divided, you will likely need a separate domestic relations order.
Court forms
Maryland files a Complaint for Absolute Divorce (Form CC-DR-020) in the Circuit Court, and mutual-consent cases attach a signed Marital Settlement Agreement (CC-DR-116). Filing fees run about $165 to $185 by county, waivable for low-income filers. Maryland has no separate legal separation, so interim support is requested inside the divorce case.
Maryland rewrote its divorce law in 2023, so older advice is wrong Verified Jul 2026
As of October 1, 2023, Maryland is fully no-fault: adultery, desertion, and cruelty were repealed as grounds, and "limited divorce" (the old legal separation) no longer exists. There are now just three grounds: mutual consent, a six-month separation, and irreconcilable differences.
Source: Md. Family Law Section 7-103. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Mutual consent has no waiting period, but it requires a full agreement Verified Jul 2026
If you and your spouse sign a written settlement agreement resolving property, alimony, and anything about the children, you can file and finish with no separation and no waiting period, often in weeks. Without that agreement, your path is a six-month separation, which can be under the same roof if you truly live separate lives, and a brief reconciliation restarts the clock.
Source: Md. Family Law Section 7-103. Confirm with the court.
There is no legal separation anymore, and residency depends on where things went wrong Verified Jul 2026
Maryland eliminated limited divorce, so for interim support or custody you file for absolute divorce and request temporary (pendente lite) relief. On residency: if the grounds arose in Maryland, either spouse just needs to live here; if they arose elsewhere, one spouse must have lived in Maryland six months.
Source: Md. Family Law Section 7-101. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
DIV302 or DIV1702 Joint Petition, Agreement and Judgment and Decree, with or without children
DIV402 or DIV802 Petition, when one spouse files alone
DIV403 or DIV803 Summons, served with a solo petition
DIV202 Summary Dissolution, the simplified path for short marriages with limited property
DIV502 or DIV902 Answer and optional Counter-Petition
FAM102 Financial Affidavit, and FAM108 disclosure in cases with children
Parenting plan, child support worksheet, and health insurance affidavit, if you have children
Affidavit of Inability to Pay, the fee waiver
Where you fileDistrict Court in the county where either spouse lives, after 180 days of Minnesota residency.
What it costsRoughly $390 to $405, since some counties add a local law library fee. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Decide your track. A joint petition removes the need for a summons, an affidavit of service, and a certificate of representation entirely.
2. Work out property, debts, and any parenting terms before filing, since a joint petition includes the agreement and proposed decree in one document.
3. File in district court. Many counties add local forms or require a compliance review before the clerk will accept your paperwork.
4. If you are not filing jointly, serve your spouse. Someone 18 or older who is not a party must hand-deliver, then file the Affidavit of Service. A cooperative spouse can sign an Admission of Service instead.
5. Your spouse has 30 days to answer. If they do not, you can proceed by default, but you still must give them 14 days' written notice before the court acts on your proposed decree.
6. The judge signs the Judgment and Decree. Minnesota has no statutory waiting period, so timing depends on your court and how much you agree.
Even when both parents agree, the judge must independently find the parenting plan serves the children's best interests. Small inconsistencies across forms are a common cause of rejection. Confirm local requirements with your county.
Court forms
Minnesota files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in the District Court, using statewide fillable smart forms. Couples who agree can file jointly, and a Summary Dissolution is available for short marriages with limited assets. Filing fees run about $390 to $400 by county, waivable for low-income filers.
One of the faster states: no separation, no waiting period Verified Jul 2026
Minnesota requires 180 days of residency for one spouse, but there is no mandatory separation and no cooling-off period. Once residency is met, either spouse can file and the case moves as fast as the paperwork and the other spouse's cooperation allow.
Source: Minn. Stat. Sections 518.06 and 518.07. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Pure no-fault means cheating is legally irrelevant to the money Verified Jul 2026
The only ground is irretrievable breakdown, and your spouse cannot block the divorce by denying it. Minnesota law directs courts to divide property without regard to marital misconduct, so adultery by itself will not shift the financial outcome. Financial conduct is different: dissipating or hiding marital assets can still be accounted for.
Source: Minn. Stat. Sections 518.06 and 518.58. Confirm with the court.
Filing creates a duty not to move assets, and hiding them backfires Verified Jul 2026
Once a Minnesota dissolution is filed, each spouse owes the other a fiduciary duty over marital property. Transferring, spending, or hiding assets outside the normal course of life can lead the court to award the other spouse a compensating share.
Source: Minn. Stat. Sections 518.58 and 518.131. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Petition for Divorce, notarized, stating domicile, parish venue, and grounds
Verification and Affidavit of Correctness
Acceptance and Waiver of Service, if your spouse cooperates
Notice of Suit, the statutory notice served with an Article 102 petition
Rule to Show Cause plus verified affidavits, for the Article 102 path only
Affidavit of non-military status for your spouse
Divorce checklist, Appendix 27.0A, required by many district courts at the hearing
Judgment of Divorce, and a pauper's affidavit if you need the fee waived
Where you fileClerk of Court in the correct parish, where either spouse is domiciled or the last matrimonial domicile was. Filing in the wrong parish voids the judgment.
What it costsRoughly $150 to $600 by parish, plus $25 to $100 for sheriff service. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Pick your article. File under 102 if you have not finished the separation period yet, or under 103 if you already have. This choice changes everything that follows.
2. Complete the free self-represented packet from the Louisiana State Bar Association, but do not sign until you are in front of a notary.
3. File with the parish Clerk of Court and serve your spouse within 90 days, or have them sign the acceptance and waiver.
4. Complete the separation period, 180 days without minor children or 365 days with them, counted from the date of service.
5. On the 102 path, file a Rule to Show Cause with a sworn affidavit and serve it again. On the 103 path, seek a default judgment or proceed after the answer deadline.
6. Attend the hearing. Some parishes expect witnesses and a completed divorce checklist introduced in open court.
Article 102 ends the community property regime retroactive to the filing date, while 103 ends it on the filing date. Many clerks are far more familiar with 102 filings and may wrongly ask a 103 filer for a Rule to Show Cause. The Rule must be filed within two years of service or the waiver.
Court forms
Louisiana files in the district court of the correct parish, and filing in the wrong parish makes the judgment void. An Article 103 divorce is filed after the separation period is already complete; an Article 102 is filed first, then finalized by a Rule to Show Cause after the wait. Filing fees run about $200 to $410 by parish.
Louisiana runs on the Napoleonic Code: parishes, domicile, and community property Verified Jul 2026
Unlike every other state, Louisiana uses parishes instead of counties and a civil-law code. You must be domiciled here (six months of residence creates the presumption), file in the correct parish or the judgment is void, and property is split under community-property rules, so most assets and debts acquired during the marriage are owned 50/50.
Source: La. C.C.P. Article 10 and the Louisiana Civil Code. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
You must live apart, in separate homes, for 180 or 365 days, and any slip resets it Verified Jul 2026
Louisiana's no-fault divorce requires a mandatory separation: 180 days without minor children, 365 days with them. "Separate and apart" is strict here, you need separate residences, not just separate bedrooms, and any reconciliation or intimacy during the period restarts the entire clock.
Source: Louisiana Civil Code Articles 102, 103, and 103.1. Confirm with the court.
A covenant marriage is far harder to end Verified Jul 2026
Louisiana is one of only three states offering covenant marriage. If you signed one (it is noted on your marriage certificate), you cannot use ordinary no-fault divorce. You must complete mandatory counseling and either prove a fault ground or live apart for two years.
Source: La. R.S. 9:307. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
SCCA 467 Family Court Cover Sheet
SCCA 400.01 Summons for Divorce
SCCA 400.02 Complaint for Divorce, stating your ground and requested relief
SCCA 430 Financial Declaration, notarized, due within 45 days of service or before the first hearing
Certificate of Exemption from alternative dispute resolution
Acceptance of Service, if your spouse will sign instead of being served
SCCA 466 Proposed Parenting Plan and a child support worksheet, if you have children
SCCA 405 Motion and Affidavit to Proceed In Forma Pauperis, the fee waiver
Where you fileFamily Court in the county where your spouse lives, or where you last lived together. If your spouse is out of state, file where you live.
What it costs$150 in all 46 counties, plus $40 to $100 for service. Waivable, but if the waiver is denied and you miss the payment date, the case is dismissed.
The sequence
1. Finish the full separation year before you file, not before the hearing. Filing early gets the case dismissed, and any reconciliation resets the clock.
2. Download the free Self-Represented Litigant divorce packet and complete the five core forms, filling in the caption on every page.
3. Make two copies of the entire packet and file the originals with the Clerk of Court. The clerk assigns a docket number and returns your copies.
4. Serve your spouse, or have them sign an Acceptance of Service. They have 30 days to respond, or 35 if out of state.
5. File your notarized Financial Declaration, and complete the parenting course if you have children.
6. Request your hearing. Every South Carolina divorce requires one, and it runs 15 to 30 minutes with your testimony plus a corroborating witness.
Watch the 365-day rule. If you do not request a hearing or an extension within a year of filing, the judge can dismiss the case and you pay the $150 again. Free packets are at sccourts.org.
Court forms
South Carolina files a Summons and Complaint in Family Court, plus a notarized Financial Declaration (SCCA-430) when support or property is at issue. The filing fee is $150 statewide, and a hearing is required in every case. Fee waivers are available for low-income filers.
There is no "irreconcilable differences" here; you must live apart a full year Verified Jul 2026
South Carolina is one of the few states with no incompatibility ground. Your only no-fault path is living completely separate and apart for one continuous year before you can even file, and the courts are strict: separate bedrooms in the same house do not count, one spouse must move out, and any reconciliation resets the year.
Source: S.C. Code Section 20-3-30 and Barnes v. Barnes. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Fault lets you skip the year, and adultery can wipe out your alimony Verified Jul 2026
If you can prove adultery, physical cruelty, habitual drunkenness, or one-year desertion, you can file immediately without the separation wait. But fault cuts both ways: a spouse who commits adultery before signing a settlement or getting a separate-maintenance order is barred by statute from receiving any alimony.
Source: S.C. Code Sections 20-3-10 and 20-3-130. Confirm with the court.
A hearing is required, a witness must back you up, and the property split is permanent Verified Jul 2026
Every South Carolina divorce requires a Family Court hearing, and on the separation ground you must bring an independent witness to testify the two of you lived apart for a year. Property is divided by equitable apportionment (15 factors, not automatic 50/50), and unlike alimony, that division is final and cannot be modified later.
Source: S.C. Code Section 20-3-620. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
JD-FM-159 Divorce Complaint, and JD-FM-3 Summons for Family Actions
JD-FM-158 Notice of Automatic Court Orders, effective the moment you sign
JD-CL-12 Appearance form, left blank for your spouse
JD-FM-6 Financial Affidavit, short form under $75,000 or long form above
JD-FM-164 Affidavit Concerning Children and JD-FM-220 Child Support Worksheet, if you have children
JD-FM-163 Case Management Agreement, due before your case management date
JD-FM-242 Joint Petition and JD-FM-243 Agreement, for the nonadversarial track
JD-FM-181 Dissolution of Marriage Report, and JD-FM-75 for a fee waiver
Where you fileSuperior Court in the judicial district where you or your spouse lives. The clerk helps you pick a return date, which must be a Tuesday.
What it costs$360 plus roughly $40 to $75 for a state marshal. Waivable with JD-FM-75.
The sequence
1. Choose your track. If you qualify, the nonadversarial joint petition can finish in about 35 days and needs no summons or service.
2. Prepare the complaint, summons, and automatic orders notice, then pick your return date with the clerk.
3. Have a state marshal serve your spouse at least 12 days before the return date, either in hand or at their residence.
4. Exchange financial affidavits within 30 days of the return date, and complete the parenting education program within 60 days if you have children.
5. File the case management agreement before your case management date.
6. Wait the 90 days from the return date, then attend the final hearing for the judge to enter the decree.
The automatic orders bind you the moment you sign and bind your spouse on service. They bar draining accounts, changing beneficiaries, taking on unusual debt, and removing children from the state, and judges treat early violations seriously.
Court forms
Connecticut files a Complaint for Dissolution of Marriage (JD-FM-159) and Summons in the Superior Court, with a court-assigned "Return Date." The filing fee is $360 plus service by a state marshal (about $50). A faster nonadversarial track exists for short marriages with no children and a full agreement.
A full year of residency and a 90-day wait from your "Return Date" Verified Jul 2026
Connecticut has one of the longer residency rules: a decree cannot enter until one spouse has lived here 12 months, though you can file earlier and let the clock run. After filing, a mandatory 90-day waiting period runs from a court-assigned "Return Date," not the filing date. A faster nonadversarial track exists for short marriages with no children and full agreement.
Source: CGS Sections 46b-44 and 46b-67. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Connecticut is an "all-property" state, so nothing is automatically safe Verified Jul 2026
Unlike most states, Connecticut lets the court divide any asset either spouse owns, including property you brought into the marriage, gifts, and inheritances. There is no automatic protection for separate property and no 50/50 presumption, though in practice judges often leave premarital and inherited assets with their owner. Once entered, the property division is final and generally cannot be modified.
Source: CGS Section 46b-81. Confirm with the court.
Fault will not change your property split, but it can change your alimony Verified Jul 2026
Connecticut is one of only about a dozen states where marital misconduct still matters for spousal support. Adultery or cruelty is one of the factors a judge weighs on alimony, so it can raise or lower an award, even though fault is not a factor in dividing property.
Source: CGS Section 46b-82. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
AOC-251 packet without minor children, or AOC-252 packet with children, holding the petition and all related forms
AOC-104 or AOC-105 Civil Case Cover Sheet, and AOC-FC-3 Case Data Information Sheet
AOC-100 Summons, or .1 Waiver of Service and Entry of Appearance
AOC-238 Preliminary Verified Disclosure Statement, exchanged within 45 days of service
.4 Separation Agreement, covering property, debt, and maintenance
.5 Deposition of Petitioner, your sworn testimony in place of a hearing
.8 Motion to Submit for Entry of Decree, and .6 Findings of Fact and Decree
VS-300 Certificate of Divorce, plus AOC-152 child support worksheet if you have children
Where you fileCircuit Court Clerk in the county where either spouse lives, after 180 days of Kentucky residency. Self-represented filers file on paper.
What it costsAbout $148 plus service. Waivable with a motion to proceed in forma pauperis.
The sequence
1. Download the current AOC packet from kycourts.gov. Clerks reject petitions filed on outdated forms.
2. Complete and notarize the verified petition. Several forms are filed in both redacted and unredacted versions.
3. File with the Circuit Court Clerk and pay the fee.
4. Serve your spouse by certified mail through the clerk or by sheriff, or have them sign the waiver and entry of appearance.
5. Exchange verified financial disclosures within 45 days of service, even in an uncontested case.
6. After the 60-day separation period, file the Deposition of Petitioner and the Motion to Submit. In most clean cases the judge signs the decree with no hearing and mails you a copy.
You are not divorced until the signed decree comes back and is entered. Kentucky also lets a petitioner voluntarily dismiss before an answer is filed, with no penalty, which matters if you reconcile.
Court forms
Kentucky files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in the Circuit Court, using the AOC-251 packet (no minor children) or AOC-252 packet (with minor children), plus a VS-300 vital statistics form. The filing fee runs about $113 to $250 by county, waivable for low-income filers.
You need 180 days of residency before you file, not after Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must have lived in Kentucky continuously for 180 days before the petition is filed. This is jurisdictional; you cannot file first and let the clock run, and a decree entered without it can be set aside.
Source: KRS Section 403.140. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
A 60-day "living apart" period is required, but you can stay in the house Verified Jul 2026
Kentucky requires a 60-day separation before a judge can finalize, and it cannot be waived even if you agree on everything. The upside: "living apart" only means no sexual relations, so you can remain under the same roof, and time you were already separated before filing can count.
Source: KRS Section 403.170. Confirm with the court.
Kentucky starts custody at 50/50, and fault stays out of the money Verified Jul 2026
Since a 2018 reform, Kentucky courts begin with a rebuttable presumption that joint custody and equal parenting time serve the child's best interest. On the financial side, this is a no-fault, equitable-distribution state, so adultery and other misconduct do not affect how property is divided.
Source: KRS Sections 403.270 and 403.190. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, in with-children or without-children versions
Co-Petition, when you file together as co-parties, which removes the need for service entirely
Summons, which carries the statutory restraining order
Confidential Information Form for each party, plus the Notice of CIF Filing
Record of Dissolution of Marriage, the vital statistics form
Certificate of Service or Acceptance of Service
Parenting plan, child support worksheets, and a Certificate re Pending Child Support Proceedings, if you have children
General Judgment of Dissolution, and a Fee Deferral or Waiver Application if needed
Where you fileCircuit court in the county where either spouse lives. Court facilitators in many counties review your documents for free before filing.
What it costsAbout $287 to $301 by county, plus $30 to $150 for service and $60 to $100 per person for a parenting class. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Print the full official packet rather than individual forms, since Oregon identifies forms by statute and version date rather than form numbers.
2. Decide whether to co-petition. If you agree on everything, filing jointly skips service completely and can finish very quickly.
3. File the petition, summons, confidential information form, and record of dissolution with the circuit court clerk.
4. Serve your spouse, or have them sign an Acceptance of Service. They have 30 days to respond, and no response allows a default judgment.
5. Exchange financial documents within 30 days. If you have children, complete the parent education class and file the certificate.
6. Submit the General Judgment. There is no waiting period, so the marriage ends the moment the judge signs.
Filing triggers a statutory restraining order that binds both spouses until judgment. Your judgment terms must match what you asked for in the petition, and nothing is enforceable until the court actually enters it.
Court forms
Oregon files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in the circuit court, and couples who agree can file jointly as "co-petitioners." The filing fee is about $287 to $301, waivable for low-income filers, and the state's Guide & File interview builds the forms for you.
One of the fastest states: no waiting period at all Verified Jul 2026
Oregon repealed its 90-day waiting period in 2011, so a divorce becomes final the moment the judge signs the judgment. Uncontested cases often finish in 4 to 8 weeks, and co-petition cases with clean paperwork can finalize in as little as a day.
Source: ORS Section 107.065 (repealed) and current practice. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Residency depends on where you married Verified Jul 2026
If you married outside Oregon, one spouse must have lived here six continuous months before filing. But if you married in Oregon, either spouse just needs to be a current resident, with no minimum duration. A legal separation has an even lower bar and can later be converted to a divorce.
Source: ORS Section 107.075. Confirm with the court.
Pure no-fault, and filing triggers an automatic asset freeze Verified Jul 2026
Oregon's only ground is irreconcilable differences, your spouse cannot block the divorce, and fault is barred from affecting property division or support. Filing also puts an automatic statutory restraining order in place that stops either spouse from selling, hiding, or borrowing against marital assets or changing insurance.
Source: ORS Sections 107.025, 107.105, and 107.093. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Form 101 Petition without minor children, or Form 201 with children
Form 202 Petition Cover Sheet and Form 204 Original Notice
Form 211 Protected Information Disclosure, holding Social Security numbers
Form 124 or 224 Financial Affidavit, listing income, expenses, assets, and debts
Form 128 Settlement Agreement with Form 127 Request for Relief
Form 130 Decree of Dissolution, usually prepared by the petitioner
Form 222 Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, if you have children
Form 209 fee waiver, and Form 107 to request service by publication
Where you fileDistrict court in your county, through the EDMS e-filing system. Most counties require electronic filing unless the court permits paper.
What it costsRoughly $265 to $285, plus service fees that vary by county. Waivable with Form 209.
The sequence
1. Read the Iowa Judicial Branch's guide to representing yourself, then pick Form 101 or 201 based on whether children are involved.
2. Register as a self-represented e-filer and file the petition with the cover sheet, original notice, and protected information form.
3. Watch for your Notice of Electronic Filing. If EDMS sends a Retraction Notice instead, fix the error and resubmit.
4. Serve your spouse with the petition and original notice within 90 days. Personal service by sheriff or process server is standard, or your spouse can accept service voluntarily.
5. Exchange financial affidavits and negotiate the settlement agreement.
6. Wait the 90 days from service, then submit the settlement agreement, request for relief, and proposed decree.
Iowa's residency rule flexes: if your spouse lives in Iowa and is personally served, there is no residency requirement for you at all. Otherwise you need one continuous year. Confirm current fees with the clerk.
Court forms
Iowa files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage electronically through the EDMS system, using Chapter 17 forms (Form 101 without children, Form 201 with children). The filing fee is about $265, deferrable for low-income filers with Form 209.
Iowa's residency rule flips on where your spouse lives Verified Jul 2026
Normally you would need to live in Iowa a full year before filing. But if your spouse is an Iowa resident and is personally served in Iowa, there is no residency requirement for you at all, one of the most flexible rules in the country. Otherwise, the one-year requirement applies.
Source: Iowa Code Section 598.6. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
The 90-day wait runs from service and is rarely waived Verified Jul 2026
Iowa requires a 90-day waiting period that starts when your spouse is served, not when you file. Courts can shorten or waive it only for genuine emergency or necessity, and they are reluctant to, so plan on at least three months even in a fully agreed case.
Source: Iowa Code Section 598.19. Confirm with the court.
Iowa can divide almost everything, and the split is permanent Verified Jul 2026
Iowa's equitable distribution reaches all property either spouse owns, including assets brought into the marriage; only gifts and inheritances to one spouse are set aside as separate. There is no automatic 50/50, and once the decree divides property, that division is final and cannot be modified later.
Source: Iowa Code Section 598.21. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
PS-08 Complaint for Divorce, stating your grounds and requested relief
Civil Cover Sheet and Summons
PS-09 Testimony of Plaintiff, sworn written testimony that lets a judge decide on paper
Answer and Waiver of Service, signed by your spouse in an uncontested case
Marital Settlement Agreement
ADPH-HS-16 Certificate of Divorce, for vital statistics
CS-41 Income Affidavit, CS-42 Guidelines Worksheet, CS-43 Notice of Compliance, plus a parenting plan, if you have children
CRC-10 Affidavit of Substantial Hardship, the fee waiver
Where you fileCircuit Court clerk in the appropriate county. You can e-file through AlaFile by registering as a pro se filer.
What it costsRoughly $200 to $400 depending on the county, built from a $145 statewide base plus local surcharges. Waivable or deferrable.
The sequence
1. Download the free uncontested divorce packet from the Administrative Office of Courts and pick your grounds. Most people use incompatibility or irretrievable breakdown.
2. File the complaint with the Circuit Court clerk and pay the fee, or file the hardship affidavit.
3. Serve your spouse, or have them sign an Acceptance of Service. In an uncontested case your spouse must sign the answer and waiver, the settlement agreement, and the sworn testimony, plus the child support forms if you have children.
4. If you have children, complete the CS-41, CS-42, and CS-43 forms and a parenting plan.
5. Wait the mandatory 30 days from filing.
6. In most uncontested cases the judge reviews the package on paper and signs the Final Decree with no hearing. Order at least three certified copies.
If your fee waiver is denied and you do not pay within the deadline, your case is dismissed. Note also that Alabama bars either spouse from remarrying a third party for 60 days after the decree. The former spouses may remarry each other. Confirm current county fees with the clerk.
Court forms
Alabama files a Complaint for Divorce in the Circuit Court of the appropriate county. Uncontested cases can often be resolved on paper without a hearing. Filing fees run about $200 to $400 by county, waivable with an in forma pauperis request.
Your residency requirement depends on who lives where Verified Jul 2026
If both spouses live in Alabama, you can file right away with no minimum residency. If only you live in Alabama and your spouse is out of state, you need six months of bona fide Alabama residency first. If only your spouse lives here, an out-of-state filer can file with no minimum.
Source: Ala. Code Section 30-2-5. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
A short 30-day wait, and no separation required Verified Jul 2026
Alabama does not require any period of living apart before filing, and the only post-filing delay is a 30-day waiting period before a judge can finalize. That makes an uncontested Alabama divorce one of the quicker ones, often 30 to 60 days start to finish.
Source: Ala. Code Section 30-2-8.1. Confirm with the court.
Fault still counts, and custody now starts at joint Verified Jul 2026
Alabama weighs marital misconduct like adultery when dividing property and awarding alimony, so fault can shift the financial outcome. Alabama has also moved toward a rebuttable presumption favoring joint custody under recent legislation. Because the effective date and scope of that change are recent, confirm the current custody standard with the court or an Alabama attorney before relying on it.
Source: Ala. Code Section 30-2-1 and the 2026 custody reform. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Complaint for Divorce, plus three copies
Domestic Relations Cover Sheet, required by Administrative Order No. 8
Confidential Information Sheet, if you have children
Summons, issued by the clerk after filing
Entry of Appearance and Waiver of Service, notarized, if your spouse cooperates
Resident Witness Affidavit, corroborating your physical presence in Arkansas
Affidavit of Financial Means, exchanged at least three days before any financial hearing
Decree of Divorce with any property settlement agreement and parenting plan, plus an in forma pauperis petition if needed
Where you fileCircuit Court Clerk in the county where either spouse lives. Arkansas also offers eFlex e-filing.
What it costs$165 uniform across all 75 counties, or about $185 to e-file. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Confirm the two-stage residency rule: 60 days before you file, and three full months before the judge can sign the decree.
2. Line up a corroborating witness, someone over 18 who can personally attest to your residency. Arkansas will not take your word alone.
3. File the complaint, cover sheet, and three copies with the Circuit Court Clerk, then ask the clerk to issue the summons.
4. Serve your spouse within 120 days, or have them sign a notarized Entry of Appearance and Waiver. They then have 30 days to answer.
5. Exchange Affidavits of Financial Means.
6. After the 30-day wait, request a hearing date. Some judges will grant an uncontested divorce by affidavit with no hearing if you and your witness file sworn depositions.
Courts have no general power to shorten the 30-day waiting period. If you are in danger, an order of protection is a separate and much faster process that does not depend on this clock, and you do not have to wait on the divorce to ask for one. Note that a letter agreeing to the divorce is not a legally sufficient Answer. Since Act 604 of 2021, Arkansas applies a rebuttable presumption that joint custody is in the child's best interest, which either parent can overcome with evidence.
Court forms
Arkansas files a Complaint for Divorce with a Domestic Relations Cover Sheet in the county Circuit Court. The $165 filing fee can be waived for low-income filers. Most agreed couples file on the "general indignities" ground to avoid the 18-month separation.
The only pure no-fault ground needs 18 months apart, one of the longest waits anywhere Verified Jul 2026
Arkansas's sole no-fault ground requires living separate and apart for 18 continuous months without cohabitation, and any resumption of intimacy resets the clock. Most couples avoid that by filing on the fault ground of "general indignities," which needs no separation and works as Arkansas's practical stand-in for irreconcilable differences.
Source: Ark. Code Section 9-12-301. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
You cannot get divorced on your word alone; a witness must corroborate Verified Jul 2026
Arkansas requires a corroborating witness to confirm your residency, and in contested cases, your grounds too. Uncontested cases waive corroboration of the grounds, but never of residency. Residency itself is two-stage: 60 days in Arkansas before filing, and three full months before the decree can enter.
Source: Ark. Code Sections 9-12-306 and 9-12-307. Confirm with the court.
A covenant marriage doubles the separation to two years Verified Jul 2026
Arkansas is one of only three states with covenant marriage. If you signed one, the no-fault separation period stretches to two years and the fault grounds are more limited, on top of required counseling. Property, meanwhile, starts from a presumption of an equal 50/50 split.
Source: Ark. Code Sections 9-11-808 and 9-12-315. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Joint Petition for Divorce, with or without minor children, signed by both spouses before a notary
Complaint for Divorce and Summons, if you are filing alone
Affidavit of Resident Witness, notarized, proving your six weeks of residency
Family Court Cover Sheet and Confidential Information Sheet with Social Security numbers
General Financial Disclosure Form, required under the civil rules
Child Welfare and Identification Sheet, parenting plan, and child support worksheets, if you have children
COPE parenting class certificate, required in Clark County when children are involved
Decree of Divorce, and a fee waiver application if needed
Where you fileFamily Division of the District Court in your county. Some counties use their own forms, so check locally first.
What it costsRoughly $217 to $364 by county. Waivable for low-income filers.
The sequence
1. Establish six weeks of residency, then find a resident witness who sees you regularly to sign the affidavit.
2. Decide your track. A Joint Petition, where you file the initial and final paperwork together, is by far the fastest route.
3. Complete every section of the petition and sign it, along with the decree, in front of a notary.
4. File the packet with the district court and pay the fee. The clerk assigns a case number and returns stamped copies.
5. If you filed a Complaint instead, serve your spouse within 120 days. They have 21 days to answer, and both sides file financial disclosures.
6. Submit the filed petition and the original decree to your assigned judge. There is no waiting period, and most uncontested cases are signed without a hearing.
Filing a joint petition gives up your right to appeal any provision of the settlement or request a new trial, so have the agreement reviewed before signing. The most common rejection reasons are a defective resident witness affidavit, incomplete disclosures, and outdated form versions.
Court forms
Nevada offers two paths: a Joint Petition (both spouses sign, the fastest route) or a Complaint for Divorce. Either way you file in District Court with an Affidavit of Resident Witness. Filing fees run about $280 to $360 by county, waivable for low-income filers.
One of the shortest residency rules, and no general waiting period Verified Jul 2026
Nevada requires just six weeks (42 days) of residency for one spouse, among the shortest anywhere, and imposes no general post-filing waiting period. A Joint Petition where both spouses agree can move quickly, though the actual timeline still depends on service, judicial review, and your court's calendar.
Source: NRS Sections 125.020 and 125.181. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
You need a "resident witness" affidavit, and leaving it out gets you rejected Verified Jul 2026
Nevada makes you prove residency with an Affidavit of Resident Witness, a sworn statement from a friend, relative, or neighbor confirming you have lived in Nevada six weeks. A missing or defective affidavit is one of the most common reasons Nevada petitions get bounced at filing.
Source: NRS Section 125.020. Confirm with the court.
Community property means an even split of assets and debts Verified Jul 2026
Nevada is a community-property state, so property and debts acquired during the marriage are generally divided 50/50, regardless of whose name is on them. Separate property (owned before the marriage, or received by gift or inheritance) stays with its owner, and custody starts from a presumption of joint legal and physical custody.
Source: NRS Sections 125.150 and 125C.0025. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Petition for Divorce, notarized, usually on the ground of incompatibility
Civil Information Sheet, the clerk's cover page
Domestic Relations Affidavit, the detailed financial disclosure required by Supreme Court Rule 139
Summons and Request for Service, or a notarized Voluntary Entry of Appearance
Parenting Plan and Child Support Worksheet, filed with the petition if you have children
Kansas Payment Center Information Sheet and Vital Statistics Form
Notice of Final Hearing and Decree of Divorce
Poverty Affidavit, the fee waiver
Where you fileClerk of the District Court where either spouse lives, after 60 days of Kansas residency.
What it costsAbout $195, built from a $173 docket fee plus surcharges. Sheriff service runs about $15 to $40.
The sequence
1. Download the free forms from the Kansas Judicial Council at kjc.ks.gov. These are the only versions Kansas district courts accept, and you should never pay a company for them.
2. Sign the petition in front of a notary and file it with the civil information sheet, plus a parenting plan and support worksheet if you have children.
3. Serve your spouse by personal service, not certified mail, unless they sign a Voluntary Entry of Appearance before a notary. You cannot serve your own spouse.
4. Your spouse has 21 days to answer. If they do not, you can move for default, though the judge still reviews your terms for fairness.
5. Exchange Domestic Relations Affidavits. In contested cases these are due at least 14 days before trial.
6. After the 60-day waiting period, attend the final hearing. Kansas requires one in virtually every case.
The 60-day clock starts the day after filing and is shortened only on a judicial finding of genuine emergency such as documented domestic violence. Incomplete paperwork gets rejected by the clerk, so check your district's local rules too.
Court forms
Kansas files a Petition for Divorce in the district court where either spouse resides; there is no joint-petition option. The filing fee is about $195, waivable for low-income filers. The Kansas Judicial Council publishes free statewide forms with and without minor children.
One of the shortest residency rules, but a firm 60-day wait Verified Jul 2026
Kansas requires only 60 days of residency for one spouse before filing, among the shortest in the country, with no separate county requirement. After filing, a mandatory 60-day waiting period runs before a judge can finalize, and it is waived only for a documented emergency.
Source: K.S.A. Sections 23-2703 and 23-2708. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Filing turns everything you own into marital property Verified Jul 2026
Kansas uses an "all-property" model: the moment a divorce is filed, virtually every asset either spouse owns becomes part of the marital estate subject to division, including inheritances, property owned before the marriage, retirement, and even professional goodwill. There is no automatic protection for separate property.
Source: K.S.A. Section 23-2801. Confirm with the court.
Alimony is capped, and a hearing is required even when you agree Verified Jul 2026
Kansas caps spousal maintenance at 121 months (about ten years) per order, so indefinite alimony is rare. And unlike states that finalize on paper, Kansas requires a final hearing before a judge in virtually every case, with no joint-petition shortcut.
Source: K.S.A. Sections 23-2904 and 23-2701. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Joint Complaint for Divorce on irreconcilable differences, or an individual Complaint with a Waiver of Process
Property Settlement Agreement, resolving all property, debt, and support
Civil Case Filing Form and Summons
Rule 8.05 Financial Statement, disclosing income, expenses, assets, and debts
UCCJEA Affidavit
Child Custody Agreement, Parenting Plan, and Child Support Worksheet, if you have children
Affidavit of Non-Collusion, for fault-based filings
Proposed Final Judgment of Divorce
Where you fileChancery Court, which has exclusive jurisdiction over every Mississippi divorce. File in either spouse's county when both are residents.
What it costsRoughly $148 to $160 by county, plus $50 to $150 for service.
The sequence
1. Confirm your spouse will consent. Irreconcilable differences requires a joint complaint, personal service, or a signed written waiver of process. Without cooperation you must prove a fault ground.
2. Negotiate and sign the Property Settlement Agreement before filing, since it drives the whole uncontested track. All signature documents must be notarized.
3. File the complaint with the Chancery Court clerk and pay the fee.
4. Serve your spouse within 120 days if you are filing alone.
5. Wait the 60 days from filing. It cannot be shortened or waived, even when you agree on everything. Use the time to finish the settlement agreement and financial statements.
6. Submit the agreed Judgment of Divorce. Many chancellors sign without live testimony when the paperwork is complete, though some require a short prove-up hearing.
Fault-based divorces have no statutory waiting period but require at least 30 days' notice before a hearing. Mississippi does not recognize legal separation. The Mississippi Access to Justice Commission offers a free interview that generates uncontested divorce documents.
Court forms
Mississippi files a Complaint for Divorce in Chancery Court, the state's court of equity, in the county where the defendant lives (or the plaintiff's county if the defendant is out of state). Filing fees run about $148 to $160, among the lowest in the country, waivable for low-income filers.
You cannot get a no-fault divorce unless your spouse agrees Verified Jul 2026
Mississippi is one of the very few states where no-fault divorce (irreconcilable differences) requires both spouses to consent. If your spouse refuses, you cannot file no-fault at all; you must prove one of 12 fault grounds such as adultery, habitual cruelty, or one-year desertion.
Source: Miss. Code Sections 93-5-1 and 93-5-2. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
A 60-day wait you cannot skip, and it starts at filing Verified Jul 2026
On the irreconcilable-differences ground, the complaint must be on file at least 60 days before a judge can even hear it, and this waiting period cannot be waived even if you agree on everything. The clock runs from filing, not from any date you separated.
Source: Miss. Code Section 93-5-2(4). Confirm with the court.
Divorce goes to Chancery Court, and property is divided equitably Verified Jul 2026
Mississippi routes all divorces through Chancery Court, its court of equity, rather than a general trial court. It is an equitable-distribution state (not community property), so marital property is divided fairly under the Ferguson factors, which does not automatically mean 50/50.
Source: Miss. Code Section 93-5-1 and Ferguson v. Ferguson. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
DC 6:4.1 Complaint for Dissolution without children, or DC 6:5.1 with children
Vital Statistics Certificate of Dissolution, required by law with the Complaint
Praecipe for Summons, or a Voluntary Appearance signed by your spouse
DC 6:5.2 Financial Affidavit for Child Support, if you have children
Parenting Plan and child support worksheets
Parenting education class certificates, required for both parents
DC 9:1 or DC 10:1 Answer and Counterclaim, filed by your spouse
Decree of Dissolution, and DC 6:7.1 to proceed in forma pauperis
Where you fileDistrict court in the county where either spouse lives, after a full year of Nebraska residency.
What it costsRoughly $158 to $164. Waivable with the in forma pauperis application.
The sequence
1. Download the free fillable forms from the Nebraska Judicial Branch and complete the Complaint and Vital Statistics Certificate together.
2. File with the district court clerk. Filing alone does not divorce you; nothing is final until the judge signs the Decree and it is filed.
3. Serve your spouse within 6 months of filing, or your case is automatically dismissed. Options are sheriff, process server, certified mail, or a signed Voluntary Appearance.
4. Your spouse has 30 days to file an Answer and Counterclaim.
5. If you have children, both parents complete the required parenting education class and file the certificates.
6. Wait the 60 days, counted from the date of service or the Voluntary Appearance filing, then attend the final hearing. Fully agreed cases can sometimes be approved without one.
Two hard rules to plan around: the decree is not fully effective for 30 days after it is signed, and neither spouse may remarry anyone, anywhere, until six months and a day have passed. During those six months you are still legally married for remarriage purposes, so a new marriage would not be valid. Remarrying your own former spouse is the exception and can happen after 30 days. See Neb. Rev. Stat. 42-372 and 42-372.01.
Court forms
Nebraska files a Complaint for Dissolution of Marriage in the district court, using Form DC 6:4.1 (no children) or DC 6:5.1 (with children) plus a Vital Statistics Certificate. The filing fee is about $158 to $164 statewide, waivable for low-income filers.
The 60-day wait runs from service and is absolute Verified Jul 2026
Nebraska imposes a 60-day waiting period that starts when your spouse is served, not when you file, and it cannot be waived or shortened for any reason, including emergencies. A decree entered even a day early is null and void, so timing matters more here than almost anywhere.
Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. Section 42-363. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
A full year of residency, and your spouse cannot block the divorce Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must have lived in Nebraska a full year with intent to make it home before filing (waived only if you married in Nebraska and stayed). Nebraska is pure no-fault, so if you assert the marriage is irretrievably broken, the court proceeds even over your spouse's objection.
Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. Sections 42-349 and 42-361. Confirm with the court.
You cannot remarry for six months after the decree, and doing so anyway is not a valid marriage Verified Jul 2026
For most purposes a Nebraska decree becomes final 30 days after entry, but for remarriage to anyone other than your former spouse it does not become final and operative until six months after entry. That means during those six months you are still legally married, so a new marriage anywhere in the world would not be valid and could expose you to a bigamy charge. Remarrying your former spouse is the exception.
Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. Sections 42-372 and 42-372.01. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
NHJB-2057-F Petition for Divorce, or NHJB-2058-F Joint Petition when you file together
NHJB-2077-F Personal Data Sheet
NHJB-2065-F Financial Affidavit of Assets and Liabilities
Vital Statistics form, which must be completed before the divorce can be final
Parenting Plan and NHJB-2101-FS Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, if you have children
Child Impact Program certificate, from both parents
Temporary Decree, if you need orders before the case ends
NHJB-2759-SUP Motion to Waive Filing Fee
Where you fileCircuit Court, Family Division, in your county. Most people e-file through TurboCourt.
What it costsAbout $250 to $252 without minor children, or $282 with them. Waivable if income is under 150% of the poverty level.
The sequence
1. Confirm jurisdiction. You qualify if both spouses live in New Hampshire, if you have lived here a year, or if you live here and can serve your spouse in state.
2. Prepare the petition, notarize it, and file the original plus two copies, or e-file through TurboCourt.
3. A joint petition needs no service. With an individual petition, your spouse is notified by picking up the papers, certified mail, or the sheriff.
4. Attend the First Appearance session, where the court explains the process and schedules your next step. Bring your calendar.
5. If you have minor children, both parents complete the four-hour Child Impact Program within 45 days of filing. Missing that deadline brings sanctions.
6. Exchange financial affidavits and required disclosures, then request the final hearing. There is no waiting period, so uncontested cases often finish in 60 to 90 days.
Register for the Child Impact Program right after filing, since seats fill and the 45-day window is short. The divorce cannot be finalized without the Vital Statistics form and both certificates.
Court forms
New Hampshire files a Petition for Divorce in the Circuit Court, Family Division, usually through the TurboCourt online system. Filing fees run about $250 without minor children or $282 with them, waivable for low-income filers.
No waiting period, no separation, one of the quicker states Verified Jul 2026
New Hampshire imposes no mandatory waiting or cooling-off period and requires no time living apart. Once service is done, an uncontested divorce can move straight to a final decree, often finishing in two to three months, while neighboring states make you wait months.
Source: RSA 458:7-a and current practice. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Residency flexes with your situation Verified Jul 2026
If both spouses are domiciled in New Hampshire, either can file immediately with no minimum. If only you live here but you can serve your spouse in-state, there is also no waiting. Only when your spouse is out of state and cannot be served here does the one-year residency rule kick in.
Source: RSA 458:5. Confirm with the court.
An equal split is the starting point, and everything you own is in the pot Verified Jul 2026
New Hampshire presumes a 50/50 division and makes the judge give written reasons to deviate. It is also an all-property state, so premarital assets, gifts, and inheritances are all subject to division rather than automatically protected.
Source: RSA 458:16-a. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Verified Petition for Divorce, stating grounds, usually irreconcilable differences
1015GEJ Summons within Utah, or 1016GEJ if your spouse is out of state
1051FAJ Declaration of Jurisdiction and Grounds
UDOH OVRS Form 404 Certificate of Divorce, separate from the decree and required for vital records
1352FAJ Financial Declaration, with tax returns, pay stubs, and account statements
Domestic Relations Injunction, which takes effect on filing
1052FAJ income verification and child support worksheet, plus a parenting plan, if you have children
Stipulation, Findings of Fact, and Decree of Divorce, plus a Motion to Waive Fees if needed
Where you fileDistrict court in the county where you or your spouse has lived 3 continuous months. E-file at efile.utcourts.gov, usually processed same day.
What it costs$325, plus about $30 for divorce orientation and $35 for the parenting class if you have children. MyPaperwork or OCAP may add a $20 document fee.
The sequence
1. Use the state's free MyPaperwork interview at utcourts.gov to generate the correct forms, or download the PDFs directly. Forms from other websites are often rejected.
2. File the petition, summons, jurisdiction declaration, and certificate of divorce with the district court and pay the fee.
3. Serve your spouse within 120 days. They have 21 days to respond if served in Utah, or 30 days if served elsewhere.
4. If you have children, the petitioner takes the divorce orientation within 60 days of filing and the respondent within 30 days of service, plus both take the parenting course.
5. Exchange Financial Declarations within 14 days of the answer.
6. After the 30-day waiting period, submit the stipulation, findings, and proposed decree.
Your final papers must match the signed stipulation exactly, and discrepancies get the submission rejected. If a fee waiver is denied, you have 30 days to pay or the case is dismissed. Free attorney help is available through the Utah Courts Self-Help Center.
Court forms
Utah files a Petition for Divorce in the district court of your county, most easily through the state's Online Court Assistance Program (OCAP) or MyPaperwork. The filing fee is $325, waivable for low-income filers. Parents with minor children complete two required education courses (about $65 total).
You need 90 days in the specific county, and the wrong county gets you dismissed Verified Jul 2026
Utah requires 90 days of residency not just in the state but in the exact county where you file. Living elsewhere in Utah does not count, and filing in the wrong county results in dismissal, forcing you to refile and restart.
Source: Utah Code Section 81-4-402. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
A 30-day wait, but parents have mandatory classes that stretch it out Verified Jul 2026
Utah imposes a 30-day waiting period from filing before a decree can be signed, waived only for extraordinary circumstances. If you have minor children, both parents must also complete two required courses, a Divorce Orientation and a Divorce Education class, before the court will finalize, which typically pushes the timeline toward 90 days.
Source: Utah Code Section 81-4-402. Confirm with the court.
Filing triggers an automatic injunction, and separate property usually stays separate Verified Jul 2026
The moment a Utah divorce is filed, an automatic Domestic Relations Injunction bars both spouses from selling or hiding assets, canceling insurance, or taking the children out of state. Utah is equitable distribution, and property owned before the marriage, gifts, and inheritances generally stay with their owner unless they were commingled with marital assets.
Source: Utah Code Sections 81-4-402 and 81-4-501. Confirm with the court.
How to read these entries.
This is general legal information compiled from state court websites, state statutes, and official self-help materials. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship with anyone.
Why we publish it. Most people meet the family law system once, at the worst moment of their life, knowing nothing about it. That gap is where people get overcharged and poorly served. This page exists so you can walk in already knowing roughly how your state works, ask sharper questions, and recognize when an answer does not sound right. It is here to help you hold your attorney to a standard, not to replace what they do.
Talk to a lawyer licensed in your state. That is the normal path, not a fallback for when something goes wrong. Nothing here can account for the facts of your marriage, your finances, or your children, and those facts are usually what determines the outcome. Many states also have free legal aid and court self-help centers, and we link to them by state.
Verify before you rely on anything. Every entry cites its source. Follow that citation to the official state site and confirm it still says what we say it says, and that it applies to your situation. Filing fees, form numbers, e-filing rules, and local standing orders change frequently, and a form number that was right last year can get your filing rejected today.
The same state can treat you very differently depending on whether your spouse agrees, whether you have minor children, whether you file jointly or alone, and which county or judge hears it. Waiting periods run from filing in some states and from service in others. Deadlines described here as fixed are the statutory default, and a judge may still have narrow discretion in an emergency.
If you are in danger, do not wait on any of these timelines. An order of protection is a separate and much faster process than a divorce, and it does not depend on any waiting period described on this page.
Your roadmap
What you file
DR-100 Joint Petition for Dissolution without children, or DR-105 with children
DR-50 or DR-55 Complaint for Divorce, when you do not agree
VS-401 Certificate of Divorce, Dissolution, or Annulment
DR-475 Parenting Plan, DR-305 Child Support Guidelines Affidavit, DR-300 proposed Child Support Order
DR-150 Answer, filed by your spouse in a contested case
DR-200 and DR-210 Affidavit of Diligent Inquiry, if you cannot locate your spouse
Certificate of Completion for the parent education requirement
TF-920 Request for Exemption of Fees
Where you fileSuperior Court in your judicial district. Alaska has a unified court system with no county courts.
What it costs$250 to file, plus $150 for a response in a contested case. Waivable with Form TF-920.
The sequence
1. Confirm you are domiciled in Alaska with intent to remain. There is no minimum number of days.
2. Choose your path. If you agree on everything, both spouses sign and notarize a joint dissolution petition, which builds the financial information right into the form. Court clerks notarize free when you file.
3. Attach your most recent federal tax return and at least three pay stubs. An incomplete petition causes delays or extra hearings.
4. If you filed a Complaint instead, serve your spouse within 120 days. They have 20 days to answer if served in Alaska, or 30 days if served outside.
5. If you have children, both parents complete an approved parent education program. The free Family Law Education Class is available by Zoom.
6. Wait the 30-day minimum, then the court grants the dissolution. Uncontested cases usually finish in 45 to 90 days.
Only the agreements written into the petition and its attachments are enforceable, so anything you agreed to verbally needs to be in the document. If paternity of any child is disputed, you cannot use the dissolution path and must file for divorce instead.
Court forms
Alaska offers two paths: a dissolution (both spouses agree and file a joint petition, no process server needed) or a divorce (one spouse files and serves the other). Both go to the Superior Court and use the state's DR forms packet. Filing fees start at about $250, waivable for low-income filers.
No fixed minimum residency, but you must be domiciled here Verified Jul 2026
Alaska sets no minimum number of days, which makes it one of the most accessible states to file in. What the court looks at is domicile: presence in Alaska together with the intent to remain. Physical presence by itself may not be enough, and the court decides whether your connection to the state is sufficient. There is no county requirement, because Alaska has a unified court system. A 30-day period generally runs from filing before a judge can sign the decree, and the exact timing depends on whether you filed a dissolution or a divorce.
Source: Alaska Stat. Sections 25.24.090 and 25.24.220. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Two paths: a joint "dissolution" or a one-sided "divorce" Verified Jul 2026
If you both agree on everything, Alaska lets you file a joint dissolution together, skip a process server, and even waive the hearing, often finishing in 30 to 45 days. If you do not agree, one spouse files a divorce on incompatibility (no-fault) or a fault ground, and the other is formally served.
Source: Alaska Stat. Sections 25.24.050 and 25.24.200. Confirm with the court.
Equitable distribution by default, but you can opt into community property Verified Jul 2026
Alaska normally divides marital property equitably (fairly, not automatically 50/50), with separate property generally protected. Uniquely, Alaska also lets spouses opt into community-property treatment by written agreement, the only state to offer this, which can change how everything is divided.
Source: Alaska Stat. Sections 25.24.160 and 34.77. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Form 442 Petition for Divorce or Annulment
Form 441 or 441SS Vital Statistics Sheet
Original or certified marriage certificate
Request for Notice, telling the court how your spouse should be served
Form 279 Affidavit of Children's Rights, if you have children under 18
Form 443 Stipulation to Incorporate Separation Agreement, if you want your agreement enforceable
Form 447 Affidavit in Support of Request to Proceed Without a Hearing
Form 420 Servicemembers Civil Relief Act waiver, if your spouse is in the military
Where you fileFamily Court in New Castle, Kent, or Sussex county. There is no county residency rule, so any of the three works.
What it costsAbout $165, plus $25 to $100 per parent for the parent education seminar. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Establish your separation date carefully. It determines when you meet the six-month requirement, and it goes on the petition.
2. Download the free forms and the Divorce Instruction Packet from courts.delaware.gov, then complete Form 442 in full.
3. File the petition with the vital statistics sheet and your marriage certificate, and pay the fee.
4. Serve your spouse using the method you requested. If they cannot be reached, you may need a motion to appoint an attorney for them.
5. If you have children under 18, both parents complete a certified 6 to 8 hour parent education seminar. The court cannot finalize until both certificates are filed.
6. Attend the hearing, or file the request to proceed without one. The decree is final the moment it is entered, with no additional waiting period.
A separation agreement is not a court form. File Form 443 with it if you want the court able to enforce it. Delaware recognizes only irretrievable breakdown as grounds. Confirm current fees with the court.
Court forms
Delaware files a Petition for Divorce (Form 442) in Family Court, along with a Vital Statistics sheet and your marriage certificate. Filing fees run about $165 plus a small court-security fee, waivable for low-income filers. Parents with minor children must complete a parenting class before the divorce is granted.
You must be separated six months, but you can do it under the same roof Verified Jul 2026
Delaware requires living separate and apart for six months before a no-fault divorce is granted (you can file earlier, but not finalize). The separation can happen in the same house: you just need separate bedrooms and no sexual relations for at least 30 days before the hearing. Fault grounds like abuse or adultery skip the six-month wait.
Source: 13 Del.C. Sections 1505 and 1507. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Parents must finish a class before the divorce can be granted Verified Jul 2026
If you have children under 18, both parents are required to complete a certified parenting education course (a 6 to 8 hour program, usually around $50) and file certificates of completion. The court will not finalize the divorce without them, so start early.
Source: 13 Del.C. Section 1507(h). Confirm with the court.
Six months of residency, and separate property usually stays separate Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must have lived in Delaware six continuous months before filing. Delaware is an equitable-distribution state using dual classification: property owned before the marriage, gifts, and inheritances generally remain separate unless commingled, while marital property is divided fairly under 11 factors.
Source: 13 Del.C. Sections 1504 and 1513. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Complaint for Divorce, filed in your island's circuit
Summons and the Automatic Restraining Order
Income and Expense Statement and Asset and Debt Statement
Appearance and Waiver, if your spouse will sign instead of being served
Affidavit of Plaintiff for Uncontested Divorce, the form that can replace a hearing
Settlement agreement covering property, debt, custody, and support
Kids First certificate, if you have children
Proposed Divorce Decree, plus an in forma pauperis financial affidavit if you need fees waived
Where you fileFamily Court in one of four island circuits, after 6 months in Hawaii and 3 months in that circuit. Each circuit has its own forms.
What it costs$215 without minor children or $265 with them, since that includes the $50 Kids First class. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Download the uncontested divorce packet for your specific circuit, since local rules vary between islands.
2. File the complaint, summons, restraining order, and financial disclosure statements, and pay the fee.
3. Serve your spouse, or have them sign an Appearance and Waiver, which avoids formal service entirely.
4. Your spouse has 20 days to answer if served in Hawaii, or 60 days if served outside the state.
5. If you have children, complete the Kids First parenting education program.
6. Submit the uncontested packet with your affidavit and proposed decree. If both spouses affirm the marriage is irretrievably broken, the court can grant the divorce on the affidavits alone with no hearing.
Hawaii has no mandatory waiting period, so uncontested cases often close in six to ten weeks. The decree takes effect on the date the court fixes, which cannot be more than one month after signing. Court staff can answer procedural questions but cannot give legal advice.
Court forms
Hawaii files a Complaint for Divorce (or a Joint Petition when uncontested) in the Family Court of your island's circuit, through the JEFS e-filing system. Filing fees run about $215 without minor children or $265 with them, waivable for low-income filers.
No waiting period, but you must be domiciled six months to finalize Verified Jul 2026
Hawaii has no mandatory cooling-off period, so an uncontested divorce can be granted as soon as the paperwork is in order, often in four to ten weeks. A 2021 reform means you can file as soon as you are domiciled in Hawaii (plus three months in your island's circuit), but the final decree still waits until one spouse has been domiciled six months.
Source: HRS Sections 580-1 and 580-41. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
You file on your island's circuit, and can often skip the hearing Verified Jul 2026
Hawaii splits Family Court into four island circuits, and you file where you have been domiciled three months. For uncontested cases, both spouses (or just the filer, if the other does not deny the breakdown) can submit affidavits and the court may grant the divorce with no hearing at all.
Source: HRS Section 580-42. Confirm with the court.
Even separate property can be divided under the partnership model Verified Jul 2026
Hawaii is a no-fault, equitable-distribution state using a "marital partnership" approach. The Family Court has broad discretion to divide all property, and can reach separate property (owned before marriage, gifts, inheritances) when equity requires, rather than automatically shielding it.
Source: HRS Section 580-47. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
CAO D 1-5 Petition with children, or CAO D 1-6 without children
CAO FL 1-3 Summons and the Family Law Case Information Sheet
Joint Temporary Restraining Order, served with the petition
Parenting Plan, Affidavit Verifying Income, and child support worksheets, if you have children
Acknowledgment of Service, or proof of personal service
Inventory of Property and Debts and Mandatory Child Support Disclosures, exchanged not filed
Sworn Stipulation for Entry of Divorce Decree, or default paperwork
CAO FW 1-9 fee waiver with the FW 1-10 proposed order
Where you fileDistrict court in your county, after six weeks of Idaho residency. Court Assistance Offices will review your forms before you file.
What it costsAbout $221, plus roughly $20 for the Focus on Children class if you have children. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Complete the petition, summons, and case information sheet, then have them reviewed free at a full-service Court Assistance Office.
2. File with the clerk. If you have minor children, the clerk gives you an Order to Attend a parenting program, which you must serve on your spouse along with the summons and petition.
3. Ask the clerk to conform your copies by stamping and dating them, which saves copy fees later.
4. Serve your spouse. They have 21 days to file a response, or a response and counterclaim if they want different terms.
5. If a response is filed, exchange mandatory disclosures within 35 days. File only the certificate of service, not the disclosures themselves.
6. Wait the 20-day period from service, or 21 days if finishing by default, complete the parenting workshop, then finalize by stipulation or default.
Ask the clerk or court assistance officer whether your particular judge requires a hearing. Idaho is a community property state, so assets and debts acquired during the marriage are divided substantially equally.
Court forms
Idaho files a Petition for Divorce in the district court, most easily through the Idaho Court Assistance Office self-help forms (CAO D packet). Filing fees run about $207 to $221, waivable for low-income filers. Parents with minor children complete the Focus on Children class (about $20).
One of the shortest residency rules in the country: just six weeks Verified Jul 2026
Idaho requires only six full weeks (42 days) of residency before filing, among the shortest in the nation, with no county requirement. After you file and serve your spouse, a 20-day waiting period runs before a judge can enter the decree, so an uncontested case can wrap up in a couple of months.
Source: Idaho Code Sections 32-701 and 32-716. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
No separation needed, and your spouse cannot block it Verified Jul 2026
Idaho requires no period of living apart; you can file the day the marriage feels over. It is a unilateral no-fault state, so if your spouse ignores the petition you can proceed by default, and even a contested case can be granted over their objection once irreconcilable differences are shown.
Source: Idaho Code Section 32-603. Confirm with the court.
Community property means a roughly even split Verified Jul 2026
Idaho is one of nine community-property states: property and debts acquired during the marriage are presumed owned equally and divided substantially equally, unless compelling reasons justify otherwise. Separate property (owned before the marriage, or received by gift or inheritance) stays with its owner unless it was commingled.
Source: Idaho Code Section 32-712. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Form 1 Summons and Form 2 Complaint
Form 3 Settlement Agreement
Form 4 Exhibit A, Confidential Property and Debt Listing
Form 5 Exhibit B, Parenting Plan, if you have children
Form 6 Confidential Information Form, and Form 7 Admission of Service
Form 8 Affidavit of Proof, your sworn statement supporting the grounds
Forms 9 and 10, the proposed Findings and Judgment, with Form 11 Notice of Entry after
Petition for Waiver of Filing Fees with a financial affidavit
Where you fileDistrict court in the county where your spouse lives, or your own county if your spouse is out of state.
What it costs$160 as of July 2025, plus $25 to $75 for service. Waivable.
The sequence
1. Download the free DNC packet without children or DWC packet with children from ndcourts.gov. If you have children, you must run the state child support calculator.
2. Note North Dakota's unusual order. In a contested case you serve the Summons and Complaint on your spouse before filing anything with the court.
3. In an agreed case, both spouses sign the Admission of Service instead, which waives formal service and gets filed with the completed packet.
4. For contested cases, meet with your spouse within 30 days of service to prepare a joint informational statement and preliminary property and debt listing, exchanging pay stubs, tax returns, and account documentation.
5. File everything within 7 days of that meeting. Your case may be referred to the Family Law Mediation Program, which provides up to 6 free hours.
6. For an uncontested case you file the entire agreed packet at once, and the judge often signs the Judgment and Decree without any court appearance.
There is no statutory waiting period, but the decree cannot enter until the six-month residency requirement is met. District courts typically order both parents to complete a parent education course such as Parents Forever.
Court forms
North Dakota files a Summons and Complaint for Divorce in the district court, using the ND Legal Self Help Center packets. The filing fee is $160 statewide, waivable for low-income filers. A summary path exists when combined net assets stay under $50,000.
No waiting period, but you must be a resident six months to finalize Verified Jul 2026
North Dakota has no mandatory cooling-off period, so an uncontested divorce can finish in 30 to 90 days. The main timing constraint is residency: one spouse must have lived here six months before the court can enter the decree, though you can file earlier and let the clock run.
Source: N.D.C.C. Sections 14-05-17 and 14-05-09.1. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
It is a "kitchen sink" state: everything you own is on the table Verified Jul 2026
North Dakota puts all property either spouse owns into the pot, whether acquired before or during the marriage and whether held jointly or individually. Judges start from a presumption of equal division and then adjust under the Ruff-Fischer guidelines, so premarital assets and inheritances are not automatically safe.
Source: N.D.C.C. Section 14-05-24. Confirm with the court.
Permanent alimony is off the table Verified Jul 2026
Unlike many states, North Dakota law does not allow permanent spousal support. Awards are meant to be rehabilitative and time-limited, typically running a fraction of the marriage length and ending on remarriage or a long-term new relationship, so do not plan around lifetime maintenance.
Source: N.D.C.C. Section 14-05-24.1. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
UJS-232 Case Filing Statement
UJS-309 or 311 Summons, and UJS-310 or 312 Complaint for Divorce
UJS-304A or 304B Financial Affidavit
UJS-302 South Dakota Parenting Guidelines, served with the summons if you have children
UJS-324 or 325 Stipulation and Settlement Agreement
UJS-313 Answer, filed by your spouse, or UJS-319 Stipulation instead
UJS-364 Statement on Court-Approved Parenting Course
UJS-326A Judgment and Decree, and UJS-305 Affidavit of Indigency for a fee waiver
Where you fileCircuit Court in the county where either spouse lives. There is no minimum residency, only residency at the time of filing.
What it costsRoughly $95 to $120 by county, plus $50 to $75 for service and about $20 per person for the parenting course.
The sequence
1. Use the free UJS Guide and File system at ujs.sd.gov to prepare your forms, then print them. You cannot file electronically.
2. Complete forms in black ink, printed on one side only, as the Unified Judicial System requires.
3. File with the Clerk of Courts, then serve your spouse. An automatic temporary restraining order binds both of you once filing and service are complete.
4. Your spouse has 30 days to answer, or can sign a stipulation instead. No answer allows a default judgment.
5. If you have children, both parents complete the court-approved parenting course, such as SMILE, within 60 days of service and file the certification. No decree can enter without it.
6. Wait the 60 days, counted from the date of service rather than filing, then submit the Judgment and Decree. A fully stipulated case can finish on paper with no hearing.
The 60-day period cannot be waived. Note that if your spouse lives in a different county, they can ask to move the case there. Court staff cannot give legal advice, but South Dakota runs a Legal Form Help Line at 1-855-784-0004.
Court forms
South Dakota files a Summons and Complaint in Circuit Court, using the state's UJS forms. Filing fees start around $95 to $120, waivable for low-income filers. Agreed couples file a signed Stipulation and can sometimes finalize without appearing in court.
No-fault requires your spouse to agree, unless they default Verified Jul 2026
South Dakota is one of the very few states where a no-fault divorce on irreconcilable differences needs both spouses to consent (or the served spouse to simply not show up). If your spouse appears and contests it, you cannot use no-fault at all and must prove a fault ground like adultery or cruelty.
Source: SDCL Sections 25-4-2 and 25-4-17.2. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
No fixed minimum residency, paired with a firm 60-day wait Verified Jul 2026
South Dakota sets no minimum residency duration: you can establish good-faith residency and file the same day, though the court still decides whether your residency is genuine. But once your spouse is served, a mandatory 60-day waiting period runs before the divorce can be finalized, and it cannot be waived or shortened under any circumstances.
Source: SDCL Sections 25-4-30 and 25-4-34. Confirm with the court.
It is an all-property state, so nothing is automatically protected Verified Jul 2026
South Dakota lets the court divide all property either spouse owns, including assets brought into the marriage and inheritances. There is no automatic shield for separate property; the court weighs each spouse's contributions and circumstances to reach a fair, though not necessarily equal, split.
Source: SDCL Section 25-4-44. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
400-00836 Summons and Complaint for Divorce, in with-children or without-children versions
Form 800 Information Sheet and 400-00849 Statement of Confidential Information
VDH-VR-DIV Health Department record
400-00813A Financial Affidavit for income and expenses, and 400-00813B for property and assets
400-00844 Acceptance of Service, and 400-00837 Answer filed by your spouse
400-00878 Final Stipulation covering property, debt, and spousal support
400-00825 Agreement on Parental Rights and Responsibilities, if you have children
400-00200 Vehicle Addendum, and Form 228 to waive filing fees
Where you fileFamily Division of the Superior Court in your county. VTCourtForms at vtlawhelp.org guides you through the forms in several languages.
What it costs$295 contested, or about $90 with a complete stipulation and one resident spouse. The COPE parenting class runs about $79, reducible for hardship.
The sequence
1. File the complaint with the information sheet, confidential information statement, and health department record. You can file before the six-month separation is complete and let the clock run.
2. Serve your spouse within 60 days. The simplest route is a voluntary Acceptance of Service. They then have 21 days to answer.
3. Complete both Financial Affidavits. Attach your four most recent pay stubs, and send copies to your spouse at the same time you file.
4. Attend the case manager conference, usually 4 to 8 weeks after filing. If you have children, both parents complete the 4-hour COPE class, and the court will not schedule a final hearing without proof.
5. If you agree, file the Final Stipulation. Filing with a complete stipulation cuts the fee substantially.
6. After the final hearing, the 90-day nisi period runs and the divorce becomes final automatically. You can ask to waive or shorten it in the stipulation.
Think before waiving the nisi period. You remain legally married during it, which affects health insurance eligibility and tax filing status. The Vermont Judiciary Access and Resource Center at 802-879-1185 helps with forms but does not give legal advice.
Court forms
Vermont files a Complaint for Divorce in the Superior Court, Family Division, using the state's forms (Form 400-00836) or the free VTCourtForms guided interview. Filing fees run about $90 for stipulated cases to $295 contested, waivable for low-income filers.
Two residency clocks, and a mandatory 90-day "nisi" at the end Verified Jul 2026
Vermont has an unusual dual requirement: six months of residency to file, but a full year of residency before the court can enter a final decree. And even after the judge grants the divorce, a 90-day "nisi" period runs before it becomes absolute, during which you cannot remarry (though you can ask to waive it in an agreed case).
Source: 15 V.S.A. Sections 592 and 551. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
No-fault means six months living apart, even under the same roof Verified Jul 2026
Vermont's no-fault ground requires living separate and apart for six consecutive months with no reasonable prospect of reconciliation. You can file first and let the clock run, and courts read "living apart" broadly, so separate bedrooms, separate finances, and no marital relations in the same house can qualify.
Source: 15 V.S.A. Section 551(7). Confirm with the court.
It is an all-property state, but fault stays out of it Verified Jul 2026
Vermont can divide all property either spouse owns, whenever and however acquired, including premarital assets, gifts, and inheritances, starting from a presumption of equal division. At the same time, the court does not weigh marital misconduct like adultery when dividing property or setting support.
Source: 15 V.S.A. Sections 751 and 752. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Complaint for Divorce, from Packet 1 with children or Packet 3 without
Summons and Civil Cover Sheet
Vital Statistics Form, reporting the divorce to the Department of Health
Confidential Financial Affidavit, from each spouse
Initial Disclosures, listing accounts, real property, and insurance
Parenting Plan, Child Support Worksheet, and Confidential Statement for Child Support Order, if you have children
Application for Entry of Default, if your spouse never answers
Decree of Divorce, plus Packet 10 fee waiver forms if needed
Where you fileDistrict Court in the county where either spouse lives, after 60 days of Wyoming residency.
What it costsRoughly $70 to $160 by county, plus about $35 for sheriff service. Printed packets cost $10 at the clerk's office, or download them free.
The sequence
1. Download the free packet from wyocourts.gov, or use Wyoming's Guided Form Completion tool that asks questions and fills the forms for you.
2. File the complaint and summons with the Clerk of District Court and pay the fee. The clerk keeps the original and returns copies.
3. Serve your spouse within 90 days of filing, or your case can be dismissed.
4. Your spouse has 20 days to answer if served in Wyoming, or 30 days if served out of state. No answer allows a default judgment granting what you asked for.
5. Exchange Initial Disclosures and Confidential Financial Affidavits within 30 days of service.
6. Wait the 20 days from filing. In many counties an uncontested case needs no hearing at all, and you can file an Affidavit for Divorce Without Appearance of Parties.
There is no fee to file an answer in Wyoming. Some counties order mediation in custody cases, so ask your Clerk of District Court whether yours does. Confirm current fees with the clerk before filing.
Court forms
Wyoming files a Complaint for Divorce in the district court, along with a Confidential Financial Affidavit, using Wyoming Judicial Branch forms. Filing fees run about $70 to $160 by county, waivable for low-income filers.
One of the shortest paths in the country: 60 days in, 20 days out Verified Jul 2026
Wyoming requires just 60 days of residency before filing, among the shortest anywhere, and only a 20-day waiting period from filing before a decree can be entered. With no separation requirement, an uncontested Wyoming divorce can finish in as little as 30 to 60 days, and there is no waiting period to remarry afterward.
Source: Wyo. Stat. Sections 20-2-107 and 20-2-104. Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
It is an all-property state, so nothing is automatically off-limits Verified Jul 2026
Wyoming uses an all-property approach: the court can divide any asset either spouse owns, including property acquired before the marriage and separate property, in whatever way it finds just and equitable. There is no automatic protection for premarital assets or inheritances.
Source: Wyo. Stat. Section 20-2-114. Confirm with the court.
No-fault to divorce, but misconduct can still shrink your share Verified Jul 2026
The only ground you need is irreconcilable differences, and your spouse cannot stop the divorce. But when dividing property, Wyoming lets the court weigh the parties' "respective merits," so financial misconduct like hiding or wasting marital assets can lead to a smaller share for the offending spouse.
Source: Wyo. Stat. Section 20-2-114. Confirm with the court.
Your roadmap
What you file
Complaint for Absolute Divorce, the primary document
Summons and Family Court Cross-Reference Form
Attachment B for child custody and Attachment C for child support, if you have children
Financial disclosure forms, where custody, support, or property is at issue
Consent Answer, filed by a spouse who agrees
Contested Answer and Counterclaim, if they dispute anything
Uncontested Praecipe, signed by both spouses
Form 106A Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs, the fee waiver
Where you fileDC Superior Court, Family Court Central Intake Center, Room JM-540 at 500 Indiana Avenue NW. You can also email or e-file.
What it costs$80 to file, plus $20 for an answer or counterclaim and $40 to $75 for service. Waivable with Form 106A.
The sequence
1. Confirm six months of bona fide DC residency for you or your spouse. It does not matter where you married or where your spouse lives now.
2. Complete the Complaint for Absolute Divorce. Since January 26, 2024, the only ground you need is that one or both of you no longer wish to remain married.
3. File in person at the Central Intake Center, by mail, by email, or through the court's e-filing system.
4. Serve your spouse, or have them file a Consent Answer if they agree.
5. If you agree on everything, both sign the Uncontested Praecipe asking the court to set an uncontested hearing.
6. Attend the hearing, often held virtually, and the judge enters the divorce. Uncontested cases can finish in 30 to 60 days.
Free mediation is available through the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division, and the Family Law Assistance Network provides free representation for households under 200% of federal poverty guidelines. Confirm current fees with the court.
Court forms
The District files a Complaint for Absolute Divorce at the DC Superior Court, Family Court (the Moultrie Courthouse, since DC has no counties). The filing fee is about $80, waivable for low-income filers, and the Family Court Self-Help Center assists self-represented filers.
Since 2024, you can divorce simply because you want to, with no wait Verified Jul 2026
A January 2024 overhaul ("Elaine's Law") made DC the first US jurisdiction to grant a divorce on one spouse's assertion that they no longer wish to be married, with no separation period, no waiting period, and no need to claim irreconcilable differences or fault. Your spouse cannot block it.
Source: D.C. Code Section 16-904(a). Confirm the current rule with the court before relying on it.
Six months of residency, filed at one courthouse Verified Jul 2026
At least one spouse must have been a bona fide DC resident for six continuous months before filing. Because DC has no counties, every divorce goes to the DC Superior Court Family Court at the Moultrie Courthouse. There is a narrow exception for couples married in DC whose home jurisdiction will not process their divorce.
Source: D.C. Code Section 16-902. Confirm with the court.
Equitable distribution now weighs a history of abuse Verified Jul 2026
DC keeps each spouse's separate property (owned before the marriage, or received by gift, inheritance, or bequest) and divides the rest fairly, not necessarily 50/50. The 2024 law added a spouse's history of physical, emotional, or financial abuse as a factor the court must consider in dividing property and setting alimony.
Source: D.C. Code Section 16-910. Confirm with the court.
Divorce recovery coaching Listings coming soon
The legal decree is the midpoint, not the finish line. We're assembling a small, personally vetted list of divorce recovery coaches, people who help with the financial reset, co-parenting transition, and rebuilding identity and confidence after the process ends. No one pays to be listed here, and we receive nothing for referrals.
Representing yourself
Most people going through a divorce cannot afford a lawyer for the whole case, and many do not need one. This guide covers what courts expect from self-represented people: how judges treat you, what clerks can and cannot tell you, the deadlines that quietly end cases, how to prepare for a hearing, and the honest list of situations where you should stop and get help. Read the self-representation guide.
Nine glossaries that translate the legal vocabulary of divorce into plain English, written for people in the process, with divorce-specific context for every term. Search all 150 terms.
When you're ready, the directory has thousands of family-law attorneys with verified client reviews, and our pledge that none of them paid to be there.
Everything on this page is general information, not legal, financial, or medical advice. Laws vary by state and situations vary by person, so consult a licensed professional about your specific circumstances.