Divorce in Washington

How to file for divorce in Washington

1. Check residency. No minimum duration; a spouse (or a stationed active-duty service member) must be a Washington resident at the time of filing.
2. Prepare and file the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the Superior Court in your county. The filing fee is typically $280 to $350, and you can ask for a fee waiver if you cannot afford it.
3. Serve your spouse, or have them sign an acceptance of service, and file proof of service.
4. Exchange financial disclosures. Both spouses must exchange complete financial disclosure using Washington's mandatory state-specific court forms.
5. Settle the issues in a written agreement, and a parenting plan if you have children.
6. Wait out the waiting period. 90 days from the later of the filing date or the date of service (cannot be waived). Then ask the court for your final judgment.

Residency and grounds

Residency: No minimum duration; a spouse (or a stationed active-duty service member) must be a Washington resident at the time of filing.

Grounds: No-fault only. You do not need to prove anyone did anything wrong.

Separation: None; Washington is a pure no-fault state and does not require spouses to live apart before or during the case.

How property is divided

Washington is a community property state. Most property and debt acquired during the marriage belongs to both spouses equally and is generally divided equally. Property owned before marriage, and gifts or inheritances to one spouse, are usually separate. Read community property and equitable distribution.

Custody and child support

Parenting terms: Washington uses the terms Parenting Plan (residential schedule and decision-making authority). Every decision is made in the child's best interests.

Parenting class: Not required by a single statewide rule, but most Washington counties require parents of minor children to complete an approved parenting-education seminar.

Child support: Washington uses the income shares model, which combines both parents' incomes, estimates what parents at that income usually spend on children, and divides that amount by each parent's share of income. Try the child support calculator.

Spousal support

Washington spousal maintenance is discretionary and, per a 2024 state supreme court ruling, financial need is no longer a strict prerequisite for an award.

Estimate a range with the spousal support calculator, then have a lawyer check it if the numbers are large.

Faster and simpler options

Washington does not have a separate simplified procedure, but an uncontested divorce with a signed agreement is fast and inexpensive.

Legal separation: available in Washington, for couples who want support and parenting orders without ending the marriage.

How long it takes

The minimum is set by the waiting period: 90 days from the later of the filing date or the date of service (cannot be waived). A typical timeline is 3 to 4 months uncontested (90-day statutory minimum); 6 to 18+ months if contested. Agreement is what moves the date most; contested cases add months of disclosures, discovery and hearings.

Worth knowing in Washington

• Washington is a pure no-fault state; courts cannot consider marital misconduct in property or support decisions.
• A 2024 state supreme court ruling held that financial need is not a strict prerequisite for spousal maintenance.
• The 90-day wait runs from whichever is later: the filing date or the date of service.

Official resources

Official forms and instructions come from Washington's courts. Sources we reviewed:

• courts.wa.gov
• courts.wa.gov

Last reviewed September 2026. Laws and fees change; confirm with your court before you file.