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DC Divorce Law

To meet the residency requirement for filing for divorce in Washington, D.C., either you or your spouse must have lived in D.C. continuously for at least 6 months at the time you file your Complaint for Absolute Divorce. To meet the no-fault grounds requirement, you must prove that you and your spouse have been separated for either the six-month mutual and voluntary separation — you and your spouse have agreed mutually and voluntarily to separate and have been living apart, without cohabitation (sexual relations), for at least six months before the date you file, or one-year separation — you and your spouse have been living separate and apart, without cohabitation, for at least one year before filing for a divorce, whether or not you have agreed to separate.

Uncontested Divorces in DC - DC Bar Pro Bono Center
Getting an Uncontested Divorce - Children's Law Center
What Happens at My Uncontested Divorce Hearing? - DC Bar Pro Bono Center
Filing for Divorce - Children's Law Center
Serving the Divorce Papers On Your Spouse - Children's Law Center
Marital Separation Agreements Explained

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District of Columbia Statutory Resources

DC Residency Requirements (Divorce) - Official Code § 16-902. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no action for divorce or legal separation shall be maintainable unless one of the parties to the marriage has been a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia for at least 6 months next preceding the commencement of the action. (b) (1) An action for divorce or legal separation by persons of the same gender, even if neither party to the marriage is a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia at the time the action is commenced, shall be maintainable if the following apply: (A) The marriage was performed in the District of Columbia; and (B) Neither party to the marriage resides in a jurisdiction that will maintain an action for divorce or legal separation. (2) It shall be a rebuttable presumption that a jurisdiction will not maintain an action for divorce or legal separation if the jurisdiction does not recognize the marriage. (3) Any action for divorce or legal separation as provided by this subsection, including any accompanying petition for alimony, assignment and equitable distribution of property, pendente lite relief, or child custody determination if the District has jurisdiction under § 16-4602.01 or § 16-4602.03, shall be adjudicated in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia. (c) No action for annulment of a marriage performed outside the District of Columbia or for affirmance of any marriage shall be maintainable unless one of the parties is a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia at the time of the commencement of the action. (d) The residence of the parties to an action for annulment of a marriage performed in the District of Columbia shall not be considered in determining whether the action shall be maintainable. (e) If a member of the armed forces of the United States resides in the District of Columbia for a continuous period of 6 months during his or her period of military service, he or she shall be deemed to reside in the District of Columbia for purposes of this section only.

Grounds for Divorce in Washington, DC - Official Code § 16-904. (a) A divorce from the bonds of marriage may be granted if: (1) both parties to the marriage have mutually and voluntarily lived separate and apart without cohabitation for a period of six months next preceding the commencement of the action; (2) both parties to the marriage have lived separate and apart without cohabitation for a period of one year next preceding the commencement of the action. (c) For purposes of subsections (1) and (2) of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section, parties who have pursued separate lives, sharing neither bed nor board, shall be deemed to have lived separate and apart from one another even though: (1) they reside under the same roof; or (2) the separation is pursuant to an order of a court.

View the District of Columbia Official Code

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Child Support in the District of Columbia

District of Columbia Child Support Guidelines Calculator - provided by D.C. Office of the Attorney General
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Support - DC Bar Pro Bono Center
Self-representation Handbook for Divorce, Child Custody, or Child Support - DC Courts
Child Support Guidelines

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DC Child Custody and Visitation Law

Child Custody and Visitation in D.C. - DC Bar Pro Bono Center
General Information About Custody - Children's Law Center
Self-representation Handbook for Divorce, Child Custody, or Child Support - DC Courts
Child Custody Resources
FAQ on Child Custody and Visitation

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Property Division in Washington, DC

Washington, DC is an "equitable distribution" property state.

Assignment and equitable distribution of property - District of Columbia Official Code - Title 16, Chapter 9

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District of Columbia Courts and Community Resources

Lawyers and Divorce
Mediation
Glossary of Family Law Terms
Superior Court of the District of Columbia
The DC Bar
LawHelp.org/DC
Family Law Resources on the Net

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