How to file for divorce without a lawyer

Written by NotALawyer Legal AI · Reviewed by External Legal AI · Published April 27, 2026 · Last reviewed June 26, 2026

You can usually file an uncontested divorce yourself for the cost of filing fees — that means both spouses already agree on property, debt, custody, and support. The moment something is in dispute, going it alone gets risky. Here's how to tell which case you have and how to move through it.

1. Confirm it's truly uncontested

Write out with your spouse who gets what: house, cars, retirement, debts, custody, support. Agree on every item in writing and you're a candidate for filing pro se (on your own). Any sticking point means it's time for counsel.

2. Pull the right forms from your court

Most state court websites post free "self-help" divorce packets. Expect a Petition, a Summons, a Marital Settlement Agreement, and — if you have kids — a Parenting Plan and Child Support Worksheet.

3. File in the right county and pay the fee

Filing fees run about $140 to $400 in TX, AZ, NV, and NM. File in the county where you or your spouse meet the residency rules. Short on cash? Ask the clerk for a fee-waiver application.

4. Serve your spouse the right way

Your spouse must be officially notified through service of process — usually a sheriff or process server, sometimes a signed waiver. Botched or skipped service is the top reason DIY divorces get bounced.

5. Know when to stop and hire a lawyer

If your spouse contests anything, hides assets, or there's domestic violence, abuse, or a serious custody fight, that's the line — bring in counsel. Fixing a bad pro se result usually costs more than the lawyer would have.

Your next step

Start a Chat Find a Family Law Attorney

More on this topic: the Family hub

Sources & primary references

Divorce residency requirement by stateCompare how long you must live in a state before filing for divorce, in all 50 states.

How long at least one spouse must have lived in the state before filing for divorce, in every state. Some states also add a separate county requirement. Each figure is cited to the state's divorce statute.

StateResidency to fileSource
Alabama6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Ala. Code § 30-2-5
AlaskaNoneNolo/DivorceNet — Alaska Stat. § 25.24.090
Arizona90 daysNolo/DivorceNet — Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 25-312
Arkansas60 daysNolo/DivorceNet — Ark. Code § 9-12-307
California6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Cal. Fam. Code § 2320
Colorado91 daysNolo/DivorceNet — Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-106
Connecticut12 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-44
Delaware6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Del. Code tit. 13, § 1504
District of Columbia6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — D.C. Code § 16-902
Florida6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Fla. Stat. § 61.021
Georgia6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Ga. Code § 19-5-2
HawaiiNoneFindLaw — Haw. Rev. Stat. § 580-1
Idaho6 weeksNolo/DivorceNet — Idaho Code § 32-701
Illinois90 daysNolo/DivorceNet — 750 Ill. Comp. Stat. 5/401
Indiana6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Ind. Code § 31-15-2-6
Iowa1 yearNolo/DivorceNet — Iowa Code § 598.5
Kansas60 daysNolo/DivorceNet — Kan. Stat. § 23-2703
Kentucky180 daysNolo/DivorceNet — Ky. Rev. Stat. § 403.140
LouisianaNoneNolo/DivorceNet — La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 10
Maine6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 19-A, § 901
Maryland6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Md. Code, Fam. Law §§ 7-101, 7-103
Massachusetts1 yearNolo/DivorceNet — Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, § 5
Michigan180 daysNolo/DivorceNet — Mich. Comp. Laws § 552.9
Minnesota180 daysNolo/DivorceNet — Minn. Stat. § 518.07
Mississippi6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Miss. Code § 93-5-5
Missouri90 daysNolo/DivorceNet — Mo. Rev. Stat. § 452.305
Montana90 daysNolo/DivorceNet — Mont. Code § 40-4-104
Nebraska1 yearNolo/DivorceNet — Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-349
Nevada6 weeksNolo/DivorceNet — Nev. Rev. Stat. § 125.020
New Hampshire1 yearNolo/DivorceNet — N.H. Rev. Stat. § 458:5
New Jersey1 yearNolo/DivorceNet — N.J. Stat. § 2A:34-10
New Mexico6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — N.M. Stat. § 40-4-5
New York1 yearNolo/DivorceNet — N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law § 230
North Carolina6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-8
North Dakota6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — N.D. Cent. Code § 14-05-17
Ohio6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Ohio Rev. Code § 3105.03
Oklahoma6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Okla. Stat. tit. 43, § 102
Oregon6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.075
Pennsylvania6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — 23 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 3104
Rhode Island1 yearNolo/DivorceNet — R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-12
South Carolina1 yearNolo/DivorceNet — S.C. Code § 20-3-30
South DakotaNoneNolo/DivorceNet — S.D. Codified Laws § 25-4-30
Tennessee6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Tenn. Code § 36-4-104
Texas6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Tex. Fam. Code § 6.301
Utah3 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Utah Code § 81-4-402
Vermont6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Vt. Stat. tit. 15, § 592
Virginia6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Va. Code § 20-97
WashingtonNoneNolo/DivorceNet — Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.030
West Virginia1 yearNolo/DivorceNet — W. Va. Code § 48-5-105
Wisconsin6 monthsNolo/DivorceNet — Wis. Stat. § 767.301
Wyoming60 daysNolo/DivorceNet — Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-107

General information, not legal advice. Counties, military service, and where the marriage occurred can change the rule — confirm with the cited statute for your state.

NotALawyer.com provides general legal information, not legal advice.