WASHINGTON DIVORCE ONLINE
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in Washington
In Washington, a divorce case begins when one spouse (the “Petitioner”) files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the appropriate Superior Court. This filing signals the start of legal proceedings to end the marriage.
Where to File
- County of Filing
In Washington, you generally file the Petition in the Superior Court of the county where you or your spouse resides. - Residency Requirements
At least one spouse must be a resident of (or stationed in) Washington at the time the Petition is filed. Washington does not impose a strict “six-month” residency rule, but physical presence or intent to stay is typically required.
Does Filing Immediately Dissolve the Marriage?
No. Filing a Petition for Dissolution does not itself end the marriage. A judge must sign a Final Decree of Dissolution before your divorce is considered complete. Until then, either spouse may generally request to withdraw or dismiss the Petition (subject to local rules and any court orders in place).
Mandatory Waiting Period
Washington imposes a 90-day waiting period from the later of:
- Filing the Petition, or
- Serving the Other Spouse
The court cannot finalize your divorce before these 90 days expire, except under highly unusual circumstances (e.g., certain domestic violence situations or procedural specifics dictated by local rules). Typically, after the 90-day period, you can move forward with final orders, provided all required documents and steps are complete.
Moving from Petition to Final Decree
- Negotiation & Agreement
If you and your spouse can agree on property division, support, and (if applicable) a parenting plan, you may finalize the divorce as an uncontested matter. - Court Approval
Only when the judge signs the Final Decree of Dissolution does the marriage legally end.
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In an agreed divorce, the spouses can file their divorce in any County in Washington. The Circuit Court in Lee County, Washington, allows you to complete your agreed divorce without a court appearance. As such, to offer a genuinely virtual, 100% online divorce, we prepare divorce documents for filing in Lee County Circuit Court. There may be other counties where a court appearance is not required, but most counties require a court appearance. Should you wish to file in a county other than Lee County, we can prepare your documents for that county, but we charge $100 extra to draft documents for counties other than Lee. If you wish to file in a county other than Lee County, a court appearance will likely be required to finalize your agreed divorce. We know that some people – even other attorneys – might tell you that at least one of the parties (you or your spouse) must go to court at least once before your divorce can be granted. This is not accurate. We have assisted thousands with their agreed Washington divorce, for which no court appearance was required using the Circuit Court in Lee County, Washington.