Minnesota divorce at a glance
Confirm with your county before filing — fees and rules can vary.
Dissolution of marriage in Minnesota
Minnesota is one of the few states with no mandatory waiting period. Once you have lived in the state for 180 days — or qualify through military service — you can file the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with the District Court in your county, and the timeline is driven entirely by how quickly your spouse responds and how fast the court schedules hearings. Agreeing couples can finalize quickly.
The only ground is that the marriage has irretrievably broken down, making Minnesota a no-fault state. Property is divided in a just and equitable manner, and spousal maintenance follows the factors in Minn. Stat. § 518.552. Custody is decided under the best interests standard in Minn. Stat. § 518.17.
Child support follows the Minnesota Child Support Guidelines under Minn. Stat. § 518.551, which use a formula based on both parents’ incomes. The official forms — including the DIV802 summons and petition and the DIV402 answer — come from the Minnesota Judicial Branch, and filing runs about $390 to $402.