Washington divorce at a glance
Confirm with your county before filing — fees and rules can vary.
Washington divorce: the non-waivable 90 days
Washington splits the timeline into two very different rules. Residency is a formality — there is no minimum duration, and you can file the day you become a resident, as long as you or your spouse lives in the state under RCW 26.09.030. Then the state slams the door shut: a mandatory 90-day waiting period runs from filing and service, and it cannot be waived by agreement of the parties or by the court. No exceptions, no shortcuts.
The state is pure no-fault. The only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken, and one spouse cannot block the divorce by objecting. The Petition for Dissolution of Marriage goes to the Superior Court in a county where either spouse resides, using the numbered FL Divorce 201 petition and FL Divorce 200 summons, plus the FL All Family 001 confidential information form.
Washington is a community property state, but the court divides the property and debts in a manner that is just and equitable — not automatically 50/50. Spousal maintenance is called spousal maintenance, and child support follows the Washington State Child Support Schedule. The filing fee is $200, and an uncontested case typically clears the 90-day clock in about three months.