Divorce in Washington

1. Waiting period

   90 days

   The court proceeds on a dissolution only after 90 days have passed since the petition was filed and since the respondent was served (or summons first published).^[1]

   RCW 26.09.030 · checked October 26, 2026

   Show statute text

   “when ninety days have elapsed since the petition was filed and from the date when service of summons was made upon the respondent or the first publication of summons was made”

2. Residency requirement

   Resident at filing

   The petitioner must be a Washington resident, a service member stationed in Washington, or married to one; the statute sets no minimum length of residency.^[1]

   RCW 26.09.030 · checked October 26, 2026

   Show statute text

   “When a party who (1) is a resident of this state, or (2) is a member of the armed forces and is stationed in this state, or (3) is married or in a domestic partnership to a party who is a resident of this state or who is a member of the armed forces and is stationed in this state, petitions for a dissolution of marriage”

3. No-fault divorce

   Yes, no-fault only

   Washington grants dissolution when a spouse alleges the marriage is irretrievably broken; the statute lists no fault grounds.^[1]

   RCW 26.09.030 · checked October 26, 2026

   Show statute text

   “alleges that the marriage or domestic partnership is irretrievably broken”

4. Property division

   Community property

   Washington is a community property state; in a divorce the court divides community and separate property and debts as is just and equitable, without regard to misconduct.^[2]

   Community property in Washington: the statute quoted →

   RCW 26.09.080; RCW 26.16.030 · checked October 26, 2026

   Show statute text

   “the court shall, without regard to misconduct, make such disposition of the property and the liabilities of the parties, either community or separate, as shall appear just and equitable after considering all relevant factors”

5. Court mediation for custody

   Court may order

   In dissolution cases, contested issues including parenting-plan matters may be set for mediation before or alongside a hearing; each superior court may make a mediator available.^[3]

   RCW 26.09.015 · checked October 26, 2026

   Show statute text

   “In any proceeding involving issues relating to residential time or other matters governed by a parenting plan, the matter may be set for mediation of the contested issues before, or concurrent with, the setting of the matter for hearing.”

6. Court mediation fees

   Not yet verified

   Start with this official source.

7. Alimony

   Court decides from listed factors

   Washington courts may order maintenance for either spouse or domestic partner in amounts and for periods they find just, without regard to misconduct, after weighing listed factors such as financial resources, time needed for training, the marital standard of living, the length of the marriage and ability to pay. The statute sets no formula, cap or duration limit.

   Alimony in Washington, with the statute quoted →

8. Divorce rate

   2.5 per 1,000 residents (2024)

   Washington’s courts granted 2.5 divorces per 1,000 residents in 2024, down from 4.6 in 2000; the U.S. rate was 2.3. In the Census Bureau’s 2024 survey, 8.3 of every 1,000 women 15 and older in Washington divorced in the past year (±1.0; U.S. 6.9), a different measure.^[5][6]

   Divorce rates by state, with sources → · CDC/NCHS NVSS; Census ACS · checked October 27, 2026

Estimate your divorce cost in Washington: mediation vs. court →

How child support is calculated in Washington →

Mediators per 100,000: MediationList listings from official court and government rosters in Washington (228) ÷ population (7,958,180, U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 county population estimates (July 1, 2024)) × 100,000, the same figure as mediator statistics.^[4]