Family law
Dissolution of marriage
Also called divorce
The legal term in many states, including Florida and California, for divorce: a court judgment ending a marriage.[1][2]
In more detail
In Florida, a judgment of dissolution leaves each spouse single and unmarried, and doesn't change a child's status.[1] California's courts explain that dissolution includes both divorce and the simpler summary dissolution, and that some couples choose legal separation or annulment instead.[2]
Varies by state
Names, grounds and procedures differ by state. Find your state’s rules.
Related terms
- No-fault divorceA divorce granted without either spouse having to prove the other did something wrong.
- Uncontested divorceA divorce in which the spouses agree on all the issues, such as property, support and children, so a judge doesn't have to decide them.
- Legal separationA court process that divides property and debts and sets support and parenting orders while the spouses stay legally married.
- AnnulmentA court order saying a marriage was never legally valid because something was legally wrong from the start, such as bigamy.
- Collaborative lawA process for resolving a dispute, often a divorce, without a court deciding it, in which each party signs a participation agreement and is represented by a collaborative lawyer.
- Summary dissolutionIn California, a shorter, cheaper divorce procedure for couples who qualify: typically a short marriage, no children, few assets and debts, and full agreement.
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Sources
The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.
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MediationList. (2026, October 28). Dissolution of marriage: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/dissolution-of-marriage/
APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.