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No-fault divorce states

Which states let you divorce without proving fault, which still keep fault grounds, and where the law makes you live apart first, from each state’s divorce statute or, where noted, the state courts’ official guidance.

What states are no-fault divorce states?

All 41 states whose divorce law we’ve verified allow a no-fault divorce.[1–41] Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming allow only no-fault grounds.[6–41] In 7 of them, the no-fault ground requires living apart first.[5–37]

Key facts

No-fault grounds onlyFL, IL, IA, KY, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, OR, WA, WI, WY
Must live apart firstDE, KY, LA, NC, SC, VT, VA
No-fault or fault grounds25 states
Not verified yet10 states, each linked to its official source below
Statutes last checkedOctober 26, 2026

Counts come from the state rows in the table below, each cited to the state’s divorce statute (listed under Sources).

Allow no-fault divorce
41

every state verified so far (41 of 51)

No-fault grounds only
13

no adultery, cruelty or other fault grounds

Must live apart first
7

for every no-fault route: DE, KY, LA, NC, SC, VT and VA

All 41 states whose divorce law we’ve verified allow a no-fault divorce; 13 of them allow only no-fault grounds

No-fault means neither spouse has to prove misconduct such as adultery or cruelty; the court only has to find the marriage has broken down (or, in some states, that you have lived apart for a set time). In 7 of these states the no-fault ground itself requires living apart first.

  • No-fault grounds only
  • No-fault or fault grounds
  • No-fault; other grounds not checked
  • Not verified yet
DC

Tap a state to see its grounds; tap again to open its page.

Of 51 (50 states + DC): no-fault grounds only 13 · no-fault or fault grounds 25 · no-fault; other grounds not checked 3 · not verified yet 10.

Source: each state's statutes and court rules, quoted and linked on every state page.

Data as of (version 2026.10.28)What changedStatutes as checked on that date. Not legal advice.

Data as of = when the sources were read · Version = the data release · Page updated = the last change to this page

No-fault divorce states, by type of grounds

From the grounds section of each state’s divorce statute (California, Georgia and Mississippi: the court rule or official court guidance cited in the table).

No-fault grounds only 13

No-fault or fault grounds 25

No-fault; other grounds not checked 3

Not verified yet 10

The no-fault ground in each state

The no-fault ground in the statute’s terms, any living-apart requirement, and the section it comes from. Each state page quotes the statute in full.

No-fault divorce grounds by state: type of grounds, the no-fault ground, living-apart requirement and source
StateGroundsNo-fault groundLive apart firstSource
AlabamaNot verified yet———
Alaska[1]No-fault or fault groundsincompatibility of temperamentNoAS 25.24.050 and AS 25.24.200
Arizona[2]No-fault or fault groundsirretrievably brokenNoA.R.S. § 25-312(A)(3)-(4)
ArkansasNot verified yet——Official source
California[3]No-fault; other grounds not checked—NoJudicial Branch of California self-help guide, “Divorce in California”
ColoradoNot verified yet——Official source
Connecticut[4]No-fault or fault groundsthe marriage has broken down irretrievablyNoConn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-40(c)
Delaware[5]No-fault or fault groundsirretrievably broken and reconciliation is improbable6 months living separate and apart before the ruling (not required where separation was caused by the respondent's misconduct); may be under the same roof in separate bedrooms13 Del. C. § 1505 and § 1503(8)
District of ColumbiaNot verified yet———
Florida[6]No-fault grounds onlyirretrievably brokenNoFla. Stat. § 61.052
Georgia[7]No-fault or fault groundsirretrievably brokenNoJudicial Council of Georgia / georgiacourts.gov, “Instructions for Complaint for Divorce Without Minor Children”
HawaiiNot verified yet——Official source
Idaho[8]No-fault or fault groundsirreconcilable differencesNoIdaho Code § 32-603 and § 32-616
Illinois[9]No-fault grounds onlyirreconcilable differences have caused the irretrievable breakdown of the marriageNo750 ILCS 5/401(a), (a-5)
IndianaNot verified yet——Official source
Iowa[10]No-fault grounds onlybreakdown of the marriage relationship ... no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preservedNoIowa Code § 598.17
Kansas[11]No-fault or fault groundsincompatibilityNoK.S.A. 23-2701(a)
Kentucky[12]No-fault grounds onlyirretrievably broken60 days living apart before a decree (may be under the same roof without sexual cohabitation)KRS 403.140(1)(c) and KRS 403.170(1)
Louisiana[13]No-fault or fault groundsliving separate and apart continuously for the requisite period of time180 days living separate and apart (365 days when there are minor children of the marriage)La. Civ. Code arts. 103 and 103.1
Maine[14]No-fault or fault groundsIrreconcilable marital differencesNo19-A M.R.S. § 902(1)(H)
Maryland[15]No-fault grounds onlyirreconcilable differences; 6-month separation; mutual consentNot always (see state page)Md. Code, Family Law § 7-103(a)
Massachusetts[16]No-fault or fault groundsirretrievable breakdown of the marriageNoMass. Gen. Laws c. 208, § 1
Michigan[17]No-fault grounds onlybreakdown of the marriage relationship to the extent that the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preservedNoMCL 552.6(1)
Minnesota[18]No-fault grounds onlyirretrievable breakdown of the marriage relationshipNot always (see state page)Minn. Stat. § 518.06, subd. 1; § 518.13, subd. 2
Mississippi[19]No-fault or fault groundsirreconcilable differencesNoUniform Chancery Court Rules 8.03 and 8.04
Missouri[20]No-fault grounds onlyirretrievably broken (no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved)Not always (see state page)RSMo §§ 452.305.1(2) and 452.320.2
Montana[21]No-fault grounds onlyirretrievably brokenNot always (see state page)Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-104(1)(b)
Nebraska[22]No-fault; other grounds not checkedirretrievably brokenNoNeb. Rev. Stat. § 42-361
Nevada[23]No-fault or fault groundsIncompatibilityNot always (see state page)NRS 125.010
New Hampshire[24]No-fault or fault groundsirreconcilable differences which have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriageNoN.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 458:7-a; see § 458:7
New Jersey[25]No-fault or fault groundsIrreconcilable differences which have caused the breakdown of the marriage for a period of six monthsNot always (see state page)N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2(i) and (d)
New Mexico[26]No-fault or fault groundsincompatibilityNoNMSA 1978, §§ 40-4-1 and 40-4-2
New YorkNot verified yet———
North Carolina[27]No-fault; other grounds not checkedlived separate and apart for one year1 year living separate and apartN.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-6
North Dakota[28]No-fault or fault groundsirreconcilable differencesNoN.D.C.C. §§ 14-05-03, 14-05-09.1
OhioNot verified yet——Official source
OklahomaNot verified yet——Official source
Oregon[29]No-fault grounds onlyirreconcilable differences that have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriageNoORS 107.025(1); ORS 107.036(1)
Pennsylvania[30]No-fault or fault groundsirretrievably broken (mutual consent, § 3301(c); or irretrievable breakdown after separation, § 3301(d))Not always (see state page)23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(c)-(d)
Rhode Island[31]No-fault or fault groundsirreconcilable differences which have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriageNoR.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-3.1(a)
South Carolina[32]No-fault or fault groundsliving separate and apart without cohabitation for one year1 year living separate and apart without cohabitationS.C. Code § 20-3-10
South Dakota[33]No-fault or fault groundsirreconcilable differencesNoSDCL §§ 25-4-2, 25-4-17.1
TennesseeNot verified yet———
Texas[34]No-fault or fault groundsinsupportabilityNoTex. Fam. Code § 6.001
Utah[35]No-fault or fault groundsirreconcilable differences of the marriageNoUtah Code § 81-4-405(1)(h)
Vermont[36]No-fault or fault groundslived apart six consecutive months and resumption of marital relations not reasonably probable6 consecutive months living apart15 V.S.A. § 551(7)
Virginia[37]No-fault or fault groundsliving separate and apart without cohabitation and without interruption1 year; 6 months if the spouses have a separation agreement and no minor childrenVa. Code § 20-91(A)(9)(a)
Washington[38]No-fault grounds onlyirretrievably brokenNoRCW 26.09.030
West Virginia[39]No-fault or fault groundsirreconcilable differences (admitted in the answer); or voluntary separation for one yearNot always (see state page)W. Va. Code §§ 48-5-201, 48-5-202
Wisconsin[40]No-fault grounds onlyirretrievably brokenNoWis. Stat. § 767.315
Wyoming[41]No-fault grounds onlyirreconcilable differences in the marital relationshipNoWyo. Stat. § 20-2-104

Sources checked October 26, 2026. “No-fault; other grounds not checked”: the official source confirms a no-fault ground, but we haven’t verified whether fault grounds also remain. “Not verified yet”: we haven’t quoted that state’s statute; the link goes to the official source to check.

Questions about no-fault divorce

What is a no-fault divorce?

A divorce granted without either spouse proving the other did something wrong. The court grants it because the marriage has broken down (states use words such as “irretrievably broken”, “irreconcilable differences” or “incompatibility”), or in some states because the spouses have lived apart for a set period.

Is every state a no-fault divorce state?

Every one of the 41 states whose divorce law we have read and cited allows a no-fault divorce. We haven’t verified Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee yet, so we don’t list them here; their state pages link to the official source.

Which states are no-fault only?

Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming: their statutes list only no-fault grounds, with no fault grounds such as adultery or cruelty. We haven’t checked whether California, Nebraska and North Carolina also keep fault grounds.

Do you have to live apart before a no-fault divorce?

In 7 of the states we’ve verified, the no-fault ground requires a period of living apart: Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia. The table gives each state’s period. Separately, most states set a waiting period after filing (see divorce laws by state).

Do no-fault states have higher divorce rates?

We don’t compare them: almost every state allows no-fault divorce, so the grounds can’t explain differences between states. For the numbers themselves, see divorce rates by state (U.S. 2.3 per 1,000 in 2024, CDC).

Talk it through with a court-listed mediator

A no-fault divorce still needs agreements on property, support and parenting time. A mediator is a neutral who helps you and your spouse reach them yourselves. Every mediator we list comes from an official court or government roster, with the source on the profile.

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Sources

Each state’s divorce statute, read on the official site, with the date we checked it.

  1. Alaska: No-fault grounds: AS 25.24.050 and AS 25.24.200 (Alaska Legislature)akleg.govchecked ↩
  2. Arizona: No-fault grounds: A.R.S. § 25-312(A)(3)-(4) (Arizona Legislature)azleg.govchecked ↩
  3. California: No-fault grounds: Judicial Branch of California self-help guide, "Divorce in California" (California Courts Self-Help Guide)selfhelp.courts.ca.govchecked ↩
  4. Connecticut: No-fault grounds: Conn. Gen. Stat. § 46b-40(c) (Connecticut General Assembly)cga.ct.govchecked ↩
  5. Delaware: No-fault grounds: 13 Del. C. § 1505 and § 1503(8) (Delaware Code Online)delcode.delaware.govchecked ↩
  6. Florida: No-fault grounds: Fla. Stat. § 61.052 (Online Sunshine, Florida Legislature)leg.state.fl.uschecked ↩
  7. Georgia: No-fault grounds: Judicial Council of Georgia / georgiacourts.gov, "Instructions for Complaint for Divorce Without Minor Children" (April 2024)georgiacourts.govchecked ↩
  8. Idaho: No-fault grounds: Idaho Code § 32-603 and § 32-616 (Idaho Legislature)legislature.idaho.govchecked ↩
  9. Illinois: No-fault grounds: 750 ILCS 5/401(a), (a-5) (Illinois General Assembly)ilga.govchecked ↩
  10. Iowa: No-fault grounds: Iowa Code § 598.17 (Iowa Legislature)legis.iowa.govchecked ↩
  11. Kansas: No-fault grounds: K.S.A. 23-2701(a) (Kansas Legislature)kslegislature.govchecked ↩
  12. Kentucky: No-fault grounds: KRS 403.140(1)(c) and KRS 403.170(1) (Kentucky General Assembly)legislature.ky.govchecked ↩
  13. Louisiana: No-fault grounds: La. Civ. Code arts. 103 and 103.1 (Louisiana State Legislature)legis.la.govchecked ↩
  14. Maine: No-fault grounds: 19-A M.R.S. § 902(1)(H) (Maine Legislature)legislature.maine.govchecked ↩
  15. Maryland: No-fault grounds: Md. Code, Family Law § 7-103(a) (Maryland General Assembly)mgaleg.maryland.govchecked ↩
  16. Massachusetts: No-fault grounds: Mass. Gen. Laws c. 208, § 1 (Massachusetts Legislature)malegislature.govchecked ↩
  17. Michigan: No-fault grounds: MCL 552.6(1) (Michigan Legislature)legislature.mi.govchecked ↩
  18. Minnesota: No-fault grounds: Minn. Stat. § 518.06, subd. 1; § 518.13, subd. 2 (Minnesota Revisor of Statutes); No-fault grounds: Minn. Stat. § 518.13revisor.mn.govchecked ↩
  19. Mississippi: No-fault grounds: Uniform Chancery Court Rules 8.03 and 8.04 (Mississippi Judiciary, rev. Apr. 18, 2024)courts.ms.govchecked ↩
  20. Missouri: No-fault grounds: RSMo §§ 452.305.1(2) and 452.320.2 (Missouri Revisor of Statutes); No-fault grounds: RSMo § 452.320revisor.mo.govchecked ↩
  21. Montana: No-fault grounds: Mont. Code Ann. § 40-4-104(1)(b) (Montana Legislature, MCA 2025)leg.mt.govchecked ↩
  22. Nebraska: No-fault grounds: Neb. Rev. Stat. § 42-361 (Nebraska Legislature)nebraskalegislature.govchecked ↩
  23. Nevada: No-fault grounds: NRS 125.010 (Nevada Legislature)leg.state.nv.uschecked ↩
  24. New Hampshire: No-fault grounds: N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 458:7-a (New Hampshire General Court); see § 458:7gc.nh.govchecked ↩
  25. New Jersey: No-fault grounds: N.J.S.A. 2A:34-2(i) and (d) (New Jersey Legislature statutes database)lis.njleg.state.nj.uschecked ↩
  26. New Mexico: No-fault grounds: NMSA 1978, §§ 40-4-1 and 40-4-2 (NMOneSource, New Mexico Compilation Commission)nmonesource.comchecked ↩
  27. North Carolina: No-fault grounds: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 50-6 (North Carolina General Assembly)ncleg.govchecked ↩
  28. North Dakota: No-fault grounds: N.D.C.C. §§ 14-05-03, 14-05-09.1 (North Dakota Legislative Branch)ndlegis.govchecked ↩
  29. Oregon: No-fault grounds: ORS 107.025(1); ORS 107.036(1) (Oregon State Legislature)oregonlegislature.govchecked ↩
  30. Pennsylvania: No-fault grounds: 23 Pa.C.S. § 3301(c)-(d) (Pennsylvania General Assembly)palegis.uschecked ↩
  31. Rhode Island: No-fault grounds: R.I. Gen. Laws § 15-5-3.1(a) (State of Rhode Island General Assembly)webserver.rilegislature.govchecked ↩
  32. South Carolina: No-fault grounds: S.C. Code § 20-3-10 (South Carolina Legislature)scstatehouse.govchecked ↩
  33. South Dakota: No-fault grounds: SDCL §§ 25-4-2, 25-4-17.1 (South Dakota Legislature)sdlegislature.govchecked ↩
  34. Texas: No-fault grounds: Tex. Fam. Code § 6.001 (Texas Constitution and Statutes)tcss.legis.texas.govchecked ↩
  35. Utah: No-fault grounds: Utah Code § 81-4-405(1)(h) (Utah State Legislature)le.utah.govchecked ↩
  36. Vermont: No-fault grounds: 15 V.S.A. § 551(7) (Vermont General Assembly)legislature.vermont.govchecked ↩
  37. Virginia: No-fault grounds: Va. Code § 20-91(A)(9)(a) (Virginia Law, Legislative Information System)law.lis.virginia.govchecked ↩
  38. Washington: No-fault grounds: RCW 26.09.030 (Washington State Legislature)app.leg.wa.govchecked ↩
  39. West Virginia: No-fault grounds: W. Va. Code §§ 48-5-201, 48-5-202 (West Virginia Legislature)code.wvlegislature.govchecked ↩
  40. Wisconsin: No-fault grounds: Wis. Stat. § 767.315 (Wisconsin State Legislature)docs.legis.wisconsin.govchecked ↩
  41. Wyoming: No-fault grounds: Wyo. Stat. § 20-2-104 (Wyoming Legislature)wyoleg.govchecked ↩

Cite this page

Page updated
Data version
2026.10.28

MediationList. (2026). No-fault divorce states [Map]. Retrieved October 29, 2026, from https://mediationlist.com/no-fault-divorce-states/

APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.

This page summarizes state divorce statutes for general information. It is not legal advice; laws change, and courts apply them to the facts of each case. Check the linked statute or ask a lawyer licensed in your state. All of each state’s divorce rules are on divorce laws by state.