In order to obtain a divorce in the District of Columbia you must meet the District’s residency requirements and also qualify under one of the District’s two grounds for divorce.
What are the residency requirements for divorce in the District of Columbia?
The residency requirement states that either you or your spouse must have been a resident in the District of Columbia for the six months preceding the filing for divorce.
What are the grounds for divorce in the District of Columbia?
The District of Columbia allows for two grounds to base your divorce on. The first ground requires that you and your spouse have voluntarily been living “separate and apart” without cohabitation for at least six months prior to the divorce. The second ground requires that you and your spouse have been involuntarily living “separate and apart” without cohabitation for at least one year.
If you meet both the residency requirements and one of the grounds for divorce, then you are eligible to file for a divorce in Washington, DC.
** Image credit: scottff72 / 123RF Stock Photo
