Find out if you and your circumstances are eligible for our easy divorce process.
2
Complete the questionnaire
Our questionnaire guides you through filling out divorce paperwork.
3
Review your forms
Review your personalized legal documents before final submission.
4
File for divorce
Take the final step towards your new beginning with detailed filing instructions.
Over 500,000 people have used OnlineDivorce
For over 24 years, we’ve empowered individuals to get quick and stress-free divorces while saving money in the process.
I started my divorce on my own, spending loads of money on lawyer visits in the beginning.
So I decided to google for other ways and using this site was so much more simple!
Wesley H.Missouri
I had a very successful business at the time. So, making sure I had the right forms was
very very important during my divorce. I was so surprised at how easy and smooth this process was.
James V.Texas
After years of a tumultuous marriage, I finally decided that I needed to reclaim my life.
I was looking for how to go about it and came across this site and they simplified and made
the process of divorce easy for me. I never thought it would’ve been possible.
Chloe J.Florida
Stress-free and easy! I was initially gonna hire a lawyer but I found online divorce the
next best option. No muss, no fuss divorce. No big legal words that I’d have to have read
10 times to understand!
Will S.Colorado
California is expensive and divorce can be even more expensive in the end but I can say
that this site payed everything out for me to follow, from child support to alimony.
My ex agreed to go this way as well so it was a much less expensive option for us.
Marco P.California
Because of the whole dissolution of the marriage, I was struggling with two children and
just in limbo with my husband at the time because of child support and alimony. I was a
stay-at-home mom for 10 years. I just want to say that this site helped me sort it out.
Thank you.
Tamara B.Nevada
I live in upstate NY and unfortunately one day I found myself in a situation for divorce.
I was all out of whack, needed answers to take action. Enough was enough so I did it on this
site. Everything was clear to understand, all forms and what to put in which box.
Theresa S.New York
Onlinedivorce.com is the bomb! I mean, using it was so easy to follow. So, if you find
yourself in this situation do your divorce here if possible. Documents for all stages,
alimony, child support and all!
Livy B.Illinois
It's less expensive
Contested divorces can cost on average $11,000 in lawyer fees. OnlineDivorce is fast, affordable, and simple.
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An easy and quick method to prepare for uncontested divorce online and get high-quality divorce papers
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Responsive customer email, chat, and phone support
Divorce with a Lawyer
>$11,000On average
Divorce with a lawyer can be adversarial, lengthy, inconvenient and
costly
Litigated divorces are extremely expensive - $11,000 on average
They take longer to get finalized - up to a few years
Little or no control over the divorce outcome
Litigation ignites more conflicts between the parties
Prolonged court trials negatively affect children
Support for all types of divorces
Every divorce is different, but with Onlinedivorce you
can personalize your assistance for every aspect of your online divorce.
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Online Divorce in Washington
For those seeking an inexpensive divorce in the state of Washington, online divorce is an easy, affordable, and fast solution to prepare legal forms. Online divorce may be appropriate for couples who have an uncontested case.
The step-by-step process of preparing divorce documents at Onlinedivorce.com makes it easy for you. We help organize all of the necessary divorce forms and provide detailed written instructions on filing your divorce in Washington.
Our divorce documents preparation service can be a perfect solution for those who want to have their divorce papers completed quickly and without stress. Even though Washington has unique divorce forms and filing requirements, our online system provides the exact forms necessary along with instructions on how to file. We have helped thousands of people prepare their divorce documents for filing.
If you and your spouse agree on the terms of the divorce and want an amicable dissolution to your marriage, why should the process get drawn out, and why should you spend money on lawyers? Online divorce is often cheaper, quicker, and easier.
Online divorce can be a perfect option if you want to save money or hope to have your divorce finalized quickly to get on with your life. Preparing documents for divorce online in Washington is fast becoming very popular because you can complete the documents in the comfort of your home.
Even if you think your case is too complex because you have children, own your own home, or have other assets, you may still be able to prepare your documents online. Just start with our simple questionnaire, and we’ll provide you instructions for each step of the way.
The process at OnlineDivorce.com is 100% secure. We protect your information, and nothing is filed until you submit the divorce papers to the courthouse yourself. Filing for divorce in Washington with the Onlinedivorce.com system can be a simple solution to a difficult situation.
Filing:
When you use OnlineDivorce.com, we help you fill out your divorce paperwork using a simple online questionnaire. You can fill it out alone or with the assistance of your spouse. Then, after getting the other spouse’s signature, the divorce forms may be filed at the local court.
In Washington, you will typically file with the courthouse in the county in which you currently reside. If a petitioner is not currently a resident but a defendant is, divorce is typically filed in the county where the defendant resides.
The actual filing process is explained in our detailed court-filing instructions that we provide, along with your completed divorce forms. You can also obtain assistance from your local courthouse by calling or stopping by.
After the initial filing, you may need to follow up if there are any issues with your documents. When you use OnlineDivorce.com, we allow you to make minor adjustments to your forms as requested by the court at no additional charge.
Our goal is to help you obtain your divorce with as little hassle and stress as possible using our online divorce documents preparation service.
Residency:
Every state has specific requirements where divorcing couples must establish residency before filing for divorce. Washington is no exception. To file for divorce in Washington, either spouse must live in the state with proven residency. There is no time limit for having lived in the state.
There are many ways to prove that residency has been established. The easiest way is if one or both spouses have a valid and current Washington driver’s license, ID card, or voter’s registration card.
However, if this is not the case, it may be possible to establish residency by having someone who knows you or your spouse testify that you are a resident of Washington.
Valid grounds to get divorce in Washington
Grounds for an online divorce using OnlineDivorce.com are the same as they would be for any divorce within the State of Washington. Grounds are merely the reason for divorce, and the state must approve them.
Washington only approves “irretrievable breakdown of the marriage” as a recognizable ground for divorce as per the Revised Code of Washington Annotated; Title 26, Chapter 26.09.030. These grounds must be established to file for divorce in the State of Washington.
Both parties are involved in establishing and agreeing to these grounds, and both must substantiate this unless the divorcing spouse attempts to prove otherwise to the court.
Divorce in Washington
Custody of the child in Washington
In the State of Washington, the court wants to create a comfortable custody situation for the children and both parents. In most cases, joint legal custody and some form of shared physical custody will fulfill this need.
However, if the family situation is not stable and the child may be harmed mentally, physically, or emotionally by a shared custody plan, the court will make other arrangements. In these cases, visitation (supervised or otherwise) may be deemed a better option to keep the child in contact with the non-custodial parent.
In some cases, custody can be set up as a short-term solution to be revisited at a later date if the family or living situation is expected to change dramatically.
Any type of custody will be determined based on the best interests of the child. Every petition for divorce in which a minor child or children are involved must have a proposed parenting plan attached. The parents can agree on a parenting plan on their own if desired. The parenting plan should contain sections addressing:
Dispute resolution;
A residential schedule for the entire year for the child or children; and
The allocation of decision-making authority as it relates to the child.
The factors which will be considered to award decision-making authority are:
Whether both parents agree to decision-making;
The existence of physical or sexual child or spousal abuse, abandonment or neglect;
The history of a parent’s participation in the decision-making process;
Whether the parents have shown any ability or desire to work together in the decision-making process; and
The parents’ geographical proximity in relation to each other.
The factors which are considered in choosing residential provisions for a child or children are:
The strength and stability of the children’s relationship with the parents, including the parent’s participation in daily parental functions;
Any spousal or child abuse or neglect or a history of substance abuse;
The past examples of participation of both parents in child-rearing;
The desires of the parents;
The desire of the child, if of an age and maturity, to express a valid opinion;
The child’s relationship with any siblings and other family members; and
Any agreed-upon stipulation between the divorcing spouses.
The first factor will be given the most weight.
An equal-time alternating home schedule may be ordered if:
There is no child or spousal abuse, abandonment, neglect, or history of substance abuse;
The parents agreed to such a provision;
There is a history where the parents can work together on such a plan;
The parents are located in geographic proximity to each other;
These provisions are for the best interests of the children.
According to the Revised Code of Washington Annotated; Title 26, Chapters 26.09.181, 26.09.184, 26.09.191, 26.09.220, the court can require an investigation as concerns parenting arrangements for the child.
Divorce in Washington
Rules for child support in Washington
Either parent may be required to pay child support in the State of Washington. Marital misconduct is not considered when determining the payout of child support.
However, all other relevant factors can be considered. Up-to-date information about child support is available from the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services and may be obtained from the clerk of the court.
The official guidelines for child support are presumed to be correct unless the amount is proven to be unjust or inappropriate under the particular circumstances of the case. Wage assignments may be required in past due cases.
Child support payments may be paid through the Washington State Support Registry or directly to the parent when there is an approved payment plan as accepted by the court.
The court can sometimes require a parent to pay for health insurance coverage for the child as part of the support. [Revised Code of Washington Annotated; Title 26, Sections 26.09.100, 26.09.105, 26.18.070, 26.23.050, and 26-19-020]
Divorce in Washington
Property division in Washington
When a couple chooses to divorce in Washington, they must distribute their marital property equally.
Washington is considered to be a “community property” state. In this case, each spouse will keep his or her “separate” property that consists of:
Any property that was acquired before the marriage;
Gift or inheritances; and
Increase in value of the above separate property.
“Quasi-community” property is that which is acquired when a spouse lives outside of Washington but would have been community property if it was acquired while living in Washington. This property is divided just like community property. The court divides the community property, equally or equitably, after considering the following:
The nature and extent of the community property;
The extent and nature of separate property;
The financial circumstances when the division of property becomes effective;
The length of the marriage;
The desire to award the family home or the right to live there to the custodial parent if there are minor children.
Marital misconduct is not considered in Washington when distributing property. [Revised Code of Washington Annotated; Title 26, Chapters 26.09.080, 26.16.010, 26.16.030, and 26.16.220]
Divorce in Washington
Rules for spousal support in Washington
Spousal support, or maintenance, is sometimes ordered by the court to help one spouse live in a manner established during the marriage after the divorce. The couple can agree upon the need and amount of support together before filing, or the judge may award it in a contested case.
The court may award short-term or long-term maintenance to either of the spouses in either a lump-sum payment or as monthly/yearly payments. Many factors are considered in the awarding of spousal support, a few of which are:
The financial resources of the spouse seeking support and their ability to meet their needs independently;
The time and expense that is necessary to obtain education and training the spouse to find a fulfilling job as well as that spouse’s earning capacity;
Vocational skills and employability of the spouse seeking maintenance;
Length of the marriage;
The standard of living established during the marriage;
Whether the spouse seeking support has childcare requirements that make it difficult to seek employment;
Tax consequences for each spouse;
The current age of each spouse;
Physical, mental, and emotional states of the spouses;
Any custodial and child support responsibilities which may exist;
Separate and community property assigned to the spouse asking for support;
Any existing financial obligations of the spouses;
The current employment and other income of each spouse;
The ability of the paying spouse to meet their needs while providing support to the other party;
Additional financial and other contribution to aid the training or education, career, or earning capacity of the other spouse;
Other factors the county court sees as just and equitable.
In Washington, marital misconduct is not a factor in maintenance determination. However, the court may require that health and hospitalization insurance coverage be provided to the supported spouse as part of the order. [Revised Code of Washington Annotated; Sections 26.09.90 and 29.09.120]
Divorce in Washington
Mediation support in Washington
Mediation may be available through the Washington court for spouses who require assistance with developing an agreed-upon plan. In cases involving minor children, it may be recommended by the court. In some counties, mediation is mandatory in contested cases.
For those seeking to prepare their divorce papers using OnlineDivorce.com, utilizing divorce mediation can be a great tool to smooth out disagreements and prevent the case from going to court. It can be the simplest way to ensure a fast, easy and affordable online divorce.
Divorce in Washington
Divorce Forms in Washington
Washington forms produced by OnlineDivorce.com are court-approved divorce forms. We have automated the process of filling them out to simplify matters and avoid any difficulties that may occur with filling out paperwork alone. By utilizing OnlineDivorce.com, you can streamline the process of preparing divorce documents and help both parties move forward with their lives.
Divorce in Washington
Filing fees for divorce in Washington
When you file your divorce papers, the court will charge filing fees that may vary by county. These costs are in addition to the cost of using OnlineDivorce.com. Please check with your local courthouse to determine the exact amount.
How long will it take?
Using the OnlineDivorce.com service usually takes between 30 minutes and two hours or more, depending on the complexity of your case. Start by filling out the questionnaire. You can do it in one sitting or save your progress and complete it at a later date. Whatever is most convenient for you.
Once you’ve received the completed documents, you will need to file them and get your spouse’s signature. More information regarding the finalization of the divorce case is provided once the paperwork has been completed and submitted to the court.
Divorce in Washington
Here is how OnlineDivorce.com makes completing divorce papers easier:
We provide the full divorce packet required by the local court - clients do not need to drive to their local courthouse to get the blank forms or search for the right divorce forms online. In rare cases, local county forms can vary in color, paper material, size, or bar code, so they may need to be obtained directly from the county clerk's office.
We complete the necessary forms for clients based on their answers given in a simple guided online interview - clients do not need to understand family law or read through complicated instructions to figure out how to fill out the forms themselves.
We give detailed, easy to follow step-by-step instructions for filing a divorce with the court - so the client knows exactly what to do to get his/her divorce finalized.
We provide unlimited technical support - if a client needs assistance through the online process, he/she can always reach out to us via phone, email, or live chat, and we'll do our best to help.
We save our clients time and money - if divorcing spouses agree regarding the terms of their divorce, they typically don’t have to pay thousands to a lawyer to handle their divorce forms and don't need to spend hours trying to do it all by themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Washington laws allow people to represent themselves in court cases, and the dissolution of marriage is no exception. Both spouses in divorce action have the right to proceed as self-represented litigants, filing the paperwork by themselves, and protecting their interests without a lawyer.
The court requirements and divorce procedure itself are the same for the spouses who hire attorneys and those who arrange a DIY divorce. A self-represented litigant has to take the same steps as any divorce lawyer has to in a similar situation, aware of their responsibility for handling the case.
Thus, law experts usually do not recommend filing for divorce independently in more complicated contested and high-conflict divorce cases. At the same time, an amicable uncontested divorce can often be handled without a lawyer with fewer risks.
Besides, the spouses may obtain limited legal assistance for their divorce, enter divorce mediation, attend counseling, or take advantage of OnlineDivorce.com or other services that may make a divorce without a lawyer more straightforward.
If the spouses comply with the Washington residency requirements, they have the right to file a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in a local court.
In a regular dissolution of marriage, the plaintiff (the spouse starting the case) shall complete the initial divorce forms, including the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, Summons, Confidential Information Form, and Vital Statistics Form, and file it with the Washington State Superior Court. At the moment of filing, the plaintiff must pay the court filing fee, and thus, the divorce motion officially starts.
The plaintiff shall serve the second party (called the defendant) with copies of divorce forms via sheriff's service or private process server. Also, one can ask any person who is not a party in the case to deliver the papers.
However, in Washington State, the divorcing spouses also have the right to file a Petition for Dissolution jointly and avoid the need for the process service. To do so, the plaintiff shall file the divorce petition, and the defendant shall file the joinder. These forms must be submitted to the court at the same time. This option is particularly suited for peaceful, uncontested cases and may streamline the divorce procedure.
The cost of any dissolution of marriage in Washington starts with paying a court filing fee, though the rest of the expenses are almost impossible to predict.
The thing is that there are no specific provisions regarding how the spouses should manage their divorce process. A DIY divorce is legit even for contested cases. And vise versa: the spouses may hire high-priced attorneys for an amicable uncontested divorce if they like. Each couple is unique, so it makes sense to consider various available divorce options to choose the one that best suits the particular divorce case circumstances. Some couples may not need divorce lawyers but may seek an appraiser's help to assess a marital property's value while drafting a settlement agreement. Some may need help with paperwork issues and resort to OnlineDivorce.com services, while some may enter into divorce mediation or counseling, etc.
Thus, the type of legal aid, related services, and specialists used will determine the total costs required to end the marriage in Washington, which may vary significantly.
For Washington State Superior Court to have jurisdiction over the dissolution case, the parties must meet the state's residency requirements.
According to the Revised Code of Washington, at least one party must currently have established residency in the state when filing the petition. However, the spouses are not required to live within the state for any specific length of time, like in most US states.
In the case of regular Petition for Dissolution (without signing the Joinder), a defendant served with the copies of divorce papers must meet the specific deadline to respond to the papers.
In Washington State, the defendant has twenty days to file the Response to Petition with the court. If he or she fails to do so, the court can grant the plaintiff's requests without considering the second party's interests and demands, i.e., issue a default judgment.
Even though an uncontested divorce can be relatively affordable in Washington, especially if the spouses proceed without an attorney, the court process for a divorce is not free due to mandatory court fees (about $280).
In theory, filing for divorce for free in Washington is available only for plaintiffs qualified for a court fee waiver due to financial hardship.
To ask for a fee waiver, the plaintiff must disclose their financial information by completing a Financial Statement Form and file the Motion and Declaration for Waiver of Civil Fees and Surcharges.
In Washington State, the divorce forms most often required to be filed in an uncontested divorce include the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, Summons, Acceptance of Service, Response to Petition, Joinder, Decree of Dissolution, Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, Financial Declaration.
If the spouses have minor children, they also have to file the Declaration in Support of Parenting Plan, Order of Child Support, and Washington State Child Support Schedule Worksheets.
Child support case
Sample Documents by State
Please note that your final forms, documents and
filings may be different depending on your state.
Coming soon! If you want to have a look at sample forms for your state and
you cannot find them here, please just give us a call or send us an email.
You are Qualified
You qualify to use OnlineDivorce.com to start your divorce online.
Please note that although you are currently not in agreement with your spouse regarding your divorce,
you will need to agree before you get your divorce paperwork. Our guided process is designed
to walk you through all the important issues in a divorce so you can come to terms.
To begin the process to complete your official divorce forms online, please press the “Continue”
button below.
