No-Fault Divorce in District of Columbia
State-specific overview · Family Law
DC allows no-fault divorce based on mutual consent or separation for six months without requiring grounds.
How District of Columbia treats No-Fault Divorce
District of Columbia recognizes no-fault divorce when both spouses agree or when one spouse has lived separate and apart from the other for at least six months. Either spouse can file for divorce without proving infidelity, cruelty, or other traditional grounds. The six-month separation period can run concurrently with the divorce filing, making the process relatively streamlined compared to fault-based alternatives. DC courts generally divide marital property equitably and address custody and support matters separately from the divorce itself.
The general definition of No-Fault Divorce
A divorce granted without requiring either spouse to prove wrongdoing by the other.
A no-fault divorce is a divorce where neither spouse has to prove that the other did something wrong, like infidelity or abuse. Instead, one or both spouses simply state that the marriage is irretrievably broken or that they have irreconcilable differences. This is the most common type of divorce in the United States today. No-fault divorces are generally faster and less contentious than fault-based divorces because they don't require gathering evidence of misconduct.
Read the full No-Fault Divorce entry →This page is a plain-English reference and is not legal advice. State laws change frequently. For specific situations consult a licensed attorney in District of Columbia.