Uncontested Divorce in Washington

If you and your spouse agree on everything, you can skip a trial in Washington, but you must wait at least 90 days.

You can get an uncontested divorce in Washington if you meet the following requirements:

  • you or your spouse lives in Washington (or is stationed here as a member of the armed forces) when you file
  • you and your spouse agree that your marriage is irretrievably broken, and
  • you agree on every issue in your case, including property, debts, spousal support, and arrangements for your children.

An uncontested divorce in Washington costs $364 in filing fees in most counties. A judge can finalize it after a mandatory 90-day waiting period, without a drawn-out court battle.

Read on to find out more about the process, including the paperwork you’ll need, how your spouse can join your petition instead of being formally served, and what to expect at each stage.

Requirements for an Uncontested Divorce in Washington

To qualify for an uncontested divorce in Washington, you must meet the state’s residency rules and agree with your spouse on every issue affecting your case.

Washington’s Residency Requirements for Divorce

To file for a divorce in Washington (known as “dissolution of marriage”), either you or your spouse must live in Washington or be a member of the armed forces stationed here. There’s no minimum time you must have lived in the state. (Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.030 (2026).)

That said, the judge might not have the legal authority to divide property, order support, or approve a parenting plan unless Washington also has jurisdiction over your spouse and your children. For example, the court has jurisdiction over your spouse if they live here, or if you lived here together while married and you still live here. For children, the general rule is that they must have lived here for the six months before you file. (Wash. Rev. Code §§ 4.28.185, 26.27.201 (2026).) (Learn more about these requirements and the divorce filing process in Washington.)

Legal Grounds for a Washington Uncontested Divorce

To file for an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse must agree that your marriage is “irretrievably broken,” the only legal reason (or “ground”) for divorce in Washington State. Also, you and your spouse must agree about all of the legal issues involved in ending your marriage, including:

If you’re having trouble reaching a settlement agreement (called a “separation contract” in Washington law) covering all of these issues, you can turn to divorce mediation for help.

Couples without an agreement might start with a contested divorce and later try to settle, usually through their lawyers. Even so, they’ll likely spend more time and money before getting a final divorce decree.

The Uncontested Divorce Process in Washington

Unlike some states, Washington doesn’t have a separate, expedited procedure for uncontested divorce (sometimes called “divorce by agreement”). However, your spouse (the “respondent”) can agree to join your divorce petition. They can sign the joinder section at the end of the petition or a separate Agreement to Join Petition (Joinder) form (FL All Family 119). If your spouse joins, you won’t need to formally serve them with the divorce papers, and they won’t need to file a response.

Even after joining the petition, your spouse can change course by filing a response before the judge signs the final orders. The case would then proceed as a contested divorce. A signed, written separation contract helps protect your deal, because the judge generally must follow it (except for parenting arrangements) unless it was unfair when you signed it. (Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.070 (2026).)

Preparing the Divorce Forms

Washington State requires you to use official court forms when filing for divorce. (Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.006 (2026).) You can download the official divorce and family law forms for free. You can also find a step-by-step guide and an online tool to fill out the forms on the Washington Law Help website. You can usually get hard copies from the local court clerk’s office but you might have to pay a fee. You can also use an online divorce service that provides and fills out the forms for you.

To get started, you must complete a Petition for Divorce (Dissolution) form (FL Divorce 201), which provides the court with information about you and your spouse, your marriage, and your property. If your spouse is joining the petition, they’ll sign the joinder section at the end. If you have any children younger than 18 with your spouse, you must submit additional forms about your parenting plan and child support. Be sure to use the current Parenting Plan form (FL All Family 140), which changed in July 2025, and the current child support worksheets, which reflect new support guidelines that took effect January 1, 2026. You’ll also need to exchange financial information with your spouse and file a Financial Declaration (FL All Family 131).

Before you submit your paperwork, check with the court clerk’s office to confirm that the county where you’ll file your divorce doesn’t require additional forms. Also, if you have minor children, check whether the county requires you and your spouse to complete a parenting seminar. (Wash. Rev. Code § 26.12.172 (2026).)

Filing Your Divorce Forms

Washington’s 39 superior courts oversee divorce cases and trials. Typically, you’ll file your divorce paperwork in the county where you or your spouse lives. However, you both can agree to file for divorce in any county in the state. When you file, you’ll pay the filing fee or ask the court to waive it (see below).

Attending a Hearing and Completing Your Divorce

Before finalizing an uncontested divorce, you and your spouse must complete, sign, and submit additional forms: a Final Divorce Order (Dissolution Decree; FL Divorce 241) and Findings and Conclusions about a Marriage (FL Divorce 231). You could save trips to the courthouse by including these forms with your initial paperwork.

A judge can’t sign your final divorce order until at least 90 days after you file the petition and, if your spouse didn’t join, after you serve your spouse. (Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.030 (2026).) Generally, the judge must approve your settlement agreement unless it’s unfair. If you have minor children, however, the judge will review your parenting plan to ensure it serves the children’s best interests and that the child support provisions meet legal requirements. (Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.070 (2026).)

Whether you must attend a hearing depends on your county. In some counties, the clerk schedules a short hearing where a judge reviews and signs your final orders. If your spouse joined the petition, they usually don’t need to be there. You can also ask to take part by phone or video. Other counties let you submit your final order without a hearing, along with a sworn statement confirming basic facts about your case. Ask the court clerk or courthouse facilitator how your county handles final paperwork.

Once everything is approved, the judge will sign the findings and divorce decree. Your divorce becomes final when the court enters the decree. (Wash. Rev. Code § 26.09.150 (2026).)

How Much Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost in Washington?

Generally, an uncontested divorce is much cheaper than a traditional contested divorce. Many couples can complete the uncontested divorce process without hiring lawyers, which can save a lot compared with the typical costs of a divorce with a lawyer.

Court Filing Fees

The basic cost of an uncontested divorce in Washington is the filing fee for your petition, which is $364 in most counties. (See King County for an example.) You can avoid paying a process server if your spouse signs the joinder. If your county requires a parenting seminar, you’ll probably pay a fee for that course, too.

Requesting a Fee Waiver

If you can’t afford the court fees, you can ask the judge to waive them. If the judge finds that you qualify, they must waive all of the required filing fees and surcharges. Washington Law Help offers a page explaining how to request a fee waiver, or you can ask the court clerk or courthouse facilitator for more information.

Other Costs

Beyond these court costs, your costs will depend on whether you get a pure do-it-yourself divorce or need some help with the process:

  • Online divorce services typically charge between $150 and $700 to provide and complete the divorce forms and settlement agreement.
  • If you need help reaching a settlement agreement, divorce mediation costs can vary widely, depending on the number and complexity of the issues. Typical total costs range from about $3,000 to $8,000, with each spouse normally paying half. If your income is limited, many Washington counties offer community dispute resolution centers that provide mediation for free or on a sliding-fee basis.
  • If you’re splitting retirement accounts related to your employment (like a 401(k) or pension), you’ll probably need to pay an expert to prepare the special court order known as a “qualified domestic relations order” (QDRO).

And, of course, hiring lawyers will increase your costs. But you can probably minimize lawyers’ fees by getting help only when you need it.

Do You Need a Lawyer for an Uncontested Divorce?

You probably don’t need a lawyer to get an uncontested divorce in Washington. You can handle all the paperwork and filing yourself, or use an online divorce service to simplify the process.

That said, consider speaking with a qualified family law attorney in any of these situations:

  • you have complex assets to divide (like retirement accounts or a family business)
  • you have questions about aspects of your divorce, or
  • you want an independent legal review of your settlement agreement to make sure you haven’t missed anything or given up any legal rights.

Keep in mind that the county court clerk or courthouse facilitator can help you with basic information, forms, and procedural questions, but they can’t give legal advice.

You can find the official Washington statutes on the Washington State Legislature’s Revised Code of Washington (RCW) webpage. Search for a section by its number or open Title 26 (Domestic Relations) and choose Chapter 26.09. You can find the state’s court rules and court forms on the Washington Courts website.

The following organizations offer free or low-cost legal help to those who qualify:

  • Northwest Justice Project’s CLEAR hotline (1-888-201-1014, or call 211 in King County) provides free legal advice to people with low incomes. People who are 60 or older can call CLEAR*Sr (1-888-387-7111) regardless of income.
  • Washington Law Help offers plain-language guides, divorce forms, and a Get Legal Help page.

Even in an uncontested case, a settlement agreement locks in decisions about property, retirement accounts, and your children that are hard to undo later, so it’s worth having a family law attorney review it before you file.