Reviewed August 2026
Forms in District of Columbia
In the District of Columbia, you file a divorce case in the Family Court of the DC Superior Court. The core document is the Complaint for Absolute Divorce. DC Superior Court publishes it as a standardized fillable PDF. Unlike some jurisdictions that assign a numeric code such as Form 106A, DC's version has no separate form number, just its plain-language title. The Family Court Self-Help Center is the central hub for DC divorce forms. It also publishes companion documents, including a Consent Answer to Complaint for Divorce and a Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing, for couples who agree on the terms.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how forms works under District of Columbia law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file District of Columbia paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Where DC's official forms live
The DC Superior Court's Family Court Self-Help Center, reached through dccourts.gov, is the central source for the Complaint for Absolute Divorce and related family-law paperwork. The dccourts.gov domain runs its own bot protection, which can block automated tools even when the page loads fine in a browser. If a direct check fails, you can reliably reach the same content through the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine instead.
The petition: Complaint for Absolute Divorce
The Complaint for Absolute Divorce is DC's standard document for opening a divorce case. You file it with the Family Court, Domestic Relations branch of DC Superior Court. Companion forms include the Consent Answer to Complaint for Divorce, used when the other spouse agrees to the terms, and the Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing, used to schedule a final hearing once both spouses have resolved every issue.
Financial disclosure
DC Superior Court Family Court divorce cases involving property or support generally require each spouse to disclose income, expenses, assets, and debts through a financial statement. DC does not appear to have one standardized, separately named statewide form for this disclosure. Check the Family Court Self-Help Center's current forms list for the exact financial-disclosure document required alongside the complaint.
Forms for cases with children
DC has adopted the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. DC does not appear to have a standalone, separately named UCCJEA jurisdictional affidavit apart from the complaint. DC Superior Court may instead collect that jurisdictional information about the children within the complaint itself or a related custody filing. If your case involves children, confirm with the Family Court Self-Help Center or the clerk's office whether a separate UCCJEA disclosure document applies.
E-filing, fee waivers, and self-help support
E-filing is optional for self-represented parties and mandatory for attorneys, unless an administrative order excludes them. Family Court and Domestic Relations divorce filings run through CaseFileXpress and File & ServeXpress, not the newer eFileDC system, which is limited to the Civil Division, Probate Division, Civil Tax cases, and the Office of Auditor Master. If you cannot afford the filing fee, use DC's court-wide Fee Waiver Application, called the Application to Waive Prepayment of Costs. It's available in English, Spanish, and Amharic, applies across divisions including Family Court, and is filed under DC Code Section 15-712. The Family Court Self-Help Center remains DC's central self-help resource for divorce forms and process questions.
Sources: DC Superior Court, Family Court Self-Help Center (Wayback Machine archived copy)
Not independently confirmed
- Live direct access to dccourts.gov pages (site returns HTTP 403 to automated tools; content verified via Wayback Machine archive instead)
- Specific standardized name of DC's financial-disclosure form for divorce cases
- Whether a standalone, separately named statewide UCCJEA jurisdictional affidavit form exists apart from the complaint
Forms in District of Columbia: frequently asked questions
What is DC's official divorce petition form called?+
The Complaint for Absolute Divorce is DC Superior Court's standard document for opening a divorce case. It's published as a fillable PDF, but it doesn't carry a separate numeric form code the way some jurisdictions' forms do.
Where do I get official DC divorce forms?+
The DC Superior Court Family Court Self-Help Center is the central source for the Complaint for Absolute Divorce and related documents. These include the Consent Answer to Complaint for Divorce and the Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing.
What financial disclosure does DC require in a divorce?+
DC Family Court divorce cases involving property or support generally require a financial statement disclosing income, expenses, assets, and debts. DC does not appear to have one confirmed, standardized statewide form name for it. Check the Family Court Self-Help Center's current forms list for the exact document required.
Does DC have a UCCJEA form for divorces with children?+
DC does not appear to have a standalone, separately named UCCJEA jurisdictional affidavit. It may collect that information within the complaint or a related custody filing instead. Confirm with the Family Court Self-Help Center or the clerk's office.
Can I e-file my DC divorce paperwork?+
Yes, but it's optional. E-filing is optional for self-represented parties and mandatory for most attorneys. DC Family Court divorce filings run through CaseFileXpress and File & ServeXpress, not the newer eFileDC system, which covers other case types.
How do I get my DC filing fee waived?+
File the court-wide Fee Waiver Application, called the Application to Waive Prepayment of Costs. It's available in English, Spanish, and Amharic, and is used across DC Superior Court divisions including Family Court, under DC Code Section 15-712.
This page is general information about forms in District of Columbia, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with District of Columbia's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in District of Columbia. Virdix does not prepare or file District of Columbia divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in District of Columbia.
More District of Columbia divorce guides
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