Reviewed August 2026
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in District of Columbia
A District of Columbia divorce is uncontested when both spouses agree on the terms, and the responding spouse files a Consent Answer instead of contesting anything. Since January 2024, DC no longer requires any separation period before a divorce can be granted. One spouse asserting they no longer wish to remain married is enough, with no waiting period attached to that ground. DC has no separate summary-dissolution law with its own eligibility caps. What it has instead is a faster path within the standard case: both spouses file a Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing, which resolves the case without a contested trial.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how uncontested divorce checklist 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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How a DC divorce becomes uncontested
One spouse files a Complaint for Absolute Divorce. If the other spouse agrees with the terms, they file a Consent Answer instead of disputing anything. Both spouses then file a Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing.
That joint request moves the case to a shorter, uncontested hearing rather than a contested trial. This is DC's practical fast path. It is not a separate statute with its own asset or marriage-length limits, the way some states run a summary-dissolution track.
No waiting period since Elaine's Law
DC eliminated its separation-period requirement entirely in January 2024, under D.C. Law 25-115, known as Elaine's Law. Before that, DC required either 6 months of mutual separation or 1 year of non-mutual separation before granting a divorce.
That requirement is gone. DC Code section 16-904 now allows a divorce on one spouse's simple assertion that they no longer wish to remain married. No fault has to be proven, and no separation period has to run first.
Document checklist
Start with the Complaint for Absolute Divorce, a standardized DC Superior Court fillable PDF. The responding spouse adds a Consent Answer to Complaint for Divorce if they agree with the terms. Both spouses then file a Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing.
All filings go through the Family Court Central Intake Center at the Moultrie Courthouse, since DC has no counties and only one Superior Court. A spouse who cannot afford the filing fee can file the Fee Waiver Application, Application to Waive Prepayment of Costs, available in English, Spanish, and Amharic.
Residency requirement
At least one spouse must have been a bona fide resident of DC for 6 months immediately before filing. Only one spouse needs to meet this, regardless of where the marriage took place or where the other spouse currently lives.
A member of the U.S. armed forces stationed in DC for a continuous 6-month period during their service is treated as a DC resident for this purpose. Because DC has no counties, there is no separate venue question. Every divorce goes through the same Domestic Relations Branch of the same Superior Court.
Sources: DC Code section 16-904, grounds for divorce (no waiting period), D.C. Law 25-115, Elaine's Law, DC Code section 16-902, residency requirement, Complaint for Absolute Divorce (form), DC Superior Court, Family Court self-help center, DC Superior Court, fee waiver application
Not independently confirmed
- A direct, independently loadable copy of the Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing form was not confirmed by a standalone URL; it is referenced as a companion form to the Complaint for Absolute Divorce. Confirm the current version on the DC Courts forms search page.
- Whether a mandatory parenting class or education program applies in DC divorces involving minor children was not confirmed in materials reviewed for this page. Confirm with the Family Court Self-Help Center.
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in District of Columbia: frequently asked questions
Is there a waiting period for a DC divorce?+
No. Since January 2024, under D.C. Law 25-115, known as Elaine's Law, DC no longer requires any separation period before a divorce can be granted. Previously, couples needed either 6 months of mutual separation or 1 year of non-mutual separation. Now, one spouse's assertion that they no longer wish to remain married is enough, with no waiting period.
What makes a DC divorce uncontested?+
Both spouses agree on the terms. The responding spouse files a Consent Answer to Complaint for Divorce instead of disputing anything, and both spouses file a Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing together. That joint request moves the case toward a shorter, uncontested hearing instead of a contested trial.
What is DC's residency requirement for divorce?+
At least one spouse must have been a bona fide DC resident for 6 months immediately before filing. Only one spouse has to meet this threshold, and it does not matter where the marriage took place. A servicemember stationed in DC for a continuous 6-month period during their service also qualifies as a resident for this purpose.
What forms do I need for an uncontested DC divorce?+
Start with the Complaint for Absolute Divorce. If the responding spouse agrees, they file a Consent Answer to Complaint for Divorce. Both spouses then file a Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing. A spouse who cannot afford the filing fee can add the Fee Waiver Application, Application to Waive Prepayment of Costs.
Where do I file a divorce in DC?+
There is only one court. DC has no counties, so every divorce is filed through the Family Court Central Intake Center at the Moultrie Courthouse and heard in the Domestic Relations Branch of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. There is no separate venue choice based on where in DC either spouse lives.
Does DC have a simplified or summary divorce procedure?+
Not a separate statute with its own eligibility limits, like a marriage-length cap. What DC offers instead is the Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing, filed once both spouses agree on the terms. Combined with the removal of any waiting period in 2024, this makes an agreed DC divorce faster than in most states.
This page is general information about uncontested divorce checklist 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.
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