Reviewed August 2026
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Louisiana
A Louisiana divorce is uncontested when both spouses agree it should proceed and neither disputes custody, support, or property. Louisiana law does not use one generic waiting period the way most states do. It runs two separate tracks, Civil Code Article 102 and Article 103, and which one applies depends on timing, not on whether the case is agreed. Under Article 103, the separation period has to already be complete before the petition is filed, so no further wait runs afterward. Under Article 102, the petitioner files first, and the separation period runs after filing instead. For an uncontested case, Article 103 is usually the faster path.
Virdix's document-preparation product currently prepares divorce paperwork for California and Florida cases. This page explains how uncontested divorce checklist works under Louisiana law for people researching before they file. It is not legal advice, and Virdix does not prepare or file Louisiana paperwork. See how Virdix works for California divorces.
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Article 102 versus Article 103
Article 102 lets a spouse file before the separation period is complete. The spouses then have to live separate and apart continuously for the statutory period. That period is counted from service of the petition or a written waiver of service. Only after it ends can a rule to show cause be filed and judgment obtained.
Article 103 works differently. The separation period, or a qualifying fault ground, has to already be fully satisfied on the day the petition is filed. No further waiting period runs after that. Louisiana has no separate summary or simplified divorce statute beyond these two tracks.
How long the separation period runs
Civil Code Article 103.1 sets the separation period at 180 days if the marriage has no minor children. It extends to 365 days if there are minor children of the marriage at the time the Article 102 rule or Article 103 petition is filed.
This length does not depend on whether the case is contested. It depends only on whether minor children exist. An uncontested Article 103 filing, where the separation period is already done and no issue is disputed, is Louisiana's fastest realistic path to a final divorce.
Document checklist and where to file
Louisiana has no standardized statewide numbered divorce form. The petition is individually drafted, in keeping with Louisiana's civil-law tradition. It only needs to allege jurisdiction and venue, and be verified by the petitioner's affidavit.
Many parishes maintain their own self-help templates. The case must be filed in the parish where either spouse is domiciled, or in the parish of the last matrimonial domicile. This venue rule cannot be waived, and a judgment from the wrong parish is treated as an absolute nullity.
Residency and grounds
Louisiana sets no fixed minimum-duration residency period before filing. A court has jurisdiction if either spouse is domiciled in Louisiana at the time of filing. Living in a Louisiana parish for six months creates a rebuttable presumption of domicile there.
Most uncontested cases use the no-fault ground: the separation period under Article 102 or 103 rather than any fault ground. Louisiana also allows fault grounds, including adultery and certain felony convictions, but agreed cases rarely need them.
Sources: La. Civ. Code art. 102, divorce by petition and post-filing separation, La. Civ. Code art. 103, divorce on grounds already satisfied, La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 10 and art. 3941, jurisdiction and residency, La. Code Civ. Proc. art. 3951, petition requirements, Louisiana Supreme Court, self-represented litigant resources, LouisianaLawHelp.org, parish court costs and fees index
Not independently confirmed
- Confirm Louisiana's Code of Civil Procedure article and standardized form name for the in forma pauperis fee waiver with the filing parish clerk of court.
- Whether any Louisiana judicial district requires a mandatory parenting or co-parenting class in cases with minor children was not confirmed as a statewide rule. Some districts appear to require one under local rule; confirm with the specific parish.
Uncontested Divorce Checklist in Louisiana: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Article 102 and Article 103 divorce in Louisiana?+
Article 102 lets a spouse file before the separation period is complete. The period then runs after filing, measured from service or a waiver of service. Article 103 requires the separation period, or a fault ground, to already be complete on the day the petition is filed. No further waiting period runs afterward. Article 103 is usually faster for an uncontested case.
How long is Louisiana's separation period for divorce?+
180 days if the marriage has no minor children. 365 days if there are minor children of the marriage at the time the relevant petition or rule is filed. This period applies under both Article 102 and Article 103. Article 103 requires it to already be finished before filing. Article 102 lets it run afterward instead.
Does Louisiana have a simplified divorce procedure?+
No separate summary-dissolution statute exists beyond the Article 102 and Article 103 tracks themselves. In practice, an uncontested Article 103 filing works as Louisiana's fastest path. The separation period is already complete, and no issue is disputed. This avoids the extra waiting period that Article 102 requires after filing.
What is Louisiana's residency requirement for divorce?+
There is no fixed minimum-duration residency period. A court has jurisdiction if either spouse is domiciled in Louisiana when the case is filed. Living in a specific Louisiana parish for six months creates a rebuttable presumption of domicile there, which matters for choosing the correct parish to file in.
Where do I file for divorce in Louisiana?+
In the parish where either spouse is domiciled, or in the parish of the last matrimonial domicile. This venue rule cannot be waived by agreement of the parties. A judgment entered by a court in the wrong parish is treated as an absolute nullity, so confirming the correct parish before filing matters.
Does Louisiana publish a standard divorce petition form?+
No. Louisiana has no standardized statewide numbered self-help divorce form. The petition is individually drafted to meet Code of Civil Procedure requirements. It must allege jurisdiction and venue, and be verified by the petitioner's affidavit. Many parishes maintain their own templates for self-represented filers to use as a starting point.
This page is general information about uncontested divorce checklist in Louisiana, not legal advice for your situation. Laws, fees, and procedures change over time; confirm current details with Louisiana's own courts before relying on anything here. Virdix is not a law firm and is not licensed to practice law in Louisiana. Virdix does not prepare or file Louisiana divorce paperwork. It is not a substitute for an attorney licensed in Louisiana.
More Louisiana divorce guides
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In the states Virdix serves, it guides you through that state's own court forms so your paperwork is complete and consistent before you file. If you're filing in Louisiana, the resources above are the right place to start, and the form above will tell you the moment Virdix reaches your state.
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