Divorce Laws by State

Select your state below to learn about specific divorce laws, residency requirements, grounds for divorce, property division rules, and filing procedures.

Northeast

CT Connecticut DE Delaware ME Maine MD Maryland MA Massachusetts NH New Hampshire NJ New Jersey NY New York PA Pennsylvania RI Rhode Island VT Vermont

South

AL Alabama AR Arkansas FL Florida GA Georgia KY Kentucky LA Louisiana MS Mississippi NC North Carolina OK Oklahoma SC South Carolina TN Tennessee TX Texas VA Virginia WV West Virginia

Midwest

IL Illinois IN Indiana IA Iowa KS Kansas MI Michigan MN Minnesota MO Missouri NE Nebraska ND North Dakota OH Ohio SD South Dakota WI Wisconsin

West

AK Alaska AZ Arizona CA California CO Colorado HI Hawaii ID Idaho MT Montana NV Nevada NM New Mexico OR Oregon UT Utah WA Washington WY Wyoming

Understanding State Divorce Laws

Why State Laws Matter

Divorce laws vary significantly from state to state. Understanding your state's specific requirements is crucial for navigating the divorce process efficiently and protecting your rights.

Key differences include residency requirements, grounds for divorce, property division methods, and alimony guidelines.

Community Property vs. Equitable Distribution

Community Property States (9): Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin. Assets acquired during marriage are divided 50/50.

Equitable Distribution States (41): Assets are divided fairly but not necessarily equally, based on various factors.