Divorce Waiting Periods by State
The table below shows the mandatory waiting period for each state. Click on any state name to view detailed filing requirements, fees, and downloadable divorce form kits.
| State | Waiting Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | California requires a mandatory six-month waiting period from the date the respondent is served before a divorce can be finalized. | Mandatory waiting period from service date |
| Texas | Texas requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the divorce petition is filed before a divorce can be finalized. | Required before divorce can be finalized |
| Florida | Florida requires a mandatory 20-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed before a final hearing can be held. | Minimum waiting period after filing; may be waived |
| New York | New York does not impose a mandatory waiting period after filing for an uncontested divorce. | Depends on case processing time |
| Illinois | Illinois requires that the parties live separate and apart for a continuous period of six months before the court may enter a judgment of dissolution. | Court processing time may vary |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania requires a 90-day waiting period from the date of service of the divorce complaint before the case can proceed on a no-fault basis with mutual consent. | Court processing time may vary |
| Ohio | Ohio does not have a mandatory waiting period for divorce actions, but dissolution (uncontested) cases require a waiting period of 30 to 90 days from filing before a final hearing. | Court processing time may vary |
| Georgia | Georgia requires a mandatory 30-day waiting period from the date the respondent is served before a final judgment of divorce can be entered. | Court processing time may vary |
| North Carolina | North Carolina requires a mandatory one-year separation period during which the spouses must live separate and apart before either party may file for absolute divorce. | Court processing time may vary |
| Michigan | Michigan requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period for divorces without minor children, and a six-month waiting period when minor children are involved. | Court processing time may vary |
| Arizona | Arizona requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the respondent is served before a divorce decree can be entered. | Mandatory waiting period after service |
| Washington | Washington requires a mandatory 90-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed and served before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| Virginia | Virginia requires a separation period of at least six months if there are no minor children and a separation agreement is in place, or one year if minor children are involved or there is no agreement. | Court processing time may vary |
| Tennessee | Tennessee requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period for divorces without minor children and a 90-day waiting period when minor children are involved. | Court processing time may vary |
| Indiana | Indiana requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed before a final dissolution decree can be entered. | Court processing time may vary |
| Missouri | Missouri requires a mandatory 30-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin requires a mandatory 120-day waiting period from the date the respondent is served before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| Colorado | Colorado requires a mandatory 91-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed and the respondent is served before a decree of dissolution can be entered. | Court processing time may vary |
| Minnesota | Minnesota does not impose a mandatory waiting period for uncontested dissolutions, but the court may delay proceedings if it finds a reasonable prospect of reconciliation. | Court processing time may vary |
| Alabama | Alabama requires a mandatory 30-day waiting period from the date the complaint is filed before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| New Jersey | New Jersey does not impose a mandatory waiting period after filing. | Court processing time may vary |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts requires a mandatory 120-day waiting period (called a nisi period) after the court grants a divorce judgment before it becomes final. | Court processing time may vary |
| Maryland | Maryland does not impose a mandatory waiting period after filing for an uncontested divorce based on mutual consent. | Court processing time may vary |
| South Carolina | South Carolina does not impose a mandatory post-filing waiting period for fault-based divorces. | Court processing time may vary |
| Kentucky | Kentucky requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the respondent is served before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| Oregon | Oregon does not impose a mandatory waiting period for dissolution of marriage proceedings. | Court processing time may vary |
| Nevada | Nevada does not impose a mandatory waiting period after filing for divorce. | No mandatory waiting period for uncontested divorces |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma requires a mandatory 10-day waiting period for divorces without minor children and a 90-day waiting period when minor children are involved. | Court processing time may vary |
| Kansas | Kansas requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| Utah | Utah requires a mandatory 30-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed before a divorce decree can be entered. | Court processing time may vary |
| Iowa | Iowa requires a mandatory 90-day waiting period from the date the petition is served before a dissolution decree can be entered. | Court processing time may vary |
| Arkansas | Arkansas requires a mandatory 30-day waiting period from the date the complaint is filed before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| Mississippi | Mississippi requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the complaint is filed before a divorce can be granted on the ground of irreconcilable differences. | Court processing time may vary |
| Nebraska | Nebraska requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the respondent is served before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| Idaho | Idaho requires a mandatory 20-day waiting period from the date the respondent is served before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| Alaska | Alaska requires a mandatory 30-day waiting period from the date the respondent is served before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| Hawaii | Hawaii does not impose a mandatory waiting period after filing for an uncontested divorce. | Court processing time may vary |
| Montana | Montana requires a mandatory 20-day waiting period from the date the respondent is served before a dissolution decree can be entered. | Court processing time may vary |
| Wyoming | Wyoming requires a mandatory 20-day waiting period from the date the respondent is served before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| North Dakota | North Dakota requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the summons and complaint are served before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| South Dakota | South Dakota requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the summons and complaint are served before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| Vermont | Vermont requires that at least six months pass from the date the defendant is served before a final divorce hearing can be held. | Court processing time may vary |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire does not impose a mandatory waiting period after filing, but the court must find that irreconcilable differences have caused the breakdown of the marriage. | Court processing time may vary |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period after a decision is entered by the Family Court before the divorce becomes final (known as the nisi period). | Court processing time may vary |
| Delaware | Delaware does not impose a mandatory post-filing waiting period for uncontested divorces. | Court processing time may vary |
| West Virginia | West Virginia does not impose a mandatory waiting period after filing for an uncontested divorce based on irreconcilable differences with a separation agreement. | Court processing time may vary |
| Louisiana | Louisiana requires a mandatory 180-day waiting period (living separate and apart) for divorces without minor children, and a 365-day waiting period when minor children are involved, before a divorce can be granted under no-fault grounds. | Court processing time may vary |
| Maine | Maine requires a mandatory 60-day waiting period from the date the complaint is filed before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| Connecticut | Connecticut requires a mandatory 90-day waiting period from the date the complaint is served before a divorce can be finalized. | Court processing time may vary |
| New Mexico | New Mexico requires a mandatory 30-day waiting period from the date the petition is filed before a dissolution decree can be entered. | Court processing time may vary |
How Long Does Divorce Take in Each State?
The time required to finalize a divorce varies widely across the United States. Some states allow divorces to be finalized in a matter of weeks if both parties agree on all terms, while others impose mandatory waiting periods of several months. In addition to waiting periods, court schedules, required disclosures, and contested issues can affect the overall timeline.
Related Comparison Guides
Divorce laws vary significantly across the United States. Explore additional state-by-state comparisons below to better understand residency requirements, waiting periods, and filing costs.