Home Washington, D.C. Uncontested Divorce Kit
2026 edition • Built on D.C. Superior Court’s current formsWashington, D.C. Uncontested Divorce Kit
The right Superior Court forms — and the good news: D.C. no longer requires a separation period to divorce.
- Complaint for Divorce, Consent Answer & Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing
- No separation period required — plus the situational Attachments your case needs
- Free eligibility check before you pay anything
- Instant PDF download — $129 one-time, no subscription
Takes 2 minutes to check · no commitment
“Stress-free and dignified. We didn’t need a lawyer just to fill out the Consent Answer and Joint Request.”
Travis U. · Washington, D.C.
Is this kit right for you?
D.C.’s rules are simpler than most states’ — but residency, jurisdiction, and what you ask for still matter. Check below to see if you qualify.
Use this kit if…
- You and your spouse agree the marriage is over — or your spouse simply won’t contest it. D.C. doesn’t require a separation period first.
- One of you has been a bona fide D.C. resident for at least 6 months before filing.
- You’re ready to say what you want on alimony, property, custody, and support in this case — even if the answer is “nothing.”
- Your spouse is willing to sign a Consent Answer and join a Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing.
Talk to a lawyer first if…
- Neither of you has lived in D.C. for 6 months, and no narrow exception applies.
- You disagree about alimony, property division, custody, or support and can’t reach a private agreement.
- Your children live outside D.C. — custody or support may need to be filed in another state entirely.
- You have complex assets (federal pensions, foreign property, a closely-held business).
- There is a Civil Protection Order (CPO) or any safety concern involved.
A narrow exception lets some same-gender couples married in D.C. file here even without D.C. residency, if their home jurisdiction won’t hear the case. Custody and child support can be part of your divorce case or filed separately — and in some situations must be filed where your children actually live.
Which path fits you?
Once your Complaint is filed, how your case reaches an uncontested hearing depends on how your spouse responds.
If you agree the marriage is over, you don’t need a battle. You need the paperwork — the Complaint for Divorce, the Consent Answer your spouse signs, and the Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing that gets you in front of a judge.
Spouse agrees in writing
Consent Answer + Joint Request
Your spouse signs a Consent Answer agreeing with the divorce. You both then file a Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing asking the court to schedule your hearing.
This is the most direct route to an uncontested hearing.
Spouse won’t respond
Service + default rules
If your spouse is properly served and doesn’t file an Answer within the deadline (generally 20 days if served in D.C., 30 if served elsewhere), the court has its own procedures for moving the case forward without their participation.
Proof of service still has to be filed before the case can proceed.
Spouse disagrees on some issues
Contested Answer / Counterclaim
Your spouse can file a Contested Answer, or their own Counterclaim, on any issue — even if neither of you disputes that the marriage is over.
A private settlement agreement on the disputed points, submitted with your case, can still keep you out of a contested trial.
We give you current D.C. Superior Court forms for the standard Complaint route, plus instructions for confirming the full packet against the Court’s own Search Forms index — not a guarantee the court grants your divorce or a particular hearing format.
Why choose a DIY kit?
D.C. Superior Court forms can be confusing, and generic “50-state” templates rarely explain that this is your one chance to ask for alimony or a share of property. We build the packet around D.C.’s current Complaint, Consent Answer, and Joint Request forms — matched to your situation.
Save thousands
You do the filing yourself and keep the difference between a lawyer’s fee and a one-time kit price. The Superior Court’s filing fee is separate — see the breakdown alongside.
Ask for everything, once
We walk you through the Complaint’s alimony, property/debt, custody, and support requests — and the Attachments each one calls for — so you don’t sign away rights you didn’t know you had.
The cost of divorce in D.C.
The Superior Court’s Complaint filing fee is $80, paid to the Family Court Central Intake Center. A fee waiver is available for those who qualify under D.C. Code § 15-712.
What’s in the kit: D.C. Superior Court forms
Current statewide forms for the standard Complaint route, plus the situational Attachments your case may need.
Step-by-step roadmap
- Covers D.C.’s residency rule and the no-separation-period ground for divorce
- What to request in your Complaint — and why it’s your one chance to
- How to reach an uncontested hearing
Core legal documents
Required cover forms, plus the situational forms your case may call for:
*Included and filled in only when it applies to your situation — for example, if you’re asking the court to divide property or debt, decide custody, set child support, or you both want the decree final immediately instead of waiting the standard 30 days.
Private settlement agreement template
A marital settlement agreement isn’t a standardized D.C. Courts form — it’s a private document you and your spouse draft and submit with your case. We include a template you can adapt, covering property, debt, and support terms you’ve agreed on.
What this kit does not include
- A reminder that a divorce case is your only chance to ask for alimony or property/debt division — but not legal advice on what to actually ask for
- A guarantee the court grants your divorce, accepts your paperwork as filed, or schedules a particular hearing format (in-person, remote, hybrid, or virtual all occur — check your own hearing notice)
- Immediate finality — your decree takes effect 30 days after docketing unless you both file a Joint Waiver of Appeal, or a stay is sought
- Custody or child-support forms for a case that must be filed in another state because that’s where your children live
- Service of process on your spouse, or their cooperation with it
- The Superior Court’s own $80 filing fee, or any e-filing processing charges
- Legal advice about your specific situation, or review of your completed documents
PlainDivorce is a private publisher. D.C. Superior Court publishes the official statewide forms, but has not reviewed, approved, or endorsed this product. Always confirm current form versions against the Court’s own Search Forms index and Self-Help Center before filing.
File at the Family Court Central Intake Center — Moultrie Courthouse, Room JM-540 — in person, online, or by mail.
How it works
A roadmap through D.C.’s Superior Court process — not a promise of a specific hearing date or format.
File your Complaint
Download the kit. Fill out the Complaint for Divorce — including any Attachments for property, custody, or support you’re requesting — plus the Cross Reference Intake Form. File in person, online, or by mail at the Central Intake Center, and pay the $80 filing fee (or apply for a fee waiver).
Serve & get a response
Have your spouse served, or have them voluntarily appear. They generally have 20 days (30 if served outside D.C.) to respond — ideally by signing a Consent Answer agreeing with your requests.
Request & attend your hearing
File the Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing. The court sets the date and format (in-person, remote, hybrid, or virtual — check your notice). Your decree is effective 30 days after docketing, unless you both file a Joint Waiver of Appeal.
There is no guaranteed timeframe. Service, the court’s calendar, and whether property, custody, or support are contested all affect how long a case takes.
Simple pricing vs. lawyer fees
| Feature | PlainDivorce Kit | Typical Lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation cost | $129 | $3,500+ |
| Court filing fee | Paid to Superior Court directly — $80 (fee waiver available) | Same, usually billed on top |
| Process control | Your prep is DIY; the court’s calendar sets the hearing date | Lawyer schedule |
| Includes forms? | Yes — Complaint, Consent Answer, Joint Request, and the Attachments your case needs | Yes |
Secure One-Time Payment · No Subscriptions · Court filing fees are separate and paid directly to Superior Court.
What our customers say
Experiences from people who prepared their D.C. divorce paperwork with PlainDivorce.
4.7 out of 5 based on 300+ customer reviews
Customer reviews are collected from purchasers and support conversations. Names may be shortened for privacy, and individual results vary by court, case facts, and filing requirements.
“The kit spelled out exactly what to ask for in the Complaint — I didn’t realize I’d lose the right to ask for a share of our property later if I skipped it.”
John O.
Washington, D.C.
“Stress-free and dignified. We didn’t need a lawyer just to fill out the Consent Answer and Joint Request.”
Travis U.
Washington, D.C.
“I didn’t know D.C. had dropped the separation requirement until I read this kit — we filed as soon as we both agreed, no waiting.”
Freya D.
Washington, D.C.
“Clear instructions on the Consent Answer and the Joint Request meant no back-and-forth with the clerk’s office.”
Carlos K.
Washington, D.C.
“This took a huge weight off my shoulders. I always knew which form was next.”
Eric Q.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C. uncontested divorce: frequently asked questions
What is an uncontested divorce in D.C.?
An uncontested divorce is one where your spouse doesn’t contest the case — typically by signing a Consent Answer agreeing with your Complaint. You and your spouse then file a Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing asking the court to schedule your hearing.
Do I have to be separated before I can file for divorce in D.C.?
No. Since a 2023 law change (D.C. Law 25-115), D.C. Code § 16-904 allows a divorce simply on either or both spouses’ assertion that they no longer wish to remain married. There is no required separation period, and no need to prove you lived apart, in separate bedrooms, or otherwise — that older rule no longer applies.
Who can file for divorce in D.C.?
Either you or your spouse must have been a bona fide D.C. resident for at least 6 months immediately before filing. A narrow exception applies to some same-gender couples married in D.C. whose home jurisdiction won’t hear their divorce case.
What is a Consent Answer, and what is a Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing?
A Consent Answer is the form your spouse files to tell the court they agree with your divorce request and want an uncontested hearing — it’s a response to the Complaint, not a substitute for being properly served. Once it’s filed, you both file a Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing asking the court to schedule that hearing.
Do I have to go to court?
Generally, yes — D.C. Superior Court holds a hearing even for uncontested divorces. Superior Court hearings can be in-person, remote (by video or phone), hybrid, or virtual off-site; your hearing notice will say which applies to your case.
When does my divorce become final?
A divorce decree becomes effective 30 days after it’s docketed, unless either spouse applies for a stay. If you both want the decree final immediately, you can file a Joint Waiver of Appeal — the decree becomes final as soon as that waiver is docketed.
What happens if I don’t ask for alimony or property division now?
D.C. Courts are direct about this: your divorce case is where you ask for alimony and a distribution of marital property or debt. If you don’t request them in your Complaint, you lose the opportunity to obtain them later. Custody and child support can be included in your case or handled separately, and in some situations must be filed in another state.
Important legal disclaimer
PlainDivorce is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal opinions, or representation. The Washington, D.C. Uncontested Divorce Kit is a private self-help information product containing publicly available D.C. Superior Court forms with general instructions. It is not a substitute for advice from a licensed D.C. attorney, and no court has reviewed, approved, or endorsed it or its templates.
We do not guarantee that the court will grant your divorce, accept your paperwork as filed, or schedule a particular hearing format or date. Whether you can obtain alimony or a share of marital property depends on requesting it in your case — this kit flags that requirement but cannot tell you what to request. Court rules, local practice, and filing fees change over time; there is no single total cost. You are responsible for verifying current forms, fees, and requirements with the D.C. Superior Court Family Court Central Intake Center or Self-Help Center before filing.
Content last reviewed: September 2026.