Home Louisiana Uncontested Divorce Kit
2026 edition • Louisiana Article 102 & 103 Filing RoadmapLouisiana Uncontested Divorce Kit
The Petition, waivers, Rule to Show Cause, and Judgment of Divorce for Louisiana's no-fault separation ground — matched to your Article 102 or Article 103(1) path.
- Route-matched forms — Article 102 (file first) or Article 103(1) (already separated)
- Step-by-step filing instructions, in plain English
- Free eligibility check before you pay anything
- Instant PDF download — $129 one-time, no subscription
Takes 2 minutes to check · no commitment
“Cheap in price, high in quality. The documents were perfect.”
Marc U. · New Orleans, Louisiana
Is This Kit Right for You?
Louisiana's no-fault path has strict, two-part timing rules. Check below to see if you qualify.
Use this kit if:
- You or your spouse is domiciled in Louisiana. Six months of residence in a parish creates a rebuttable presumption of domicile there — there's no separate 12-month waiting requirement, but if your residence is recent or disputed, get advice.
- You're relying on the no-fault separation ground: 180 days apart with no minor children of the marriage, or 365 days with minor children — filing under Article 102 (file first) or Article 103(1) (already separated).
- You agree on all issues (custody, support, community property).
- Your spouse is willing to sign a written Waiver of Service after you file — or, if not, you're prepared to request formal service within 90 days of filing.
Talk to a lawyer if:
- You have a Covenant Marriage (different grounds and generally-required counseling, with an abuse exception).
- You're relying on a fault ground under Article 103 — adultery, a qualifying felony conviction, abuse, or a protective order — instead of separation.
- You disagree on the Community Property Partition.
- Your spouse refuses to accept service or sign a waiver, and can't be located for service.
Why Choose a DIY Kit?
Louisiana's “102 divorce” has two independent clocks, a document you must file within a strict two-year window, and an evidentiary record the judge actually reviews. File under the wrong article, miscount either clock, or miss the deadline, and you can lose months — or end up with a judgment a court can declare an absolute nullity. Our kit tells you which path fits and gives you the correct documents for it, in order.
Save Thousands
You do the filing yourself and keep the difference between a lawyer's fee and a one-time kit price. Your parish's filing fee is separate — see the breakdown alongside.
Skip Sheriff Fees When Possible
We include the Waiver of Service and Citation. If your spouse signs it — after the petition is filed, using your parish's current form — you can skip paying the Sheriff to serve papers. An Article 102 case can use a second waiver for the later Rule to Show Cause, too. If your spouse won't sign, you'll request formal service instead.
Don't Miss Your Filing Window
Article 102 cases must have the Rule to Show Cause filed within two years of service or the waiver's execution, or the action is deemed abandoned. Our roadmap flags this deadline so it doesn't catch you off guard.
The Cost of Divorce in Louisiana
Louisiana has no statewide filing-fee schedule — each parish's Clerk of Court sets its own. Orleans Parish currently charges $337.50 for a Domestic Relations Petition (Divorce); other parishes commonly range roughly $200–$400+. Confirm the current fee with your parish's Clerk of Court.
What's Included: Your Louisiana Filing Roadmap
We provide the documents Louisiana's no-fault separation path actually requires — matched to your Article 102 or Article 103(1) situation.
Step-by-Step Roadmap
- Article 102: file first, track both the service/waiver clock and the separation clock, then file the Rule
- Article 103(1): complete the separation period first, then file one petition
- So you choose the right path once
Core Legal Documents
Includes the documents matched to your situation:
Community Property
A Community Property Settlement template with instructions. A Judgment of Divorce ends the marriage but does not divide your property — the kit shows you how to settle it in writing or reserve the right to partition later.
What this kit does not include
- A guarantee that any parish's Clerk of Court accepts your paperwork as filed or that a judge grants your divorce — the court reviews the full record and controls scheduling
- Louisiana's fault-based Article 103 grounds (adultery, felony conviction, abuse, protective order) or Covenant Marriage divorces — those need a lawyer
- Sheriff or other formal service on your spouse if a written waiver isn't available (a separate, fee-based process)
- Your parish's own filing fee (commonly a few hundred dollars, varies by parish — Orleans Parish currently charges $337.50), or any Sheriff, publication, or copy costs
- Any additional local checklist, cover sheet, or form your specific parish or judge may require — ask your Clerk of Court what's used locally
- Legal advice about your specific situation, or review of your completed documents
PlainDivorce is a private publisher, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by any Louisiana court or Clerk of Court. Always confirm current forms and local requirements with your parish's Clerk of Court before filing.
Written for filers across Louisiana's 64 parishes, including Orleans, Jefferson, East Baton Rouge, and St. Tammany. Parishes set their own local rules, cover sheets, and fees — the kit tells you what to ask your Clerk of Court for.
How It Works
A roadmap to your Judgment of Divorce in Louisiana — not a promise of a specific outcome or timeline.
Under Article 103(1), the no-fault separation ground, you file once you have already lived apart for the full period. Under Article 102 you can file first — but before you can file the separate Rule to Show Cause that finishes the case, Louisiana law requires both the 180- or 365-day period to have run since your spouse was served (or signed a written waiver) and that you've lived apart, continuously, for that same length of time. Our kit covers the correct Petition for Divorce, the waivers, the Rule to Show Cause with its required affidavits, and the Judgment of Divorce for whichever separation-ground path fits your situation.
File Petition
Download the kit. Choose Article 102 or 103(1). Complete the verified Petition for Divorce, alleging jurisdiction and venue, and file it with the Clerk of Court in the correct parish — where a spouse is domiciled, or your last matrimonial domicile.
Serve or Waive
Request service on your spouse within 90 days of filing — unless they sign a written Waiver of Service and Citation, executed after filing and made part of the record.
Meet Both Clocks, Then Finish
Once the 180/365-day period has run since service or waiver and you've lived apart continuously for that same period, Article 102 filers file the Rule to Show Cause with the Mover's Affidavit (within two years of service/waiver, or the case is abandoned), serve or waive service of the Rule, then file the post-Rule Mover's Affidavit. Article 103(1) filers, who already completed the full separation period, go straight to the petition and judgment. The judge reviews your record and decides.
If your spouse contests any term, your case is no longer uncontested — talk to a lawyer.
Simple Pricing vs. Lawyer Fees
| Feature | PlainDivorce Kit | Typical Lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation Cost | $129 | $3,000+ |
| Parish Filing Fee | Paid to your parish Clerk of Court directly — e.g. $337.50 in Orleans Parish | Same, often billed by the firm |
| Process Control | You set the pace (DIY) | Lawyer schedule |
| Includes Forms? | Yes (Petition 102/103(1), Waivers, Rule to Show Cause + Affidavits, Judgment) | Yes |
Secure One-Time Payment · No Subscriptions · Your parish's filing fee is separate.
What Our Clients Say
Real stories from people who prepared their Louisiana 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.
“I didn't realize the Article 102 clock depends on both service and separation, not just one or the other. The kit walked me through exactly what evidence to include.”
Jean O.
Baton Rouge
“Cheap in price, high in quality. The documents were perfect.”
Marc U.
New Orleans
“Every form I needed was in one place, organized by which article applied to me. No guessing.”
Daniel X.
Shreveport
“Affordable and clear. The checklist told me exactly what to notarize and what to bring.”
Brian I.
Shreveport
“No lawyers, no stress. The process was smooth and the guide walked me through every step.”
Nadia R.
New Orleans
Frequently Asked Questions
“What is the difference between Article 102 and 103 divorce?”
Article 103(1) is the no-fault ground for people who have already lived apart the required 180 or 365 days on the day the petition is filed — one filing, one judgment. Article 103 also covers adultery, certain felony convictions, abuse, and protective-order grounds, which this kit doesn't cover. Article 102 is for people who file first: you can file before the separation period is complete, but you can't finish the case until both the service/waiver clock and the separation clock have independently run out.
“What are the separation requirements, and how does the Article 102 clock actually work?”
If there are minor children of the marriage, you must live apart for 365 days; with no minor children, it's 180 days. The separation must be continuous. Under Article 102, you can't file the Rule to Show Cause until both that same period has passed since your spouse was served (or signed a written waiver) and you've lived apart continuously for that period — in practice, the clock effectively starts on whichever of those two events happened later. Filing the Rule too early can make the resulting judgment an absolute nullity.
“What is a Waiver of Service?”
A Waiver of Service and Citation is a written document your spouse can sign giving up the right to be formally served, using your parish's current form. It must be executed after the relevant filing (the Petition, or later the Rule to Show Cause) and made part of the court record — a waiver dated before filing can be rejected. It's optional, not mandatory: if your spouse won't sign, you instead request formal service within 90 days of filing.
“Which parish do I file in?”
You must file in a parish where either spouse is domiciled, or the parish of your last matrimonial domicile. This is not a matter of convenience — venue in a Louisiana divorce cannot be waived, even by agreement, and a judgment from a court of improper venue is an absolute nullity. Confirm with the Clerk of Court before filing.
“What if I don't file the Rule to Show Cause in time?”
An Article 102 case is deemed abandoned if the Rule to Show Cause isn't filed within two years of your spouse being served with the petition, or of a written waiver of that service being executed. If that happens, you'd generally need to start over with a new petition.
“What if I have a Covenant Marriage?”
If you signed a Covenant Marriage declaration, divorce works differently: grounds include adultery, certain felony convictions, one year of abandonment, abuse, two years of separation, or roughly one year (18 months with minor children, unless abuse is involved) of separation following a judgment of separation from bed and board. Counseling is generally required, except when abuse is involved. This kit is not designed for Covenant Marriages; you should consult a lawyer.
Important Legal Disclaimer
PlainDivorce is not a law firm and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by any Louisiana court or Clerk of Court. We do not provide legal advice or represent you in court. The Louisiana Uncontested Divorce Kit is a self-help information product covering the no-fault separation ground only, and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed Louisiana attorney, especially for Covenant Marriages, fault-based grounds, or disputed property.
We do not guarantee that a judge will grant your divorce, that a Clerk of Court will accept your paperwork as filed, or a single total cost of your divorce. Court rules, local requirements, and filing fees vary by parish and can change — Louisiana has no statewide filing-fee schedule. Orleans Parish's current published Domestic Relations Petition (Divorce) fee is $337.50, effective July 1, 2026; other parishes' fees differ. You are responsible for verifying current requirements and fees with your parish's Clerk of Court.
This is an instant digital download. Because files are delivered immediately upon purchase, all sales are final and no returns or refunds are provided. Content last reviewed: September 2026.