Divorce and Family Law by State
Divorce and family law is set by each state. Residency rules, waiting periods, how property is divided and how custody and support are decided all differ. Here is each state's rule, linked to the statute or official court page it comes from.
Choose your state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Compare the states
- Official Child Support Calculators in Every State
- Official Divorce Forms in Every State
- State Child Support Agencies
- Marriage License Rules in Every State
- Minimum Marriage Age in Every State
- Divorce Residency Requirements by State
- Divorce Waiting Periods by State
- Community Property and Equitable Distribution States
- How Much It Costs to File for Divorce in Each State
- Which States Recognize Common-Law Marriage
- When Child Support Ends in Each State
- Grandparents' Visitation Rights by State
Tools, guides and templates
Plain-English guides
- Contested vs. Uncontested Divorce
- Do I Need a Lawyer for a Divorce?
- How Long Does a Divorce Take?
- How Much Does a Divorce Lawyer Cost?
- How to File for Divorce, Step by Step
- Is Child Support Taxable?
- Joint vs. Sole Custody: What's the Difference?
- What Is a Divorce Decree?
- What Is Common-Law Marriage?
- What Is a No-Fault Divorce?
- Who Claims the Child on Taxes After Divorce?
Frequently asked questions
What is a no-fault divorce?
A divorce where neither spouse has to prove the other did something wrong. Every state now allows some form of no-fault divorce, usually based on irreconcilable differences or an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage. Some states also still allow fault grounds.
What is the difference between community property and equitable distribution?
In community property states, most property earned during the marriage belongs to both spouses equally and is usually split evenly. In equitable distribution states, the court divides marital property fairly based on factors such as each spouse's income and contributions, which is not always 50/50.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.