Washington Divorce Timeline: Complete Guide

If you're filing for divorce in Washington State, understanding the timeline is essential for planning your next steps. Unlike many states, Washington has no minimum residency duration requirement—but it does impose a mandatory 90-day waiting period from filing and service before your divorce can be finalized. Whether you're pursuing an uncontested divorce, facing a default scenario, or preparing for a contested trial, here's a comprehensive breakdown of the Washington divorce timeline from petition to final decree. Before you begin, review our detailed Washington divorce filing checklist to ensure you have all required forms ready.

Uncontested Divorce: Washington's Fastest Path (4–6 Months)

When both spouses agree on all major issues—property division, spousal maintenance, and (if applicable) child custody and support—Washington's uncontested divorce process can move relatively quickly. Under RCW 26.09.030, no decree can enter until at least 90 days after both the petition is filed and the respondent is served (or signs a joinder). This cooling-off period is absolute and cannot be waived.

In practice, even cooperative couples should expect 4 to 6 months from filing to final decree due to court scheduling. Washington's 90-day waiting period offers a chance to get organized — a personalized divorce planning tool can help you make the most of that time. Here's why the timeline typically extends:

• Day 1–7: Prepare your initial documents—FL Divorce 201 (Petition), FL Divorce 200 (Summons), FL All Family 001 (Confidential Information), and DOH 422-027 (Certificate of Dissolution). If you have children, add proposed Parenting Plan (FL All Family 140) and Child Support Order (FL All Family 130) with the Washington State Child Support Schedule Worksheets (WSCSS).
• Day 8: E-file in your county's Superior Court (e.g., King County e-Filing, Pierce County LINX, Spokane County TrueFiling) and pay the filing fee—approximately $290–$310 in most counties as of 2025 (base $200 plus surcharges per RCW 36.18.020).
• Day 8–14: Serve your spouse or have them sign an Agreement to Join Petition (FL All Family 119). With joinder, formal service isn't necessary.
• Days 15–90: If you have children, both parents must complete a court-approved parenting seminar—many counties (like King County under LFLR 13) require completion within 60 days of service unless waived for good cause such as domestic violence.
• Day 91+: Submit final orders—Findings and Conclusions (FL Divorce 231) and Final Divorce Order/Decree (FL Divorce 241). Most counties offer an uncontested calendar, but court availability means you'll likely wait until month 4–6 for a final hearing slot.

Total timeline: 4–6 months for a straightforward, cooperative case with no children, and up to 6–8 months if children are involved and you need to coordinate parenting seminars, temporary parenting plans, and child support calculations.

Default Divorce: When One Party Doesn't Respond (4–6 Months)

If your spouse is served but doesn't file a response within the statutory deadline, you can proceed by default. Washington's Civil Rule 4 sets response deadlines:

• 20 days if personally served within Washington State
• 60 days if served outside Washington or by publication

After the response period expires without a filed answer, you can request a default order. However, you still cannot obtain a final decree until the 90-day mandatory waiting period has elapsed from both filing and service. In practice, default divorces follow a similar 4–6 month timeline to uncontested cases because of court scheduling and the 90-day statutory wait.

If you cannot locate your spouse, you may seek service by publication under RCW 4.28.110. Publication must run once weekly for six consecutive weeks, and the summons requires an answer within 60 days of first publication—adding significant time to the process (often 3–4 extra months for the publication and service periods).

Contested Divorce: Disputes Over Property, Custody, or Support (12–18+ Months)

When spouses cannot agree on major issues—such as property division, spousal maintenance, child custody, or support—the Washington divorce timeline extends considerably. Contested cases require discovery, temporary orders, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and often a trial. Learning more about online versus traditional divorce options can help you decide which path is right for your situation. Here's a realistic roadmap:

• Months 1–2: File and serve the petition; schedule a temporary orders hearing for immediate relief (temporary maintenance, child support, parenting plan, exclusive use of home/vehicle, restraining orders). Under RCW 26.09.060, courts can issue temporary orders as soon as the case starts.
• Months 2–6: Discovery phase—exchange financial disclosures (Financial Declaration FL All Family 131 with sealed source documents), interrogatories, document requests, and depositions under CR 26–37.
• Months 4–8: Mandatory ADR—many counties require mediation or a settlement conference before trial. King County's LFLR 16 explicitly mandates ADR at least 30 days before trial unless waived. Washington law under RCW 26.09.015 strongly encourages mediation in parenting disputes (though domestic violence and child abuse cases are generally exempt per RCW 26.09.016).
• Months 6–12+: If ADR doesn't resolve all issues, proceed to trial. Bench trials (no jury) in Washington Superior Court can last 1–5 days depending on complexity. The judge resolves property division under the "just and equitable" standard (RCW 26.09.080), parenting plans under the best interests framework (RCW 26.09.184), and child support using the Washington State Child Support Schedule (Chapter 26.19 RCW).

Total timeline: 12 to 18 months for moderately contested cases. High-conflict disputes involving custody evaluations, business valuations, or complex property tracing can extend well into 24+ months.

Lengthy settlements and custody battles can strain your finances; a divorce financial planning platform helps Washington couples stay financially prepared through it all.

Key Deadlines and Requirements

Washington's dissolution statutes and local rules impose several critical deadlines:

• 90-day mandatory waiting period: Under RCW 26.09.030, no decree can be entered until at least 90 days after both filing and service/joinder, whichever is later. This period is absolute and cannot be waived.
• Response deadlines: 20 days (in-state service) or 60 days (out-of-state/publication) under CR 4.
• Parenting seminar: Many counties require both parents to complete a court-approved seminar within 60 days of service if there are minor children (authorized by RCW 26.12.172; King County LFLR 13).
• Proposed parenting plans: Each party must file a proposed plan by the earlier of 30 days before trial or 180 days after filing, unless extended by stipulation (RCW 26.09.181).
• ADR requirements: King County and many other counties mandate mediation or settlement conference at least 30 days before trial (LFLR 16).

Calculate Your Estimated Divorce Costs in Washington

Filing fees, process server costs, mediation, and attorney fees can add up quickly. Use our free calculator to estimate your total divorce expenses based on your specific situation in Washington State.

Practical Tips to Avoid Delays

Minimize delays by following these best practices:

• Use approved forms: Always download the latest versions from the Washington Courts forms page. As of September 2025, FL Divorce 200 (Summons) was revised 09/2025, and several parenting/restraining forms were updated 07/2025.
• E-file correctly: Each county uses different platforms (King: e-Filing; Pierce: LINX; Spokane: TrueFiling; Snohomish: eFileWA). Check your county clerk's instructions for submission, proposed orders, and "bench copies."
• Complete parenting seminars early: If you have children, enroll immediately after service to meet the 60-day deadline (if applicable in your county).
• Prepare complete financial disclosures: Submit your Financial Declaration (FL All Family 131) with sealed source documents (FL All Family 011) early to avoid discovery disputes and delays.
• Consider collaborative law or mediation: Washington's Uniform Collaborative Law Act (RCW 7.77) allows settlement-focused processes with disqualification of collaborative attorneys if litigation ensues. Many counties also offer sliding-scale mediation within the first year of filing per RCW 26.09.015(2)(b).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a residency requirement in Washington? Washington has no minimum residency duration. You or your spouse must simply be a Washington resident, or be stationed here as a member of the Armed Forces, on the filing date (RCW 26.09.030).

Can I waive the 90-day waiting period? No. The 90-day statutory cooling-off period under RCW 26.09.030 is mandatory and cannot be waived under any circumstances.

What if my spouse won't sign papers? You can proceed by default if they don't file a response within 20 or 60 days (depending on service location). You must still complete the 90-day wait and prove proper service (FL All Family 101).

Do we have to go to mediation? Washington law strongly encourages mediation (RCW 26.09.015), and several counties—including King County (LFLR 16)—require ADR before trial. Domestic violence and child abuse cases are generally exempt or waived under RCW 26.09.016.

Can I change my name in the divorce decree? Yes. You may restore a former name in the final decree under RCW 26.09.150. Include your requested name in FL Divorce 231 and FL Divorce 241.