District of Columbia Divorce Laws Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long must I be residing in the District of Columbia for legal eligibility for the filing of divorce?
Under the District of Columbia divorce law you are required to reside in District of Columbia for at least 180 days or six months (whichever is longer).
2. What if my spouse resides elsewhere?
Well, you can file for divorce even if your spouse is not residing in DC. But, be assured that there will be complications and an added expense due to this.
3. What complications?
The divorce process gets complicated firstly due to the distance between the spouses, though this can help in showing that the couple is divorced and secondly due to the serving of divorce papers. Under the District of Columbia divorce law you are required to serve divorce papers to your spouse.
4. Do District of Columbia divorce lawyers charge per hour?
Yes, District of Columbia divorce lawyers charge you on a per hour basis and some of them do settle for a set fee for the divorce.
5. How much will my divorce cost me?
Divorce in our country isn't cheap and in DC the cost of divorce is considerably higher than the rest of the country.
6. Can I represent myself in court?
Absolutely, but it is not recommended.
7. Does the District of Columbia divorce law recognize common law marriages?
Yes, the District of Columbia divorce law recognizes a common law marriage. In order for a common law marriage to be recognized it must be established by both spouses' explicit intention and agreement of their cohabitation.
8. What are the grounds for divorce under the District of Columbia divorce law?
The District of Columbia has what it legally refers to as absolute divorce and there are only two grounds for this absolute divorce:
Voluntary Separation. Living separately without interruption for six months with a mutual agreement.
Involuntary Separation. Living separately without interruption for one year.
