Filing For A Contested Divorce In Washington DC

If the issues between you and your spouse are not resolved AND you do not have a Separation and Property Settlement Agreement, you can begin a divorce case as a Contested Divorce.

This type of filing begins with a Complaint for Absolute Divorce along with a Summons, a Vital Statistics Form, and a Cross-Reference Intake Form filed together with the necessary filing fee.

Once your case is filed, your spouse will have to be formally served with copies of the papers. There are specific court rules explaining the requirements for serving your spouse with the papers.

Once served, your spouse must file an Answer to the Complaint. Once an answer is filed or if your spouse fails to file an answer within the time allowed, the case will be assigned to the trial calendar.

Navigating the divorce process can be difficult. It is best to contact an attorney for advice before filing for divorce.