I Got Married in Nevada, Don’t I Need to Get Divorced There?

Posted: 26 October, 2022

Not necessarily is the short answer. In fact, you can file for divorce in any other state in the U.S., as long as you meet the residency requirements and grounds for divorce in that state.

This can be an important fact for people to understand as they are planning for divorce because it can help them “shop” for states in which their interests may be better protected by divorce laws.

Overview of State Divorce Residency Requirements

The following table presents a basic overview of the residency requirements for divorce for each state in the U.S. Please note that these requirements may change overtime as laws are updated in different states.

State Divorce Residency Requirement
Alabama 6 mos.
Alaska None
Arizona 90 days
Arkansas 60 days
California 6 mos.
Colorado 90 days
Connecticut 12 mos.
Delaware 6mos.
District of Columbia 6 mos.
Florida 6 mos.
Georgia 6 mos.
Hawaii 6 mos.
Idaho 6 weeks
Illinois 90 days
Indiana 6 mos.
Iowa None
Kansas 60 days
Kentucky 180 days
Louisiana None
Maine 6 mos.
Maryland 1 year
Massachusetts 1 year
Michigan 180 days
Minnesota 180 days
Mississippi 6 mos.
Missouri 90 days
Montana 90 days
Nebraska 1 year
Nevada 6 weeks
New Hampshire 1 year
New Jersey 1 year
New Mexico 6 mos.
New York 1 to 2 years
North Carolina 6 mos.
North Dakota 6 mos.
Ohio 6 mos.
Oklahoma 6 mos.
Oregon 6 mos.
Pennsylvania 6 mos.
Rhode Island 1 year
South Carolina 1 year
South Dakota None
Tennessee 6 mos.
Texas 6 mos.
Utah 3 mos.
Vermont 6 mos. to 1 year
Virginia 6 mos.
Washington None
West Virginia 1 year
Wisconsin 6 mos.
Wyoming 60 days

Grounds for Divorce in Different States

Just as different states have different residency requirements, so too are the grounds for divorce different from state to state. In general, however, some combination of the following may be applicable grounds for divorce in different states:

  • No fault, irreconcilable differences
  • Incompatibility
  • Living separate and apart (for some minimum period of time, which varies from state to state)
  • Judicial separation

Ready to pursue divorce in Nevada? Contact RIGHT Lawyers at (702) 914-0400 to speak with a Las Vegas Divorce Lawyer.