About StatesDivorceGuide.com
Why This Site Exists
Going through a divorce is hard enough without having to navigate confusing legal jargon, outdated advice, and websites designed to scare you into paying $3,000 for something you might be able to handle yourself.
We built StatesDivorceGuide because we saw a gap: there was no straightforward, state-by-state resource that actually told people what to do, what it costs, and where to file — without trying to sell them something in the process.
Every state handles divorce differently. Residency requirements, waiting periods, property division rules, filing fees — they vary wildly. Some states let you file the same day you decide. Others make you wait a full year. Some split everything 50/50. Others leave it up to a judge's discretion. We break all of that down, state by state, in plain language.
What We're Not
Let's be clear about a few things:
- We're not lawyers. Nothing on this site is legal advice. We're providing general information to help you understand the process in your state. If your situation is complex — custody disputes, significant assets, domestic violence, a spouse who won't cooperate — talk to an attorney. Seriously.
- We're not a legal service. We don't file your paperwork, and we don't charge you to fill out forms. We show you where to get the forms yourself and how to complete them.
- We're not here to judge. Divorce happens. Sometimes it's the right call. Sometimes it's the only call. Either way, you deserve accurate information about how the process works in your state.
What You'll Find Here
50 state-specific divorce guides covering:
- Residency requirements and waiting periods
- Step-by-step filing instructions
- Filing fees and total estimated costs
- How property gets divided in your state
- Child custody basics
- When you actually need a lawyer (and when you probably don't)
- Links to official court forms and resources
Each guide is written for the person who's Googling "how to file for divorce in [state]" at midnight, trying to figure out what comes next. We've been there. We get it.
Our goal: Give you enough information to understand the process, make informed decisions, and avoid paying for things you don't need. If you walk away knowing what to expect and where to start, we've done our job.
How We Make Money
Fair question. The guides are free, so how does this work?
- Display advertising. We run ads on the site through Google AdSense. They help keep the lights on. You're not required to click anything, and the content is free regardless.
- Affiliate links. If we recommend a service (like an online divorce filing platform), we may earn a small commission if you use it. But we never recommend something just because it pays us. Every guide shows you how to file yourself for the cost of the filing fee alone.
We don't:
- Charge for any content or guides
- Require email signups to view information
- Hide important details behind a paywall
- Sell your personal data
The business model is simple: provide genuinely useful free content, run some ads, and if people choose to use a recommended service, we earn a small referral. That's it.
Why We Built This
Someone close to us went through a divorce and spent weeks trying to figure out the process. Every website they found was either trying to sell a $500 legal service, written in dense legalese, or hopelessly outdated. The actual state court website had the information, but it was buried in PDFs and written for lawyers, not regular people.
So they ended up calling a lawyer who charged $200 for a consultation that lasted 20 minutes and basically said: "Here's the form. Fill it out. File it at the courthouse. Pay the fee."
That $200 conversation could have been a free web page. So we made it one — for all 50 states.
Accuracy Matters
We take accuracy seriously. Every guide is:
- Researched against official state court websites
- Updated when filing fees or requirements change
- Written to reflect current state law (not something from 2015)
- Reviewed for clarity and practical usefulness
That said, divorce law changes. States update fees, modify waiting periods, and adjust procedures. If you spot something that's outdated or incorrect, let us know. We'd rather fix an error than leave bad information out there.
A Note on Tone
You might notice our guides don't sound like a law firm's website. That's intentional.
We write the way we'd explain things to a friend. Direct, practical, and without sugarcoating. Divorce is a serious legal process, but the information about how to navigate it doesn't need to be wrapped in formal language to be accurate.
We also try to be honest about when you need help. Some divorces are genuinely simple — both parties agree, no kids, no significant assets. You can handle those yourself. Others are complicated, emotional, and high-stakes. Those deserve professional legal representation. We'll tell you which is which.
Contact Us
Have a question? Found an error? Want to suggest an improvement?
Reach us at: [email protected]
We read every email and do our best to respond within 48 hours.
Disclaimer: StatesDivorceGuide.com provides general information about the divorce process. This is not legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, please consult a licensed attorney in your state. Laws change, and every situation is unique.