Washington Divorce FAQS

You can get Washington divorce records from the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) and county clerk's offices. You can search for records after 1968 online through the Washington State Digital Archives.

Most divorce records are public, but sensitive details like financial disclosures or child custody evaluations may be sealed by court order.

A certified record includes names of both spouses, divorce date, county of filing, and general decree information. It does not usually include property division or custody information unless specifically requested.

Online ordering usually takes 5-10 business days. In-person ordering can be faster depending on the county clerk's processing time.

Yes. Divorce records are generally public, and third parties may order them unless the case has been sealed by the court.

Washington is a pure no-fault divorce state. The only ground required is the 'irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.'

Yes. Neither spouse needs to establish fault in order to request divorce.

Legal separation is the identical process as divorce but does not terminate the marriage. Couples may resolve property division, custody, and support without legally ending their marriage.

An uncontested divorce is one in which there is a consensus on everything. A contested divorce is one in which the court has to step in and resolve disputes regarding property, custody, or support.

No. If a spouse believes the marriage is irretrievably broken, the divorce will proceed over the objections of the other spouse.

Washington is a community property state, and therefore, business interests acquired during the marriage are usually split down the middle unless a premarital agreement states otherwise.

A business formed before marriage is typically separate property, but the increase in value during the marriage may be community property.

Yes, if the business was started or expanded during the marriage or if marital funds were used.

Yes. Washington law focuses on ownership and community contribution, not labor.

Think prenuptial agreements, buy-sell agreements, and detailed business documentation between personal and business finances.

Individuals with $1 million or more in assets typically qualify.

The court looks at whether assets are community or separate property. Valuations may include financial experts or forensic accountants.

Usually, yes. Forensic accountants assist in tracing assets, locating hidden assets, and valuing businesses.

Prenups may specify asset distribution and spousal maintenance terms but will need to satisfy Washington's legal requirements in order to be enforceable.

If they were obtained during the marriage, courts generally divide them equally or attribute equal value in other assets.

Military divorces involve federal laws like the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA), military pension division under USFSPA, and special residency requirements.

Yes, but the deployed spouse can request a stay under the SCRA to delay proceedings.

Yes. Washington courts consider military pensions to be marital property under state and federal law.

Active duty personnel are protected from default judgments under the SCRA.

Yes. It protects service members from divorce proceedings without notice or representation.

Yes. Gay and lesbian couples have the same divorce rights and obligations as straight couples.

Parental custody is resolved based on what is in the best interests of the child, regardless of the genders of the parents.

Yes. Spousal maintenance is gender-neutral in Washington.

Perhaps. Property acquired before Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) can complicate ownership tracing if the couple was together many years before legal marriage was possible.

Washington retroactively acknowledges domestic partnerships and marriages for certain legal purposes, but case facts matter.

Washington's divorce rate is presently approximately 2.7 divorces per 1,000 residents as of 2025, which is a little less than the national average.

Washington divorce rates have declined by approximately 15% since 2015, following national trends.

Spokane County and Pierce County tend to have higher rates than King or Snohomish Counties.

Statistics indicate higher divorce rates for first responders and service industry workers, but there is no official state breakdown.

Washington's divorce rate follows the national trend, though it is lower in more urban counties.

Yes. Couples under the age of 30 have a higher rate of divorce, especially within the first 5 years of marriage.

Poorer couples are more likely to divorce, often due to financial stress.

Rural counties are more likely to experience divorces, similar to rural/urban national trends.

Washington is a highly non-religious state, and religious affiliation appears to be linked to lower divorce rates.

Higher education levels are associated with lower divorce rates.

Common reasons include financial problems, infidelity, incompatibility, drug addiction, and domestic violence.

Estimates from studies put 20-25% of divorces citing infidelity as a factor.

Domestic violence is recorded in approximately 15–20% of Washington divorces.

Yes, financial problems are one of the primary reasons for marital breakup.

"Incompatibility" or "irreconcilable differences" is recorded in nearly 50% of cases, even though Washington does not require proof of fault.