Find Articles by Topic:

Bestsellers

View all products in
How to Divorce

About Nolo

Jake Warner

Since 1971, Nolo's goal has been to make our legal system accessible to everyone. As we approach our 40th anniversary, we're proud that our books, software, and online legal forms help millions of Americans get the quality legal information they need.

signature
Small text sizeMedium text sizeLarge text size Print this page
 
Willmaker

No Fault Divorce Vs. Fault Divorce FAQ

You can get a no fault divorce in any state, but you may want to understand the fault grounds for divorce as well.

Questions

Answer

What is a "no fault" divorce?

"No fault" divorce describes any divorce where the spouse asking for a divorce does not have to prove that the other spouse did something wrong. All states allow no fault divorces.

To get a no fault divorce, one spouse must simply state a reason for the divorce that is recognized by the state. In most states, it's enough to declare that the couple cannot get along (this reason goes by such names as "incompatibility," "irreconcilable differences," or "irremediable breakdown of the marriage").

In some states, however, the couple must live apart for a period of months or years before they can obtain a no fault divorce.

Nolo posts updates to the latest versions of books and software when major legal or practical changes occur. To see if your product has had a recent update, view our list of updates by product.

Find A Lawyer

Enter zip or city, state ("Boston, MA")

Browse for:

Divorce Lawyers

Steven R.  Stolar

Divorce Attorneys serving Los Angeles, CA

Attorneys: Get Listed

Advertisement

Advertise Here
Ask a Family Lawyer Online