How to File for Divorce in Spokane County, WA

What Are the Residency Requirements to File in Spokane County?

Washington does not impose a lengthy residency waiting period the way some states do. As long as one spouse lives in Washington at the time of filing, you can file here. If you live in Spokane or anywhere in Spokane County, you file in Spokane County Superior Court, located downtown at 1116 W. Broadway Ave.

There is no requirement that you have lived in Washington for six months or a year before filing. If you just moved here and your spouse is still in another state, talk with a Spokane family law attorney first — jurisdiction over your spouse and any children can get complicated depending on where everyone lives.

What Papers Do I Need to File?

The core filing package for a dissolution of marriage in Washington typically includes:

• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage — the document that formally starts the case and describes what you are asking the court to order regarding property, debts, children, and support.
• Summons — the legal notice that tells your spouse a case has been filed and how long they have to respond.
• Family Law Cover Sheet — a Spokane County local form required at filing.
• Confidential Information Form — required in cases involving children; it includes identifying information kept out of the public record.
• Proposed Parenting Plan — required if you have minor children.
• Proposed Child Support Worksheets — required if child support will be at issue, calculated under Washington’s child support schedule (RCW 26.19).

Washington Courts maintains official, fillable versions of most of these forms at courts.wa.gov. Spokane County Superior Court may also have local supplemental forms, so check their self-help resources or call the clerk’s office to confirm you have everything before you show up.

How Much Does It Cost to File?

Spokane County Superior Court charges a filing fee when you initiate a dissolution case. Filing fees in Washington Superior Court cases are set by the Legislature and can change, so verify the current amount with the clerk before you go. As of recent years the fee has been in the range of a few hundred dollars, but we will not quote a specific number here because fees do shift. If cost is a hardship, you can ask the court for a fee waiver by filing a motion and financial declaration showing you cannot afford the fee.

How Do I Serve My Spouse?

After you file, your spouse must be formally served with copies of the Summons and Petition. Washington law gives your spouse a set number of days to respond after being served — check the Summons form itself, because the deadline is stated right on it and differs depending on whether your spouse is served inside or outside Washington.

Service options include:

• Personal service by a process server or the Spokane County Sheriff’s civil division
• Acceptance of service — your spouse signs an Acceptance of Service form, which avoids the need for a process server
• In limited circumstances where your spouse cannot be located, service by publication may be allowed with court permission

In our experience, the smoothest cases are ones where the other spouse signs an Acceptance of Service voluntarily. If your spouse is uncooperative or their location is unknown, those complications are worth discussing with an attorney early.

What Is the 90-Day Waiting Period?

Washington law requires a minimum 90-day waiting period from the date your spouse is served (or signs an Acceptance of Service) before the court can enter a final divorce decree. This is a hard floor — no judge can waive it. In practice, contested divorces almost always take longer than 90 days. Uncontested cases where both spouses agree on everything can sometimes be wrapped up close to that minimum, but only if all the paperwork is complete and the court’s docket allows it.

Spokane County Superior Court has its own scheduling practices and docket demands. Do not count on a 90-day finish line if there are any unresolved issues.

What Happens After Filing — Contested vs. Uncontested?

Uncontested Divorce

If you and your spouse agree on all issues — property division, debt allocation, parenting plan, child support, and any spousal maintenance — you can submit a complete settlement package to the court and request a final hearing. The judge reviews the agreement, confirms it meets Washington’s requirements, and signs the decree. Many uncontested divorces in Spokane are handled with minimal court appearances. You may want to read our related post on whether you need a lawyer for an uncontested divorce in Spokane before assuming yours qualifies.

Contested Divorce

When spouses disagree on any issue, the court sets the case on a litigation track. Spokane County Superior Court will typically require case scheduling, mandatory mediation before trial, and potentially a number of hearings on temporary orders (covering things like temporary custody, use of the family home, and temporary support while the case is pending). Contested divorces can take many months or longer depending on complexity.

Property division in Washington follows community property principles — generally, assets and debts acquired during marriage are divided equitably, though the details are rarely simple. Spousal maintenance (alimony) is fact-specific; our post on how spousal maintenance is decided in Washington walks through the factors courts consider.

Do I Need an Attorney to File?

Washington allows self-represented (pro se) litigants, and some people do handle straightforward, truly uncontested divorces on their own. But in our experience, even cases that start out amicable can turn contentious once property values, retirement accounts, or parenting schedules are on the table. Mistakes in your initial filings — missing a required form, an improperly drafted parenting plan, or a settlement agreement that does not comply with Washington law — can cost far more to fix later than hiring counsel from the start.

If you have questions about your specific situation or want to understand your options before you file, we are available for consultations. Call Schwab Law, P.L.L.C. at (509) 795-1894 or reach out through our website.

Key takeaways

• At least one spouse must live in Washington to file in Spokane County Superior Court — no extended residency waiting period is required.
• Core filing documents include a Petition for Dissolution, Summons, and (if children are involved) a proposed Parenting Plan and Child Support Worksheets.
• Washington law imposes a mandatory 90-day waiting period after service before a divorce can be finalized — contested cases almost always take longer.
• Uncontested divorces can be relatively quick and simple; contested divorces involving property, children, or support disputes benefit significantly from legal representation.
• Filing fees apply at Spokane County Superior Court; fee waivers are available for those who qualify based on financial hardship.

Frequently asked questions

Helpful resources

• Washington Courts — Family Law Forms
• RCW 26.09 — Dissolution of Marriage (Washington State Legislature)
• RCW 26.19 — Washington State Child Support Schedule
• Spokane County Superior Court

By Taylor Schaefer, Family Law Attorney · July 4, 2026 · Reviewed by the attorneys at Schwab Law, P.L.L.C.