Indiana divorce at a glance
Official source: Indiana court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in Indiana: step by step
Indiana is no-fault with a mandatory 60-day wait that applies even to fully agreed cases. Here is the path to a Decree of Dissolution.
- Confirm you can file in Indiana
One spouse must have lived in Indiana for 6 months and in the county for 3 months. Indiana is no-fault (irretrievable breakdown), with a mandatory 60-day wait that can’t be waived.Source: IC 31-15-2-6; IC 31-15-2-10 - Generate your forms
Prepare the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and supporting forms.Source: Indiana self-service forms - File with the court
File with the Circuit or Superior Court and pay about $157–$177, or file a Verified Motion for Fee Waiver. E-filing is optional for self-represented filers.Source: IC 33-37-3-2 (fee waiver) - Serve your spouse
Serve your spouse, or have them file a waiver/appearance in an agreed case.Source: Ind. R. Trial P. 4 - File the child-support worksheet (if children)
If you have children, the Child Support Obligation Worksheet must be filed — use the official Indiana online calculator.Source: Indiana Child Support Rules & Guidelines - Finalize after the 60-day wait
After the 60-day waiting period, submit your settlement; the court enters the Decree of Dissolution.Source: Decree of Dissolution
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in Indiana?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. In Indiana you have the right to file your own divorce, and the court publishes the official forms for you to use. The large majority of uncontested divorces, where both spouses agree the marriage is over and can agree on the terms, are handled pro se every day.
Filing pro se is usually a good fit when: you both agree on the divorce, you can agree on splitting property and debts, and any parenting time and support are worked out. It’s worth talking to a lawyer when: you disagree about custody or money, one spouse hides assets or won’t cooperate, there’s a business or significant property to divide, or there has been any abuse.
LawCat prepares your Indiana pro-se divorce documents for free and walks you through every filing step — so doing it yourself never means doing it alone.
How child support is calculated in Indiana
Income-shares model; the Child Support Obligation Worksheet is filed in every case, using the official online calculator.
Because Indiana uses an income-shares approach, the exact number comes from an official table based on both parents’ combined income. Use your court’s official child-support calculator for a precise figure.
How long does a Indiana divorce take?
A mandatory 60-day waiting period after filing before the decree — it cannot be waived, even in a fully agreed case. (IC 31-15-2-10) After that, the timeline depends on the court’s calendar and how quickly each step is completed. An uncontested, pro-se divorce is typically the fastest path — most of the wait is the statutory period, not paperwork.
Common reasons Indiana divorce filings get rejected
- Missing signatures, or forms that aren’t notarized where the court requires it.
- Skipping the financial disclosure both spouses are required to exchange.
- Filing before meeting the residency requirement.
- Mistakes serving the other spouse, or forgetting to file the proof of service.
- Not following local county rules. Low–moderate. Statewide packets work everywhere; filing fees vary slightly by county.
LawCat’s guided questions and filing checklist are built to prevent exactly these — the errors that send self-represented filers back to the clerk’s window.
Indiana document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Indiana. In the meantime, the official Indiana court forms are linked below.
Official Indiana forms → See how it worksWhy LawCat is free
Most “online divorce” sites charge $137–$499 for the same public court forms, and some add monthly fees. LawCat gives document preparation away because it is built by a law firm that helps people who later decide they want an attorney. You keep the free documents either way.
Compare divorce filing fees in every state →
Indiana divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Indiana?
No. Indiana allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Indiana divorce documents free, and you pay only the court’s filing fee. You can hire an attorney at any point if your case becomes complicated.
How long do I have to live in Indiana to file for divorce?
6 months in Indiana + 3 months in the filing county (IC 31-15-2-6).
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Indiana?
$157-$177 depending on county. Fee waiver: Verified Motion for Fee Waiver (IC 33-37-3-2, ~125% FPL standard). With LawCat your documents are free, so the filing fee is typically your only unavoidable cost — and it can often be waived if you can’t afford it.