Louisiana divorce at a glance
Official source: Louisiana court forms & self-help. Always confirm current forms and fees with the court before filing.
How to file for divorce in Louisiana: step by step
Louisiana’s no-fault divorce requires living apart 180 days (365 with children), and filing in the correct parish is critical. Here is the path.
- Confirm you can file in Louisiana
One spouse must be domiciled in Louisiana, and you must file in the correct parish (venue is jurisdictional). Choose Art. 103 (already living apart the required time) or Art. 102 (file, then live apart).Source: La. C.C. arts. 102, 103 - Prepare your petition
Prepare your Petition for Divorce for the correct parish. Louisiana has no mandatory statewide forms, so use your parish clerk’s forms or a legal-aid template.Source: Louisiana parish forms - File with the District Court
File in the correct parish’s District Court with the required cost deposit (often about $250–$500+), or file an In Forma Pauperis affidavit.Source: La. C.C.P. art. 5181 - Serve your spouse
Serve your spouse with the petition.Source: La. C.C.P. art. 1201 - Live apart and set support (if children)
Live separate and apart for 180 days (365 with minor children). If you have children, complete Worksheet A/B.Source: La. R.S. 9:315 - Finalize by rule to show cause
File a rule to show cause once the separation period is met; the court signs the Judgment of Divorce.Source: Judgment of Divorce
What does filing “pro se” (without a lawyer) mean in Louisiana?
Pro se — also called self-represented — means you handle your own divorce without hiring an attorney. In Louisiana 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 Louisiana 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 Louisiana
Income-shares model using Worksheet A (primary) / B (shared). (La. R.S. 9:315)
Because Louisiana 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 Louisiana divorce take?
You must live separate and apart for 180 days (365 days with minor children) as part of the process. 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 Louisiana 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. High. No official statewide forms; parish venue is jurisdictional, so getting the correct parish is critical.
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.
Louisiana document generation is on the way
LawCat already prepares complete divorce packets free in New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, and is expanding to Louisiana. In the meantime, the official Louisiana court forms are linked below.
Official Louisiana 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 →
Louisiana divorce FAQ
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in Louisiana?
No. Louisiana allows you to file for divorce yourself (pro se). LawCat prepares your Louisiana 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 Louisiana to file for divorce?
One spouse domiciled in Louisiana; venue in parish of either spouse's domicile or last matrimonial domicile (La. C.C.P. art. 3941 — venue is JURISDICTIONAL, non-waivable; getting parish right is critical).
How much does it cost to file for divorce in Louisiana?
Varies by parish — advance cost deposits commonly ~$250-$500+ (Orleans/EBR higher); clerks demand deposits rather than flat fees. Fee waiver: In Forma Pauperis affidavit (La. C.C.P. art. 5181 et seq.), standard forms available from most… 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.