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Divorce Waiting Period in Louisiana

In Louisiana, a no-fault divorce requires living separate and apart for 180 days (365 days with minor children), counted either after service of the petition or before filing, and Louisiana offers covenant marriage with stricter rules.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Louisiana at a glance

Waiting period
180 days after service (365 with minor children)
From service of the petition or written waiver of service; 365 days with minor children. Not needed if already apart that long when filing (Art. 103).
Separation required
Yes, 180 days (365 with minor children)
Spouses must live separate and apart continuously for the period, either before the rule to show cause (Art. 102) or before filing (Art. 103).
Covenant marriage
Yes

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Louisiana

How long is the waiting period before a divorce can be finalized in Louisiana?

Waiting period in Louisiana: 180 days after service (365 with minor children). From service of the petition or written waiver of service; 365 days with minor children. Not needed if already apart that long when filing (Art. 103).

Do spouses have to live apart before a no-fault divorce in Louisiana?

Separation required in Louisiana: Yes, 180 days (365 with minor children). Spouses must live separate and apart continuously for the period, either before the rule to show cause (Art. 102) or before filing (Art. 103).

Does Louisiana offer covenant marriage?

Yes. Covenant marriage in Louisiana: yes.

Where do the Louisiana divorce waiting periods come from?

The rules above come from La. Civ. Code art. 102, La. Civ. Code art. 103, La. Civ. Code art. 103.1, La. Rev. Stat. 9:272 and La. Rev. Stat. 9:307. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

In a covenant marriage, divorce is available only on limited grounds, such as living separate and apart continuously for 2 years, or 1 year after a judgment of separation from bed and board (1 year and 6 months with minor children, in most cases).

What this means in practice

A waiting period is a minimum, not an estimate. Contested issues such as property division, support or custody, court schedules and missing paperwork can make a divorce take much longer than the statutory minimum.

Separation rules can depend on how the state defines living apart. Some states count time spent separated under the same roof, while others require separate homes. Keeping a record of the date the separation began, such as a written separation agreement or a lease, can help show when the period started.

Spouses can often use the waiting period to negotiate a written settlement covering property, debts, support and parenting time. A settlement agreement that is ready when the waiting period ends can help the court finalize the divorce sooner, and a local attorney can confirm the filing requirements.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.