You can file for divorce online in Louisiana through the clerk of court’s electronic filing portal in the parish where your case belongs. There is no single statewide website that handles the whole thing. Each parish runs its own e-filing system, and even after you upload the petition, you still have to meet Louisiana’s residency, service, and waiting-period rules before a judge signs a final judgment.
Where You File Online
Louisiana does not offer a single statewide divorce portal. Filing happens at the parish level, and each clerk of court either operates its own system or contracts with a third-party e-filing provider.1BRLA.gov. E-File Some parishes use shared platforms like eClerks LA, which routes you to the right provider. Others run proprietary portals. Start on the website for the clerk of court in the parish where you plan to file and look for an “e-file” or “electronic filing” link.
The flow is similar across providers. You create a user account, open a new case, select the case type, enter the party names exactly as they appear on your documents, and upload your filings as PDFs. Courts require PDF because it locks the layout. When you submit, the system returns a timestamp and a confirmation receipt. That receipt is your proof the petition was received and sets the official filing date.
Residency and the Right Parish
Before any Louisiana court will take your case, at least one spouse must be domiciled in the state. The law presumes domicile if that spouse has lived in a single parish for at least six months before filing.2Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure CCP 10 – Jurisdiction Over Status Domicile is more than a mailing address; it is where you consider your permanent home. A military member assigned to a Louisiana base can establish domicile here, but the assignment alone does not create one.
Venue is just as important. You can only file in the parish where you live, the parish where your spouse lives, or the parish where you and your spouse last lived together.3Justia Law. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Article 3941 – Court Where Action Brought Venue in a divorce case cannot be waived. If you file in the wrong parish, the judgment is void and you have to start over. Picking the right parish portal matters as much as filling out the forms correctly.
Pick Your Divorce Type Before You File
Louisiana offers two no-fault divorce paths, and the one you choose shapes the whole timeline.
An Article 102 divorce lets you file the petition first and complete the required separation afterward.4Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Civil Code CC 102 – Judgment of Divorce; Living Separate and Apart Prior to Rule An Article 103 divorce is only available if you have already finished the full separation period before you file.5Justia Law. Louisiana Civil Code Article 103 – Judgment of Divorce; Other Grounds
The required separation period is the same either way:
- 180 days of living separate and apart if there are no minor children.
- 365 days if there are minor children of the marriage.6Justia Law. Louisiana Civil Code Article 103.1 – Judgment of Divorce; Time Periods
Most people choose Article 102 because they want to start the process the moment they separate rather than waiting months before filing anything. The tradeoff is that you cannot get a final judgment until the clock runs out from the date your spouse was served or the date you began living apart, whichever is later. An Article 103 filing can move faster after submission because the waiting period is already behind you.
A Note on Fault Grounds and Covenant Marriages
Two situations skip the waiting period entirely: adultery, and a felony conviction with a sentence of death or hard labor.7Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Civil Code CC 103 – Judgment of Divorce; Other Grounds You have to prove the fault in court, which is a hard road without a lawyer. If you entered a covenant marriage in Louisiana, the standard no-fault process does not apply. Covenant marriages can only be dissolved on specific grounds, or after two years of living apart (one year, or one year and six months with minor children, if you obtained a legal separation first).8Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 9:307 – Divorce or Separation From Bed and Board in a Covenant Marriage; Exclusive Grounds A covenant marriage divorce is not a good candidate for a self-filed online case.
What You Need to Upload
Three documents form the core of a basic online filing.
The Petition for Divorce identifies both spouses by name and address, states the date of marriage and the date you began living apart, and asks the court to grant the divorce. If you have minor children, the petition must list their names and ages. These details are what tell the court which waiting period applies and whether it has authority over your case.
The Verification is a sworn statement, signed before a notary, that everything in your petition is true to the best of your knowledge. A filing without a properly notarized verification can be rejected by the clerk on sight. Louisiana notary fees are not fixed by statute and vary by provider, but the cost is usually modest.
Most parishes also require a Civil Case Cover Sheet, an administrative form that tells the clerk how to route your case. Many clerks publish fillable versions on their websites, and the Louisiana Supreme Court maintains self-help resources as well. Complete every field before you scan. Incomplete forms are the most common reason e-filings bounce back.
Filing Fees and Waivers
Fees vary significantly by parish. In Jefferson Parish, the advance deposit for a divorce with accepted service and no additional motions is $400; a filing that includes service runs $500; and one involving temporary restraining orders or other motions reaches $600.9Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court. Fees Other parishes charge less, sometimes in the $200 to $300 range. Check your specific parish clerk’s website for current amounts. Payment goes through the portal by credit card or electronic check at the time of submission.
If you cannot afford the fee, Louisiana allows you to file an In Forma Pauperis affidavit asking the court to waive costs. Clients of Legal Services Corporation-funded programs whose household income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty level are presumed to qualify.10Louisiana Supreme Court. In Forma Pauperis Affidavit You can also submit the affidavit on your own, detailing income, expenses, and assets. The judge decides. An approved waiver covers filing fees and other court costs for the case.
Serving Your Spouse After You File
E-filing the petition is only the start. Your spouse has to be formally notified before the case can move forward, and the method depends on which article you filed under.
For an Article 102 divorce, standard citation is not required. Instead, the clerk prepares a special notice warning your spouse that after 180 or 365 days, you will be entitled to seek a final judgment.11Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 13:3491 – Divorce Under Civil Code Article 102; Notice That notice and a certified copy of the petition are served by the sheriff or a private process server.
For an Article 103 divorce, standard citation rules apply, and service must be requested within 90 days of filing.12Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure CCP 1201 – Citation; Waiver; Delay for Service
Under either article, your spouse can sign a written waiver of service and avoid the sheriff’s visit altogether.12Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure CCP 1201 – Citation; Waiver; Delay for Service If both of you agree on the divorce, the waiver is the fastest and cheapest route. It has to be in writing and filed into the court record. You also need to file an affidavit stating whether your spouse is on active military duty; an active-duty servicemember can request a stay that pauses the case.
Getting to the Final Judgment
After service is complete, two clocks run at the same time. Your spouse has 21 days to answer. If no answer comes, the court treats the allegations as admitted and you can seek a default judgment. The second clock is the mandatory separation period. Even with no response from your spouse, the court will not grant a final divorce until the full 180 or 365 days have elapsed.6Justia Law. Louisiana Civil Code Article 103.1 – Judgment of Divorce; Time Periods
In an Article 102 case, once the waiting period is up you file a Rule to Show Cause asking the court to set a hearing on the divorce. Your spouse gets a second notice informing them of the hearing and their right to appear.13Justia Law. Louisiana Revised Statutes RS 13:3492 – Divorce Under Civil Code Article 102; Notice of Rule to Show Cause In an Article 103 case where your spouse signs a sworn waiver, a default judgment can be entered as soon as two days after the waiver affidavit is filed.14Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure CCP 1702 – Default Judgment
One deadline to watch in Article 102 cases: you have to file your motion for final divorce within two years of serving the petition. Let that window close and you lose the right to a divorce on that petition and have to start over.
Remote Hearings
Louisiana law allows parties to appear by video for civil hearings that do not involve witness testimony or the introduction of evidence, as long as the court has the technology and you give at least ten days’ written notice.15Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure CCP 195.1 – Judicial Proceedings by Remote Technology Most uncontested divorce hearings fit that description. If both parties consent and the judge agrees, even a judge trial can go forward by video. With e-filing on the front end and a remote hearing on the back, it is possible to handle the entire divorce without stepping into a courthouse.
From filing to final judgment, a straightforward Louisiana divorce typically runs six months to over a year, depending on whether you have minor children and which article you file under. Filing online shortens the paperwork trip. It does not shorten the waiting period.