How to Get Divorce Papers Online in Louisiana

You can get Louisiana divorce papers online for free from the Louisiana Legal Navigator and the Louisiana State Bar Association, both of which publish complete, court-ready form packets you can download, fill out, and file yourself.¹² The forms are free, but you still have to pick the right packet, get your signature notarized, pay a parish filing fee (roughly $350 to $500), serve your spouse, and come back to court after the waiting period to ask for the final judgment.

Where to Download the Forms

Three sources cover almost every situation.

The Louisiana Legal Navigator at louisianalegalnavigator.org publishes guided self-help packets for both Article 102 and Article 103 divorces, with separate versions for couples with and without minor children.¹ Each packet walks you through every document you need, from the petition to the final judgment.

The Louisiana State Bar Association posts fillable PDF packets on lsba.org, including a complete self-represented-litigant set for an Article 102 divorce without children.²

Some parish clerks of court also host their own forms. The 24th Judicial District Court, for example, maintains an online forms page with both Article 102 and Article 103 packets.³ For parishes that participate in eFileLA, Louisiana’s electronic filing system, you can submit the completed forms online instead of mailing them or bringing them in. Not every parish is on eFileLA yet, so check with your local clerk before you count on it.

Pick the Right Packet Before You Download Anything

Louisiana has two no-fault divorce routes, and the one you choose determines which forms you need. Downloading the wrong packet means starting over.

An Article 102 divorce is for couples who have not yet lived apart for the required separation period. You file the petition first, serve your spouse, and then wait out the separation time before asking for the final judgment.⁴ This is the more common path because it starts the clock immediately.

An Article 103 divorce is for couples who have already completed the separation period before filing. Because the waiting is already done, the case moves faster once the petition is in.⁵

Each path then splits again depending on whether minor children are involved, giving you four possible packets on the Legal Navigator. Choose by two questions: have you completed the separation period, and do you have minor children with your spouse?

Who Can File in Louisiana

At least one spouse must be domiciled in Louisiana when the petition is filed. Domicile is physical presence combined with intent to remain. Louisiana does not impose a minimum residency period, so if you moved last month but intend to stay, you can file. Living in a Louisiana parish for at least six months creates a rebuttable presumption of domicile there, which makes jurisdiction easier to establish.⁶ With less than six months in-state, be prepared to show a Louisiana driver’s license, voter registration, lease or mortgage, or utility bills.

Information to Have Ready Before You Open the Forms

Gather these before you sit down with the packet so you are not pausing to hunt for documents:

Full legal names and current addresses for both spouses, exactly as they appear on legal identification.
The date and place of the marriage.
The date you and your spouse began living apart. This date drives the waiting-period calculation.
Full names, dates of birth, and current living arrangements for any minor children.
Whether either spouse is on active duty with the U.S. armed forces. The petition asks because federal protections may apply.

Every packet includes a Verification page you must sign in front of a notary public. Do not sign it at home. Bring your unsigned documents and a government-issued photo ID to the notary; Louisiana notary fees are typically under $10.²

The Waiting Period That Decides When You Can Finish

The required separation length depends on children. Couples without minor children must live separate and apart for at least 180 days. Couples with minor children must live separate and apart for at least 365 days.⁷

For an Article 102 filing, the clock starts on the date your spouse is served or signs a written waiver of service. For an Article 103 filing, the separation must already be finished before you file.⁴ In either case the separation has to be continuous, with no reconciliation.

Louisiana law provides for a reduced 180-day waiting period even where minor children are present in cases involving domestic abuse or a protective order against the other spouse.⁵

Filing the Forms and Paying the Fee

Once notarized, file the forms with the Clerk of Court in the parish where you or your spouse is domiciled. You can file in person, by mail, or through eFileLA where it is available. The clerk assigns a docket number that tracks the case.

Filing fees vary by parish and by whether sheriff service is needed. In Jefferson Parish, a divorce with acceptance of service costs $400, while one requiring sheriff service costs $500.⁸ In Ascension Parish, a new civil filing without service costs $355, and one with service costs $405.⁹ Budget roughly $350 to $500 depending on parish and whether additional motions are involved.

If you cannot afford the fee, ask the court to waive it by filing an In Forma Pauperis Affidavit. The judge decides whether paying would cause genuine hardship. You generally qualify if your household income is at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level, or if you already receive assistance such as SNAP or TANF. The affidavit is included in some LSBA packets and is also available from the clerk’s office.²

Serving Your Spouse

After filing, your spouse has to be formally notified that the case exists. The court will not move forward without proof of service.

The cheapest route is a written waiver. If your spouse is cooperative, they can sign a Waiver of Service after the petition is filed, acknowledging receipt and skipping formal delivery.¹⁰ For an Article 103 case there is a broader waiver that covers citation, service, and notice in one document.¹¹

If your spouse will not sign a waiver, the local sheriff’s office usually handles service in person for a fee of roughly $40 to $100 on top of the filing fee.

If Your Spouse Lives Out of State

You can still file in Louisiana as long as you meet the domicile requirement. Service on an out-of-state spouse is made by sending a certified copy of the petition by registered or certified mail, or through a commercial courier that obtains a signed receipt. If your spouse cannot be located, the court can appoint an attorney to represent the absent defendant so the case can proceed.¹²

Going Back to Court for the Final Judgment

Filing the petition does not end the marriage. After the waiting period runs, you have to return to the court and ask for the divorce.

In an Article 102 case, that means filing a Rule to Show Cause. The Louisiana Supreme Court’s checklist requires the rule to allege that the correct number of days have passed since service and that you have lived apart continuously the entire time.¹³ A hearing is scheduled; in uncontested cases it is usually brief. The judge confirms the requirements are met and signs the Judgment of Divorce.

In an Article 103 case the timeline is shorter because the separation was already complete at filing. The court still holds a hearing, but there is no additional waiting.

This is the step self-filers most often miss. People file the petition, serve the spouse, and assume the divorce will happen on its own once the waiting period passes. It will not. If you do not come back and ask for the judgment, the case sits open indefinitely.

When the Standard Online Packets Do Not Apply

Two situations fall outside the regular 102 and 103 packets, and it is worth knowing before you download anything.

Covenant marriage. Louisiana is one of only three states that recognize covenant marriages, and they can only be ended on specific grounds set out in the statute, including adultery, a felony conviction with a prison sentence, abandonment of at least one year, physical or sexual abuse, and living apart for at least two years.¹⁴ The standard online packets do not fit. If you are not sure whether you entered a covenant marriage, talk to an attorney or use the Louisiana State Bar Association’s lawyer referral service before filing.

Active-duty military spouse. The federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act bars courts from entering a judgment against an active-duty service member without first appointing an attorney to represent them, and the service member can request a stay of proceedings of at least 90 days if military duties prevent appearance.¹⁵ The petition asks about military status for this reason. A divorce granted in violation of these rules can be set aside later, so answer honestly.

1
Louisiana Legal Navigator. Forms and Self-Help
2
Louisiana State Bar Association. Self-Represented Litigant Petition for 102 Divorce Without Children
3
24th JDC Online Court. Forms
4
Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Civil Code Art 102 – Judgment of Divorce; Living Separate and Apart Prior to Rule
5
Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Civil Code Art 103 – Judgment of Divorce; Other Grounds
6
Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Art 10 – Jurisdiction Over Status
7
Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Civil Code Art 103.1 – Judgment of Divorce; Time Periods
8
Jefferson Parish Clerk of Court. Fees
9
Ascension Parish Clerk of Court. Civil Filing Fees
10
Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana Code of Civil Procedure Art 3957 – Waiver of Service of Petition and Rule to Show Cause
11
Louisiana Supreme Court. Appendix 28.3A – Waiver of Citation, Service, and Notice in a La CC Art 103 Divorce
12
Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana RS 13:3204 – Service of Process
13
Louisiana Supreme Court. Appendix 27.0A – Louisiana Code Article 102 Divorce Checklist
14
Louisiana State Legislature. Louisiana RS 9:272 – Covenant Marriage; Requirements
15
GovInfo. 50 USC 3932 – Stay of Proceedings When Servicemember Has Notice