North Dakota Divorce Laws

Critical North Dakota Divorce Guidelines to File for a Divorce

Divorce Requirements for North Dakota Residents

In order to file for a divorce petition in North Dakota, either the petitioner or the respondent must be or have been a resident of the state for 180 days prior to filing.

North Dakota Grounds For Divorce

North Dakota has both no-fault and fault-based grounds for divorce. The no-fault ground is irreconcilable differences, while the fault grounds are adultery, extreme cruelty, willful desertion, willful neglect, abuse of alcohol or controlled substances, and conviction of felony.

Child Custody Law in North Dakota

Divorce courts in North Dakota recognize joint custody in the child’s best interest. Some of the factors to be considered:

1. Wishes of the child as to his or her custodian if the child is of age;
2. Wishes of the child’s parents as to custody;
3. Moral fitness of each parent;
4. Capacity of each parent to give love, affection and guidance;
5. Bond or interpersonal relationship between child and parent and other siblings;
6. Child’s adjustment to home, school, and community; and
7. Mental and physical health of all parties involved.

Guidelines for North Dakota Child Support

North Dakota child support guidelines are based on official guidelines and on the income shares model for calculating child support. Monthly support is determined by applying these guidelines and divided proportionally according to each parent’s income.

Where to file for a divorce?

A North Dakota divorce petition may be filed in the county where either of the spouses resides.

For a fast and inexpensive divorce process, you can file North Dakota online divorce papers.

Refer to the “Divorce Requirements for North Dakota Residents” above and also review the best online divorce sites.

Mediation

Divorce mediation can help divorcing spouses in North Dakota go through the difficult process of divorce in significantly reducing the stress involved, making it easier for the couples in working together to reach a resolution with the help of a mediator.

Before or after filing the North Dakota divorce papers, either party may ask for a mediation settlement to resolve disputes such as division of properties and debts, child custody, and child support.

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You may also visit the Utah Courts