Divorce in Vancouver runs through the Clark County Superior Court, the court of general jurisdiction that handles every dissolution filed by residents of Vancouver, Camas, Battle Ground, Ridgefield, and the rest of Clark County. You do not travel to Olympia or any other county. Your case starts and finishes at the downtown courthouse on Franklin Street, a few blocks from Esther Short Park and the I-5 Interstate Bridge over the Columbia River into Portland. Washington is a no-fault, community property state, so the only ground is that the marriage is irretrievably broken under RCW 26.09.030.
Key facts: divorce in Vancouver, Washington (2026)
The table below summarizes the local logistics for filing a dissolution as a Vancouver resident. Every Clark County case is filed with the Superior Court Clerk at the Franklin Street courthouse, the fee verified at $364 as of March 2026, and the same 90-day statutory waiting period applies regardless of whether your case is agreed or contested.
| Item | Detail (Vancouver / Clark County) |
|---|---|
| County | Clark County |
| Filing court | Clark County Superior Court Clerk's Office |
| Court address | 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660 (PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666) |
| Filing fee (2026) | $364 (fee waiver available via GR 34) |
| Residency requirement | Petitioner must be a Washington resident; no minimum duration |
| Waiting period | 90 days from filing and service (RCW 26.09.030) |
| Property model | Community property (RCW 26.09.080) |
How do I file for divorce in Vancouver, Washington?
To file for divorce in Vancouver, complete a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage plus the required Washington Pattern Forms, then file them with the Clark County Superior Court Clerk at 1200 Franklin Street. The 2026 filing fee is $364. After filing, you must serve your spouse, which starts the mandatory 90-day waiting clock under RCW 26.09.030.
The step-by-step process for a Clark County resident looks like this:
- Confirm one spouse is a Washington resident. Washington imposes no minimum residency duration, so you can file as soon as you live here.
- Prepare the Petition, Summons, and (if you have children) a Proposed Parenting Plan and Child Support Worksheets. Forms are free at courts.wa.gov/forms, or the Clerk sells packets for $30 (no children) or $50 (with children).
- File at the Clark County Superior Court Clerk's Office, first floor of the courthouse, and pay the $364 fee or submit a fee-waiver motion.
- Serve your spouse with the filed papers. The 90-day clock runs from filing or service, whichever is later.
- After 90 days, finalize by agreement or, if contested, through court hearings.
Use the divorce cost estimator to plan filing, service, and attorney costs before you start.
Where do I file for divorce in Vancouver? (which courthouse)
Vancouver residents file for divorce at the Clark County Courthouse, 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660, in the Superior Court Clerk's Office on the first floor. Mailed filings go to PO Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666. The Clerk's general line is 564-397-2150. This is the only Superior Court location serving Clark County dissolution cases.
The courthouse sits in downtown Vancouver, near Esther Short Park and within walking distance of the Vancouver Community Library. Clark County Superior Court is the trial court with jurisdiction over divorce, legal separation, parenting plans, and child support. District and municipal courts in the area do not handle dissolutions, so every Vancouver, Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, or Orchards resident files at the same Franklin Street location. Bring your completed forms and payment, or file in person and request a fee waiver if you cannot afford the $364 fee.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Vancouver?
A Vancouver divorce lawyer typically charges $250 to $400 per hour, with most contested Clark County cases running $7,000 to $15,000 in total fees. An uncontested, agreed dissolution with full cooperation often costs $1,500 to $4,000 in attorney fees. Add the mandatory $364 court filing fee plus roughly $40 to $60 per parent for the required parenting class if children are involved.
Costs vary with conflict level. A fully agreed divorce where both spouses sign the same paperwork is the cheapest path and may need only limited attorney involvement. Disputes over the parenting plan, business valuations, or large community estates drive hourly billing up quickly. Beyond the $364 filing fee, budget for a $280 response fee if your spouse files an appearance, $30 to $100 per motion, and $5 per certified copy. Many Clark County attorneys offer flat-fee uncontested packages. Compare scenarios with the divorce cost estimator.
How long does a divorce take in Vancouver?
The fastest a Vancouver divorce can finalize is 90 days, the mandatory statutory waiting period under RCW 26.09.030, measured from filing and service. An agreed, uncontested Clark County dissolution typically completes in 90 to 120 days. Contested cases involving disputed parenting plans, property, or support commonly take 9 to 18 months as they move through temporary orders and trial scheduling.
The 90-day period cannot be waived or shortened, even when both spouses fully agree on every term. It is a cooling-off window, not a separation requirement. Washington has no rule that you live apart before filing or finalizing. The timeline lengthens when one spouse contests the petition. If a respondent disputes that the marriage is irretrievably broken, the court can continue the matter up to 60 days for possible reconciliation, though the petitioner can still obtain a decree afterward. Final parenting plans also cannot be entered before the 90-day mark.
What are the residency requirements to file in Clark County?
Washington has no minimum residency duration to file for divorce in Clark County. You only need to be a Washington resident, a member of the armed forces stationed here, or married to a Washington resident at the time of filing. Unlike most states that require six months, you can file at the Vancouver courthouse immediately upon establishing residency in Washington.
This is a meaningful advantage for new arrivals, including families who relocate to Vancouver from Portland across the Columbia River. There is no waiting period to establish residency before you petition. The only mandatory wait is the 90-day cooling-off period that begins after filing and service, not before. Your spouse does not need to live in Washington for you to file here, provided you meet the residency basis yourself. Confirm your specific situation with a Vancouver family law attorney, especially in interstate cases involving Oregon, since jurisdiction over property and children can turn on where each spouse and child has lived.
How is property divided in a Vancouver divorce?
Washington is a community property state, so a Clark County court divides marital assets and debts in a manner that is just and equitable under RCW 26.09.080, without regard to fault. Just and equitable does not automatically mean a 50/50 split. Judges weigh four factors: the extent of community property, the extent of separate property, the duration of the marriage, and each spouse's economic circumstances.
Property acquired during the marriage is generally community property subject to division. Assets owned before marriage or received by gift or inheritance are usually separate property and may be confirmed to the original owner, especially in shorter marriages. Marriages of 20 or more years more often result in roughly equal divisions, while economic disparity between spouses can justify a disproportionate award. Marital misconduct, including adultery, is not a property factor, though waste of community assets can be argued. Estimate your split with the property division calculator.