Camas sits in eastern Clark County, and despite having its own city hall and police department, it has no divorce court of its own. Every dissolution filed by a Camas resident goes to the Clark County Superior Court in downtown Vancouver, about 15 miles west via SR-14. Whether you live near Lacamas Lake, in Prune Hill, or downtown along NE 4th Avenue, your paperwork, hearings, and final decree all run through the same Vancouver courthouse and the Clark County Clerk's Office.
Key Facts: Divorce in Camas, Washington
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| County | Clark County |
| Filing court | Clark County Superior Court (Clerk's Office, 1st floor) |
| Court address | 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660 |
| Filing fee | $364 (fee waiver available for low income) |
| Residency requirement | No minimum; petitioner or spouse must be a Washington resident or stationed servicemember |
| Waiting period | 90 days from filing and service (cannot be waived) |
| Property model | Community property (just and equitable division) |
How do I file for divorce in Camas, Washington?
To file for divorce in Camas, you submit a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage to the Clark County Superior Court Clerk at 1200 Franklin Street in Vancouver and pay the $364 filing fee. Washington is a no-fault state, so you only allege the marriage is irretrievably broken under RCW 26.09.030. No proof of wrongdoing is required.
The core steps for a Camas resident:
- Complete the Petition for Dissolution, Summons, and Confidential Information Form (free at courts.wa.gov/forms).
- File with the Clark County Clerk in person, by mail to P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000, or through the Washington Odyssey File & Serve system.
- Pay the $364 fee or submit a fee-waiver motion if you qualify financially.
- Serve your spouse and start the 90-day clock.
The Family Law Court Facilitator on-site can review your forms for completeness, though they cannot give legal advice.
Where do I file for divorce in Camas? (which courthouse)
Camas residents file at the Clark County Courthouse, 1200 Franklin Street, Vancouver, WA 98660, in the County Clerk's Office on the first floor. The Clerk's main line is (564) 397-2292, and office hours run 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed noon to 1:00 p.m. for lunch. This is the only Superior Court serving Camas.
Clark County Superior Court is the court of general jurisdiction for all Washington dissolutions, with authority over divorce, property division, and parenting matters under RCW 26.09. Camas does not have a municipal court that handles divorce. Use ZIP 98660 for the physical street address when filing in person, and ZIP 98666 only for the P.O. Box mailing address. The Clark County Law Library on the first floor offers free forms, and the Fort Vancouver Regional Library at 901 C Street provides public computer access.
How much does a divorce lawyer cost in Camas?
A Camas divorce lawyer generally charges $250 to $400 per hour, with most attorneys requiring a retainer of $2,500 to $5,000 up front. An uncontested divorce often resolves for $1,500 to $3,500 in total legal fees, while a contested case involving property, business assets, or custody disputes commonly runs $7,000 to $20,000 or more.
What drives the cost in Clark County:
- Level of conflict: agreed parenting plans and property splits cost far less than litigated ones.
- Asset complexity: dividing a Camas home, retirement accounts, or a business requires appraisals and more attorney hours.
- Whether children are involved: a contested parenting plan under RCW 26.09.187 adds time.
Beyond attorney fees, budget the flat $364 court filing fee, roughly $20 to $40 to serve your spouse, and possible mediation costs of $150 to $300 per hour split between parties. You can estimate a full range with the Divorce Cost Estimator.
How long does a divorce take in Camas?
A divorce in Camas takes a minimum of 90 days because Washington imposes a mandatory waiting period under RCW 26.09.030. The clock starts on the later of the filing date or the date your spouse is served, and it cannot be shortened by agreement or court order, even when both spouses want to finalize quickly.
In practice, most uncontested Clark County divorces finalize in roughly 90 to 150 days once paperwork is signed and the cooling-off period passes. Contested cases that proceed to trial frequently take 12 to 18 months, depending on the court's calendar and the issues in dispute. Service timing matters: if you file but take several weeks to serve your spouse, the effective wait extends because the 90 days runs from the later of the two dates.
What are the residency requirements to file in Clark County?
Washington has one of the most flexible residency rules in the country and imposes no minimum length of residence before filing. Under RCW 26.09.030, the Clark County Superior Court has jurisdiction if the petitioner is a Washington resident, the petitioner's spouse is a Washington resident, or either spouse is a servicemember stationed in Washington.
This means a person who recently moved to Camas can file the same day they establish residency, unlike states that require 6 or 12 months. The court focuses on domicile, meaning physical presence plus the intent to make Washington home. Servicemembers stationed in Washington who file must remain in the state for the full 90-day waiting period, or the court loses jurisdiction to grant the dissolution.
How is property divided in a Camas divorce?
Washington is a community property state, so a Clark County judge divides marital assets and debts in a manner that is just and equitable, which does not always mean a 50/50 split. Under RCW 26.09.080, the court weighs the nature of community and separate property, the length of the marriage, and each spouse's economic circumstances.
Property acquired during the marriage, including wages, a Camas home, retirement accounts, and even credit card debt, is presumed community property regardless of which spouse earned or incurred it. Separate property includes assets owned before marriage or received by gift or inheritance, but it can lose that protection if commingled with marital funds. Washington courts disregard marital misconduct when dividing assets, with a narrow exception for proven marital waste. Use the Property Division tool to model possible outcomes.
FAQs
Do I have to live in Camas to file for divorce in Clark County?
No. You only need to be a Washington resident or a servicemember stationed in Washington under RCW 26.09.030. Washington requires no minimum residency period, so a Camas resident can file at the Clark County Superior Court immediately upon establishing residency, even the same week they move.
What is the exact filing fee for divorce in Camas?
The filing fee is $364, paid to the Clark County Clerk when you submit your Petition for Dissolution, confirmed current as of 2026. If you cannot afford it, you may file a fee-waiver motion with financial documentation. The court may require a brief hearing before granting the waiver based on financial hardship.
Can I get divorced in Camas without going to the Vancouver courthouse?
Often yes. Many uncontested Clark County divorces are completed by mail or through the Washington Odyssey File & Serve online system without a personal appearance. The Clerk's mailing address is P.O. Box 5000, Vancouver, WA 98666-5000. Contested cases with hearings still require attending the courthouse at 1200 Franklin Street.
Is Washington a no-fault divorce state?
Yes. Washington is a pure no-fault state, so you only allege the marriage is irretrievably broken under RCW 26.09.030. Neither spouse must prove adultery, abandonment, or other wrongdoing, and the court ignores marital misconduct when dividing property, with a narrow exception for proven marital waste of assets.
How does child custody work for Camas parents?
Washington uses parenting plans, not the word custody, governed by RCW 26.09.187. A Clark County judge sets a residential schedule and decision-making authority based on the child's best interests, giving greatest weight to the strength and stability of each parent's relationship with the child. Safety concerns can limit a parent's time under RCW 26.09.191.
What if my spouse will not agree to the divorce in Camas?
Washington allows unilateral divorce, so your spouse's agreement is not required. Once you allege the marriage is irretrievably broken under RCW 26.09.030 and the 90-day period passes, the Clark County Superior Court can grant the dissolution. A disagreeing spouse can contest terms like property or parenting, which lengthens the case.
Where can I get free divorce help near Camas?
The Clark County Family Law Court Facilitator at the Vancouver courthouse reviews forms for completeness at low cost. Free forms and instructions are available at courts.wa.gov/forms, washingtonlawhelp.org through the Northwest Justice Project, and the Clark County Law Library on the first floor of the courthouse at 1200 Franklin Street.