Divorce in North Dakota, start to finish
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North Dakota’s court system builds genuinely good, numbered, fill-in-the-blank divorce packets — and gives them away free. What it doesn’t tell you up front is that the six-month residency rule is stricter than people assume, which packet is actually yours, or what happens the moment your spouse won’t sign. That’s this.
Put in the day you filed and this page works out every deadline in your case, then hands you a calendar file that reminds you a week before each one and again the day before. It opens in the calendar you already use. Free, no account, nothing stored.
Which forms do you actually need?
Your route and its conditions, the forms grouped by route, how filing actually works in North Dakota, and the sequence with its costs.
First, which route you are on. Each one opens to the conditions the rule actually sets.
Filing for Divorce Together — Stip DNC and Stip DWC
Available only where both of these are true:
- Both spouses have agreed, in writing, on how to divide every asset and debt — and, where there are children, on custody, parenting time and support.
- Both spouses will sign the paperwork and file it together as one uncontested case.
Plaintiff-initiated
This is the route where any of these is true:
- The spouses haven’t agreed, in writing, on how to divide everything yet.
- One spouse will cooperate and respond, but won’t co-file.
- The other spouse needs to be formally served, or can’t be reached.
Grouped exactly as North Dakota labels them, and nothing is added. Every one links to the official PDF.
Filing Together — Stip DNC (no children) 1 form
- 10 — Notice of Entry of Judgment
Filing Together — Stip DWC (with children) 2 forms
Plaintiff-initiated — both packets 3 forms
Plaintiff-initiated — no children 3 forms
Plaintiff-initiated — the Defendant’s response 4 forms
You may e-file, but you do not have to
The checklist is not something you file. It is your worktable — what to do, in what order, and what it costs. The forms are what reaches the court, and this is how they get there in North Dakota.
- Portal
- Odyssey File & Serve (North Dakota District Court E-Filing Portal)
- Paper
- Still accepted — you can file over the counter.
- What it costs
- No portal fee published.
- Account
- Only if the self-represented party opts in; Rule 3.5 requires that anyone who does e-file use the Odyssey system, which requires an account. No registration cost is published.
- Worth knowing
- North Dakota's rule is one of the most explicit in the country: it names self-represented litigants and prisoners by name, exempts them, and spells out all three paper delivery routes (in person, mail, commercial carrier). A pro se divorce filer needs no account at all.
Each step with the forms it names and the money it costs. The full detail of every step is in the section below. Print this part.
| # | Step | Forms it names | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm residency | None named | — |
| 2 | Pick your packet | P5P1 | — |
| 3 | File with the Clerk of District Court | None named | $160 |
| 4 | Serve your spouse they then have 21 days | P4 | — |
| 5 | Case management activates, if they answer 30 days from service | None named | — |
| 6 | Mediation, if parenting is disputed within ~10 days of proof of service | None named | — |
| 7 | No answer within 21 days? File for default | P1 | — |
| 8 | Judgment | None named | — |
Every figure here is this page’s own, from the costs section below. A fee waiver application is free to file and is listed with the forms above.
| Filing fee — petition for divorce (N.D. Court Fee Schedule, eff. 07/01/2025) | $160 |
| Filing fee — Answer, if your spouse contests | $100 |
| Certified copy of the final Judgment (first / each additional) | $20 / $10 |
| Service of process by sheriff or private process server, if not admitted | check with the Sheriff’s office |
| Service by publication, if your spouse can’t be located | check with your local newspaper of record |
| Family Law Mediation for disputed parenting issues, up to 6 hrs (N.D.C.C. ch. 14-09.1) | no cost |
| Typical all-in, filing together, uncontested | ~$160–$200 |
| Typical all-in, plaintiff-initiated but uncontested | ~$260–$400+ |
The short version8 points · tap one to jump to it
- The two ways a North Dakota divorce starts — North Dakota has a real fast lane — Filing for Divorce Together — where both spouses sign everything, including the paperwork that normally requires formal service.
- Every form North Dakota publishes for a divorce — Every form here is free from the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, with the revision dates printed in each form’s footer.
- Getting the forms and filling them in
- Your deadlines, calculated — If your case is contested, almost everything counts from the day your spouse is served.
- The order it actually happens in
- The rejection-proofing checklist — N.D.C.C. § 14-05-17 is a two-part test: 6 months of good-faith residency before you file, OR 6 months of good-faith residency before the decree is entered.
- Property, debts, and North Dakota's child support math — Exhibit A (the Property and Debt Listing) is required in every track — even if you own nothing and owe nothing, you still file it saying so.
- What this costs — The Legal Self Help Center's forms are free either way.
In this subject 8
1 · The two ways a North Dakota divorce starts
The short version8 points · tap one to jump to it
- The two ways a North Dakota divorce starts — North Dakota has a real fast lane — Filing for Divorce Together — where both spouses sign everything, including the paperwork that normally requires formal service.
- Every form North Dakota publishes for a divorce — Every form here is free from the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, with the revision dates printed in each form’s footer.
- Getting the forms and filling them in
- Your deadlines, calculated — If your case is contested, almost everything counts from the day your spouse is served.
- The order it actually happens in
- The rejection-proofing checklist — N.D.C.C. § 14-05-17 is a two-part test: 6 months of good-faith residency before you file, OR 6 months of good-faith residency before the decree is entered.
- Property, debts, and North Dakota's child support math — Exhibit A (the Property and Debt Listing) is required in every track — even if you own nothing and owe nothing, you still file it saying so.
- What this costs — The Legal Self Help Center's forms are free either way.
In this subject 8
North Dakota has a real fast lane — Filing for Divorce Together — where both spouses sign everything, including the paperwork that normally requires formal service. Everyone else starts as a plaintiff-initiated case, where one spouse files and the other has to respond. Each route has its own packet, and each packet comes in a with-children and a no-children version — that’s the “Stip DWC” and “Stip DNC” naming (Stipulated, Divorce With Children / Divorce No Children). Downloading the wrong packet means starting over.
Residency. N.D.C.C. § 14-05-17 is a two-part test, and it is about the plaintiff — the spouse who files — not just either of you. The plaintiff needs to be a good-faith North Dakota resident for the 6 months right before filing — or, failing that, for the 6 months right before the decree is entered. That second option means a case can often be filed now, with the clock finishing while the case is open, rather than waiting to start. Where there is genuinely no way either spouse reaches 6 months of residency before a decree could realistically be entered, the Clerk of District Court can talk through timing, and filing where a spouse currently lives is the other option.
Filing for Divorce Together — Stip DNC and Stip DWC
North Dakota’s fast lane: both spouses sign every document, including the Admission of Service, so nobody has to be formally served and there’s no 21-day wait for an answer.
Available only where both of these are true:
- Both spouses have agreed, in writing, on how to divide every asset and debt — and, where there are children, on custody, parenting time and support.
- Both spouses will sign the paperwork and file it together as one uncontested case.
It’s still real litigation: a judge can reject a Settlement Agreement that isn’t in a child’s best interest, or ask follow-up questions before signing off. Where there are children, the state’s child support calculator has to be run before filing, or the court can dismiss the case outright. The with-children packet is Stip DWC; the no-children packet is Stip DNC.
Plaintiff-initiated
One spouse (the Plaintiff) files the Summons and Complaint, and the other (the Defendant) then has 21 days to respond.
This is the route where any of these is true:
- The spouses haven’t agreed, in writing, on how to divide everything yet.
- One spouse will cooperate and respond, but won’t co-file.
- The other spouse needs to be formally served, or can’t be reached.
Where the other spouse is cooperative, the Summons and Complaint still have to be delivered — personal delivery or certified mail — but they can immediately file a straightforward Answer & Counterclaim instead of contesting anything, and once that’s on file the same Settlement Agreement paperwork used in the Together packet is available. Where a spouse genuinely can’t be located, North Dakota allows service by publication instead of personal delivery — but publication comes with real limits on what a court can order, for example around property and support, so it is worth a conversation with an attorney before relying on it. Reaching a full agreement later doesn’t mean restarting the case.
2 · Every form North Dakota publishes for a divorce
Every North Dakota divorce packet in full, not a shortlist — because which forms are needed depends on facts only you and, if you need one, your lawyer can weigh. Every form here is free from the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center, with the revision dates printed in each form’s footer. North Dakota reuses the same bare numbers across packets — Form 5 is the Admission of Service in Stip DNC and the Confidential Information Form in Stip DWC — so the Route column, not the number, is what identifies a form.
The Cusp is not a law firm and cannot tell you which forms are right for your case. Everything here is general information about how North Dakota handles divorce, and every form below is published free by North Dakota itself — you do not have to buy anything from anyone to get them. If your situation is not straightforward, a consultation with a North Dakota family lawyer costs far less than fixing a filing that went wrong.
| Form | What it is | Route | Rev. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Summons | Filing Together — Stip DNC (no children) | 10/24 | Download |
| 2 | Complaint | Filing Together — Stip DNC (no children) | 05/18 | Download |
| 3 | Settlement Agreement — both spouses, before a notary or Clerk of Court | Filing Together — Stip DNC (no children) | 03/22 | Download |
| 4 | Exhibit A: Confidential Property and Debt Listing — file even with nothing to divide | Filing Together — Stip DNC (no children) | 07/26 | Download |
| 5 | Admission of Service — Defendant signs instead of being served | Filing Together — Stip DNC (no children) | 07/21 | Download |
| 6 | Affidavit of Proof for Stipulated Judgment — Plaintiff, before a notary or Clerk of Court | Filing Together — Stip DNC (no children) | 08/18 | Download |
| 7 | Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order for Judgment (Proposed) | Filing Together — Stip DNC (no children) | 03/22 | Download |
| 8 | Judgment (Proposed) | Filing Together — Stip DNC (no children) | 03/22 | Download |
| 9 | Confidential Information Form | Filing Together — Stip DNC (no children) | 08/17 | Download |
| 10 | Notice of Entry of Judgment | Filing Together — Stip DNC (no children) | 05/19 | Download |
| 1 | Summons | Filing Together — Stip DWC (with children) | 10/24 | Download |
| 2 | Complaint | Filing Together — Stip DWC (with children) | 01/24 | Download |
| 3 | Settlement Agreement — both spouses, before a notary or Clerk of Court | Filing Together — Stip DWC (with children) | 02/24 | Download |
| 4 | Exhibit A: Confidential Property and Debt Listing — file even with nothing to divide | Filing Together — Stip DWC (with children) | 07/26 | Download |
| 5·B | Exhibit B: Parenting Plan — both spouses, before a notary or Clerk of Court | Filing Together — Stip DWC (with children) | 01/24 | Download |
| 5 | Confidential Information Form | Filing Together — Stip DWC (with children) | 01/24 | Download |
| 6 | Admission of Service — Defendant signs instead of being served | Filing Together — Stip DWC (with children) | 01/24 | Download |
| 7 | Affidavit of Proof for Stipulated Judgment — Plaintiff, before a notary or Clerk of Court | Filing Together — Stip DWC (with children) | 01/24 | Download |
| 8 | Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order for Judgment (Proposed) | Filing Together — Stip DWC (with children) | 01/24 | Download |
| 9 | Judgment (Proposed) | Filing Together — Stip DWC (with children) | 01/24 | Download |
| 10 | Notice of Entry of Judgment | Filing Together — Stip DWC (with children) | 01/24 | Download |
| P1 | Summons — needs a Clerk of Court signature to issue, not just yours | Plaintiff-initiated — no children | 10/24 | Download |
| P2 | Complaint | Plaintiff-initiated — no children | — | Download |
| P3 | Confidential Information Form | Plaintiff-initiated — no children | — | Download |
| P1 | Summons — needs a Clerk of Court signature to issue, not just yours | Plaintiff-initiated — with children | 10/24 | Download |
| P2 | Complaint | Plaintiff-initiated — with children | — | Download |
| P3 | Confidential Information Form | Plaintiff-initiated — with children | — | Download |
| P4 | Declaration of Service — Personal Delivery | Plaintiff-initiated — both packets | — | Download |
| P4 | Declaration of Service — Publication, if you can’t locate your spouse | Plaintiff-initiated — both packets | 10/25 | Download |
| P5 | Notice of Filing | Plaintiff-initiated — both packets | 03/24 | Download |
| D1 | Answer & Counterclaim (your spouse files this) — no children | Plaintiff-initiated — the Defendant’s response | — | Download |
| D1 | Answer & Counterclaim (your spouse files this) — with children | Plaintiff-initiated — the Defendant’s response | — | Download |
| D2 | Confidential Information Form (your spouse’s copy) — no children | Plaintiff-initiated — the Defendant’s response | — | Download |
| D2 | Confidential Information Form (your spouse’s copy) — with children | Plaintiff-initiated — the Defendant’s response | — | Download |
Every one of these is free. Download fresh each time — revision dates change, and saved copies go stale. Full catalog: ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/divorce.
3 · Getting the forms and filling them in
Nobody explains this part, so here it is. Every North Dakota form is free, most are fillable on screen, and the self-help packets are written to be usable without a lawyer — that’s the whole point of the “Stip DNC” and “Stip DWC” naming (Stipulated, Divorce No Children / Divorce With Children).
You may e-file, but you do not have to Your choice
- Portal
- Odyssey File & Serve (North Dakota District Court E-Filing Portal)
- Paper
- Still accepted — you can file over the counter.
- What it costs
- No portal fee published.
- Account
- Only if the self-represented party opts in; Rule 3.5 requires that anyone who does e-file use the Odyssey system, which requires an account. No registration cost is published.
- Worth knowing
- North Dakota's rule is one of the most explicit in the country: it names self-represented litigants and prisoners by name, exempts them, and spells out all three paper delivery routes (in person, mail, commercial carrier). A pro se divorce filer needs no account at all.
Step one — download them free
All North Dakota divorce self-help forms live here, at no cost:
ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/divorce — Legal Self Help Center
Don’t reuse a saved copy. Forms get revised — the Property and Debt Listing (Exhibit A) used in both tracks was updated in July 2026, and the Summons in both packets was updated in October 2024 — and courts can reject superseded versions. The revision is printed in the footer of every form, e.g. “Stip DNC Form 2/Rev May 2018.”
Step two — fill them in on screen
Most of these are fillable PDFs — open them in Adobe Acrobat Reader (free), Preview on a Mac, or your browser, and type directly into the fields. If a paragraph doesn’t apply to your situation, don’t just skip it — check the box that says it doesn’t apply, or write “N/A,” so nothing is left ambiguous.
North Dakota requires a completed child support calculation before the court will act on a “Filing for Divorce Together — With Children” case. The self-help instructions say it plainly: attempt to file without it, and the court will either make you complete it before deciding anything, or dismiss the case outright. Calculate it first at the state’s own calculator, run by the ND Department of Health and Human Services Child Support Division: childsupport.dhs.nd.gov — then transfer the numbers into your Settlement Agreement.
Step three — who has to sign what, and in front of whom
This is the part that trips people up. North Dakota’s “Filing for Divorce Together” packet uses three different signing requirements depending on the document, and a notary can’t fix all of them:
| Document | Who signs, and how |
|---|---|
| Summons (Form 1) | You sign it, and a Clerk of District Court signs it too, to issue it. Not a notary function — you bring it to the clerk’s counter. |
| Complaint (Form 2) | Just your own signature. No notary, no witness. |
| Settlement Agreement, Exhibit A (Property & Debt), Exhibit B (Parenting Plan, if children) | Both spouses, sworn before a Notary Public or a Clerk of Court — either one works. |
| Confidential Information Form | Both spouses sign. No notary needed. |
| Admission of Service | The Defendant signs it alone, under penalty of perjury. No notary — this replaces being formally served. |
| Affidavit of Proof for Stipulated Judgment | The Plaintiff only, sworn before a Notary Public or a Clerk of Court. Doesn’t have to be signed in North Dakota, or before an ND notary — an out-of-state notary or clerk works fine if you’ve moved. |
North Dakota permits remote online notarization under the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts (N.D.C.C. ch. 44-06.1) — confirmed on the Secretary of State’s own site. A commissioned ND notary can notarize you over a recorded video session after verifying your identity, which is useful if you and your spouse aren’t in the same place to sign together.
The Settlement Agreement, its exhibits, and the Affidavit of Proof are all sworn statements — you don’t just sign them, you swear to them. Signing in advance and bringing a “pre-signed” copy to a notary defeats the purpose of the oath, and it’s the kind of thing a court can catch and reject.
Step four — filing
File with the Clerk of District Court in the county where you or your spouse lives. The statewide filing fee for a divorce petition is $160 (N.D. Court Fee Schedule, effective July 1, 2025). Self-represented parties generally file on paper at the counter or by mail; some judicial districts also accept electronic filing through the court’s Odyssey File & Serve system, but availability for self-represented filers varies by district — check with your Clerk of District Court before assuming e-filing is an option where you are.
Ask the Clerk of District Court about a fee waiver. North Dakota’s self-help materials don’t publish one fixed income cutoff the way some states do — the clerk reviews your situation and tells you what applies in your county, so ask directly rather than assuming you don’t qualify.
4 · Your deadlines, calculated
If your case is contested, almost everything counts from the day your spouse is served. Put that in — plus the day you filed — and we’ll turn North Dakota’s rules into actual dates on your calendar, then let you add them to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar or Outlook in one click.
5 · The order it actually happens in
6 · The rejection-proofing checklist
These are the specific things that get North Dakota filings bounced, delayed, or dismissed — every one of them costs weeks.
Signing and notarizing
N.D.C.C. § 14-05-17 is a two-part test: 6 months of good-faith residency before you file, OR 6 months of good-faith residency before the decree is entered. People who assume they must sit on their hands for six months before they’re even allowed to start the paperwork often don’t realize they can file now, if the case will still be open in six months. Conversely, “resident” means good faith, not just a mailing address — a judge can ask for proof of actual, intended residency, not a technicality.
Forms people forget
Timing
Filing the With-Children packet without completing the state’s child support calculation — the self-help instructions say the court will dismiss the case rather than proceed without it. And relying on service by publication when your spouse’s location is actually known — publication is reserved for genuine can’t-locate situations, and using it improperly can mean the judgment doesn’t hold up.
7 · Property, debts, and North Dakota’s child support math
Exhibit A (the Property and Debt Listing) is required in every track — even if you own nothing and owe nothing, you still file it saying so. If you have children, Paragraphs 24–35 of the Settlement Agreement are your Child Support Agreement, governed by N.D.C.C. § 14-09-09.7.
If your agreed child support amount doesn’t match what the calculator produces, N.D.C.C. § 14-09-09.7 lets you deviate — but the Settlement Agreement requires you to state the calculator’s number and explain, in writing, why the presumption is rebutted. Leaving that blank is one of the more common reasons a judge kicks a Settlement Agreement back for revision. Payments themselves route through the North Dakota State Disbursement Unit, not directly between spouses, unless Child Support agrees otherwise.
8 · What this costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Filing fee — petition for divorce (N.D. Court Fee Schedule, eff. 07/01/2025) | $160 |
| Filing fee — Answer, if your spouse contests | $100 |
| Certified copy of the final Judgment (first / each additional) | $20 / $10 |
| Service of process by sheriff or private process server, if not admitted | check with the Sheriff’s office |
| Service by publication, if your spouse can’t be located | check with your local newspaper of record |
| Family Law Mediation for disputed parenting issues, up to 6 hrs (N.D.C.C. ch. 14-09.1) | no cost |
| Typical all-in, filing together, uncontested | ~$160–$200 |
| Typical all-in, plaintiff-initiated but uncontested | ~$260–$400+ |
The Legal Self Help Center’s forms are free either way. What varies is attorney time. These are member-reported, illustrative figures from The Cusp’s community — not an official fee schedule, and not a quote:
| County | Uncontested, attorney-assisted | Contested / litigated |
|---|---|---|
| Cass County (Fargo) | $1,500–$3,500 | $5,000–$15,000+ |
| Burleigh County (Bismarck) | $1,200–$3,000 | $5,000–$14,000+ |
| Grand Forks County | $1,200–$2,800 | $4,500–$13,000+ |
Does cheating change the money in North Dakota?
It can. Marital conduct is a factor the court is allowed to weigh. The rule: “the conduct of the parties during the marriage” (§ 14-05-24.1(3)(d)). How all fifty states answer this.
Reconciled, and it did not work? In North Dakota that has a legal name and it can bar the ground, with conditions attached: condonation, state by state. If the decision itself is what you are sitting with rather than the law, start here.
What this is. A guide to North Dakota’s own process, built from the North Dakota Century Code (Title 14, chapter 14-05 — including §§ 14-05-03, 14-05-17 and 14-05-18; chapter 14-09, including §§ 14-09-09.7, 14-09-09.24, 14-09-08.19 and 14-09-08.4; and chapter 44-06.1, the Revised Uniform Law on Notarial Acts), the North Dakota Rules of Court (Rules 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.6, 8.7 and 8.11), the North Dakota Court Fee Schedule effective July 1, 2025, and the official “Filing for Divorce Together” and plaintiff-initiated form packets published by the North Dakota Legal Self Help Center at ndcourts.gov/legal-self-help/divorce. The forms themselves are free and this guide links you to them rather than reselling them.
What this is not. The Cusp is not a law firm and does not practice law. Nothing here is legal advice, and nothing here tells you which choice is right for your particular situation — only what North Dakota requires of each path. If your case involves contested custody, a business, hidden assets, domestic violence, or a spouse with a lawyer, talk to an attorney; many offer free consultations, and one hour of advice is cheaper than a case that gets dismissed for a missing child support calculation. Court staff — including the clerk who may sign your Summons — are not permitted to give legal advice.
Confirm current numbers with the clerk. Filing fees, service costs, and local practices are periodically adjusted and can vary by judicial district. Where this guide could not verify an exact figure, link, or local requirement with confidence, it says so and points you to the Clerk of District Court rather than guessing.
Four things can happen to the house in a North Dakota divorce
North Dakota is not one of the twenty states where filing freezes both spouses automatically. That is not permission to sell: either of you can still ask a court for an order, and one may already exist in your case. But the automatic-order trap is not one you fall into here.
One of you buys the other out, you sell later, you sell now, or the court decides. For a great many people the right answer is not to sell at all – and three of the four routes earn us nothing.
The four routes, compared · Keeping it: the buyout and the carrying cost · Selling: capital gains, basis and timing · Finding an agent who has done a divorce sale · What two households cost
Need a vetted attorney, mediator, or financial analyst in North Dakota?
Browse The Cusp’s professional directory — rated only by verified clients, never ranked by who paid the most.
Browse the directory →The Cusp · All 50 state kits · Find a professional · About
Ask for an introduction to an agent → — who we would introduce you to, what the referral fee is and who pays it, and why the answer is sometimes that you should not sell at all.
Everything we have written about North Dakota specifically. Every figure on these pages is quoted from North Dakota’s own statute or its courts’ own published schedule, and carries the date we last checked it.
- Modifying support after divorce
- Modifying custody and parenting time after divorce
- Check your state’s rules in one place (modification checker)
- What it costs to file
- Child custody
- Child support
- Guardians ad litem and child representation
- Travel, custody and relocation
- Alimony
- Property, support and legal fees
- Protective orders
- Changing your name back
- Legal help you can afford
- Verified professionals
The most expensive mistakes in a divorce are made in the year after it, by people who thought the case was over. After the divorce is the checklist for that year — the health-coverage clock, the retirement order a decree cannot replace, and the beneficiary form that outranks your will.
Filing is one household becoming two, and the second one starts empty. The two-household list is what to send the people who keep asking how they can help — the second of everything, and the half of it that costs nothing. Some people call it a divorce registry.
All 34 North Dakota divorce forms, listed by the number the clerk will ask for — 0 with an official form number, 34 linked straight to the state’s own file, each with its revision date where the state publishes one. Open the North Dakota form list →
Common questions about filing for divorce in North Dakota
Short answers to what people ask most before they start. Each one points at the part of this page that covers it in full.
How do I file for divorce in North Dakota?
This page sets out the order it happens in for North Dakota: which form opens the case, what has to be served on the other person and when, and what the court needs before it will finish. It is written to be followed in sequence rather than read through.
What forms do I need to file for divorce in North Dakota?
The form list on this page gives the official North Dakota form numbers, each one’s revision date, and a link to the copy on the court’s own site rather than a copy hosted here. Using a superseded revision is one of the most common reasons a filing comes back, which is why the dates are shown.
How much does it cost to file for divorce in North Dakota?
$160 to open the case, and that is only the filing fee — it does not cover service, copies, any required class, or a lawyer. The full breakdown for North Dakota, with every figure traced to the court’s own published schedule and dated, is at what it costs to file in North Dakota.
What gets a North Dakota divorce filing rejected?
This page has a section on exactly that — the specific mistakes that get a filing returned in North Dakota rather than a general list. Most of them are procedural and cost weeks rather than money: the wrong form revision, a missing signature or notarization, service done in a way the state does not accept, or filing before a residency requirement is met.
How long does a divorce take in North Dakota?
There is a timeline on this page built from North Dakota’s own statutory day-counts, not from averages. The honest short answer is that the waiting period is a floor and not a prediction: an uncontested case can finish close to it, and a contested one is governed by the court’s calendar rather than the statute.
Where does the information on this page come from?
North Dakota’s own courts and statutes. Every form links to the court’s site, every fee is quoted from the published schedule with the date it was last checked, and where something could not be confirmed from an official source this site says so instead of estimating. It is free, with no account and no paywall.
Does cheating change the money in North Dakota?
It can. Marital conduct is a factor North Dakota allows the court to weigh, which is not the same as a rule that decides the outcome — it sits alongside need, earning capacity and the length of the marriage, and how much weight it gets is the judge’s. Eighteen states are in this position. The fifty-state table sets out the section this comes from, and the card higher up this page quotes your state’s own words.
Choosing an agent for a divorce sale is a different problem from choosing one for an ordinary sale: who the agent is allowed to talk to, who has to sign, what happens when one of you will not, and the three separate conflicts of interest that come up when one spouse found the agent first. How to choose a real estate agent for a divorce sale sets out what to ask, and how to check a credential yourself — no divorce credential is official with the National Association of Realtors.
The Cusp receives a referral fee from agents it vets and trains to handle divorce clients.
Key deadlines at a glance
These are the same deadlines the calculator above works out, shown as days counted from the day you file or the day your spouse is served. Use the calculator for your exact dates.
No minor children
| Step | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Summons and Complaint filed | The day you file | The case is open. If you’re filing together, this and the service date below are usually the same day. |
| Spouse served / Admission of Service signed | The day your spouse is served (or signs a waiver) | Their clock starts now. |
| Case may be referred to Family Law Mediation | 10 days after service | If parenting time or custody is disputed. N.D.C.C. ch. 14-09.1 / Rule 8.1 — up to 6 free hours. |
| Spouse’s written answer is due | 21 days after service | No answer by this date means a default motion becomes available. |
| Deadline to meet and prepare the Informational Statement | 30 days after service | N.D.R.Ct. Rule 8.3, if your spouse has answered and the case is proceeding. |
| Informational Statement due with the court | 37 days after service | 7 days after the meeting deadline above. |
| Scheduling order expected | 67 days after service | Roughly 30 days after the Informational Statement is filed. |
With minor children
| Step | When | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Summons and Complaint filed | The day you file | The case is open. If you’re filing together, this and the service date below are usually the same day. |
| Spouse served / Admission of Service signed | The day your spouse is served (or signs a waiver) | Their clock starts now. |
| Case may be referred to Family Law Mediation | 10 days after service | If parenting time or custody is disputed. N.D.C.C. ch. 14-09.1 / Rule 8.1 — up to 6 free hours. |
| Spouse’s written answer is due | 21 days after service | No answer by this date means a default motion becomes available. |
| Deadline to meet and prepare the Informational Statement | 30 days after service | N.D.R.Ct. Rule 8.3, if your spouse has answered and the case is proceeding. |
| Informational Statement due with the court | 37 days after service | 7 days after the meeting deadline above. |
| Scheduling order expected | 67 days after service | Roughly 30 days after the Informational Statement is filed. |
Your county
Divorce rules are set by the state, but each county or court has its own forms, deadlines, classes and filing habits. Choose yours.
Or go straight to your county or court:
Burleigh CountyCass CountyGrand Forks County (call to confirm)Morton CountyWard County (call to confirm)Williams County (call to confirm)Burleigh County
Burleigh County is in the South Central Judicial District, which has local rules on demand for change of judge and a Mediation Orientation Consultation rule (titles only; text not read). The county court page lists no county-specific forms and links to statewide resources. Check with the clerk about how the mediation rule applies.
Who to contact: Clerk of District Court, 514 E. Thayer Ave., Bismarck, ND 58501, (701) 222-6690 ext. 1
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Cass County
Cass County is in the East Central Judicial District. The statewide local rules page lists East Central local rules on motions practice, domestic relations (marked Not Approved), plea agreements and case reassignment; the rule texts were not read. The county court page lists no local forms. Ask the clerk how scheduling and mediation are handled.
Who to contact: Clerk of District Court, 211 9th St. S., Fargo, ND 58103, (701) 451-6900
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Grand Forks County Call or check the court website to confirm
Grand Forks County is in the Northeast Central Judicial District. The local rules page lists only a case reassignment rule and a repealed motions rule. The county page lists no local forms and links to statewide resources. Confirm any scheduling practices with the clerk.
Who to contact: Clerk of District Court, 124 South 4th St., Grand Forks, ND 58201, (701) 787-2700
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Morton County
Morton County is in the South Central Judicial District, the same district as Burleigh, with local rules on demand for change of judge and a Mediation Orientation Consultation rule (titles only; text not read). The county page lists no county-specific forms. Check with the clerk about how the mediation rule applies.
Who to contact: Clerk of District Court, 210 2nd Ave NW, Mandan, ND 58554, (701) 667-3358 ext. 1
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Ward County Call or check the court website to confirm
Ward County is in the North Central Judicial District, whose only listed local rule is on case reassignment. The county page lists no local forms and links to statewide resources. Confirm practices with the clerk.
Who to contact: Clerk of District Court, 315 3rd St SE, Minot, ND 58701, (701) 857-6600
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Williams County Call or check the court website to confirm
Williams County is in the Northwest Judicial District, whose only listed local rule is on case reassignment. The county page lists no local forms. Confirm practices with the clerk.
Who to contact: Clerk of District Court, 205 E Broadway, Williston, ND 58802, (701) 774-4374
Where this comes from
Last checked 2026-11-10. Tell us if this is out of date
Not listed? Your county clerk of court can tell you the local rules. These are general information from court and clerk pages, last checked 2026-11-10, not legal advice.
Serving the papers in North Dakota? Any adult who is not a party; not you. No general deadline; the case starts on service. (As we read the rules on 29 October 2026.) See who can serve a divorce summons and whether you can do it yourself, and find North Dakota in our state-by-state serving table.
Stay current
We re-check the law. We will tell you when your state’s changes.
One email, and only when something we have published about your state stops being true — a filing fee that moved, a statute that was amended, a form the court replaced. No newsletter, no sales, unsubscribe in one click.
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How we can help
Understand the house first. Then talk to someone who gets it.
The house is usually the largest decision in a divorce, and the one people are least ready for. Here is what we do, in the order that makes sense.
1. Start with the facts, free
22 states have automatic orders that freeze both spouses the moment a divorce is filed, barring either one from selling or borrowing against the property. Is yours one of them?
Plain-English guides on what can happen to the house, what an automatic order stops you doing, and how the tax rules decide what a sale is worth. No account and nothing to buy.
- The four things that can happen to the house
- Selling the house: who signs, and the tax rules
- Keeping the house: the buyout and the carrying cost
2. Know when not to call an agent
Often the right answer is to wait, or to talk to your lawyer or an accountant first. We say so plainly. An agent is the wrong first call if nothing is filed, or if an order restricts what either of you can do with the property.
3. Talk to someone who gets it
When you do need an agent, we introduce you to a local agent who has completed our divorce real estate training and passed its 20-question exam. Before any introduction we check the license with the state regulator (any unresolved disciplinary action is a no), the agent’s closed sales, and a review rating of 4.7 or better. The introduction is free, and you are free to say no.
Ask for an introductionHow we are paid
You pay us nothing. Agents are not charged for the training, the exam or the free resources. If an introduction leads to a closed sale, the agent’s brokerage pays a referral fee out of its own commission, not out of your proceeds. A place on the panel cannot be bought.
General information, not legal or tax advice. The Cusp is not a law firm.
Selling a home in a divorce: what to ask a local listing agent
Selling the house is often the largest single decision in a divorce. These questions help you judge whether an agent has done it before. They do not replace your lawyer, who should approve the plan before anything is listed.
- Have you sold homes where both spouses had to sign, or where a court had to approve the sale? How many, and how recently?
- Does filing already restrain a sale in my state? Check the 50-state table and ask my lawyer before we sign anything.
- Who decides on price changes and which offers to accept when we disagree, and how will that be written down?
- Who pays the mortgage, taxes and insurance until closing, and what does the listing agreement say about it?
- Where will the sale proceeds be held until the decree says who gets what?
- How will you handle showings, access and lockboxes if we are not speaking?
- Will you give both spouses and both lawyers the same information at the same time?
- What happens to the listing agreement if we settle, reconcile or the case is delayed? What are the cancellation terms?
- Can I have your fee terms in writing and the names of past clients who sold during a divorce?