Minnesota · Uncontested divorce · Updated Oct 2026

Uncontested divorce in Minnesota

What couples who agree need to know in Minnesota: who can use the process for agreed cases, the residency rule, the waiting period, the official forms, the filing fee, the fee waiver, e-filing, how your spouse can sign instead of being served and mediation.

Quick answer

Agreed cases in Minnesota, according to the official sources: Summary dissolution: married fewer than 8 years, no children together and no pregnancy, no real estate, debts of $8,000 or less (not counting car loans), marital assets of $25,000 or less, nonmarital assets of $25,000 or less each, and no domestic abuse.

Who can file (residency)
180 days
Waiting period
No set waiting period
Filing fee
$340
E-filing
Yes

Who can use the process for agreed cases in Minnesota

  • Summary dissolution: married fewer than 8 years, no children together and no pregnancy, no real estate, debts of $8,000 or less (not counting car loans), marital assets of $25,000 or less, nonmarital assets of $25,000 or less each, and no domestic abuse.
  • You file a notarized joint declaration (Minn. Stat. 518.195).
  • Couples who agree can also file a joint petition with a stipulated agreement.

Before you file in Minnesota

Who can file (residency)
You or your spouse must have lived in Minnesota (or been stationed there in the military) for 180 days before filing.
Waiting period
Minnesota has no set waiting period. An agreed case can be finished as soon as the court signs your papers. If your spouse denies the marriage is broken, you'll need to show 180 days living apart or serious marital discord.
Law
Minn. Stat. 518.07 · Minn. Stat. 518.06, 518.13

Forms, fees and filing in Minnesota

Official forms
Divorce forms (Minnesota courts)
Court self-help
Divorce self-help (Minnesota courts)
Filing fee
$340 for the first filing by each spouse in a marriage dissolution (Minn. Stat. 357.021, subd. 2); most counties also add a small law library fee.
If you can't afford the fee
Ask the court to waive fees with an In Forma Pauperis (IFP) application, using the Minnesota Judicial Branch fee waiver forms.
E-filing
Yes. Self-represented people can e-file through the Minnesota eFile and eServe (eFS) system.

If your spouse agrees to sign

Joint petitions need no service.

If you agree on only some issues

Common. Most contested family cases must try alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation or early neutral evaluation, unless there's domestic abuse (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 310).

An uncontested divorce in Minnesota, step by step

  1. Check that you can file in Minnesota

    You or your spouse must have lived in Minnesota (or been stationed there in the military) for 180 days before filing.

  2. See if you qualify for the simpler process

    Summary dissolution: married fewer than 8 years, no children together and no pregnancy, no real estate, debts of $8,000 or less (not counting car loans), marital assets of $25,000 or less, nonmarital assets of $25,000 or less each, and no domestic abuse.

  3. Fill in the official forms

    Use the court's official divorce forms: Divorce forms (Minnesota courts)

  4. File, and pay the fee or ask for a waiver

    $340 for the first filing by each spouse in a marriage dissolution (Minn. Stat. 357.021, subd. Can't afford it? Ask the court to waive fees with an In Forma Pauperis (IFP) application, using the Minnesota Judicial Branch fee waiver forms. Yes. Self-represented people can e-file through the Minnesota eFile and eServe (eFS) system.

  5. Have your spouse sign or be served

    Joint petitions need no service.

  6. Wait out the waiting period

    Minnesota has no set waiting period.

  7. Get the final decree

    The judge signs the final decree (judgment), which ends the marriage. Get a certified copy and keep it.

Questions about uncontested divorce in Minnesota

Is there a simplified divorce for agreed cases in Minnesota?

Summary dissolution: married fewer than 8 years, no children together and no pregnancy, no real estate, debts of $8,000 or less (not counting car loans), marital assets of $25,000 or less, nonmarital assets of $25,000 or less each, and no domestic abuse. You file a notarized joint declaration (Minn. Stat. 518.195). Couples who agree can also file a joint petition with a stipulated agreement.

How long does an uncontested divorce take in Minnesota?

Minnesota has no set waiting period. An agreed case can be finished as soon as the court signs your papers. If your spouse denies the marriage is broken, you'll need to show 180 days living apart or serious marital discord.

Who can file for an uncontested divorce in Minnesota?

You or your spouse must have lived in Minnesota (or been stationed there in the military) for 180 days before filing.

Does my spouse have to be served if we agree in Minnesota?

Joint petitions need no service.

Can we file for divorce online in Minnesota?

Yes. Self-represented people can e-file through the Minnesota eFile and eServe (eFS) system.

How much does it cost to file an uncontested divorce in Minnesota?

$340 for the first filing by each spouse in a marriage dissolution (Minn. Stat. 357.021, subd. 2); most counties also add a small law library fee.

Is mediation required in Minnesota?

Common. Most contested family cases must try alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation or early neutral evaluation, unless there's domestic abuse (Minn. Gen. R. Prac. 310).

More about divorce in Minnesota

Uncontested divorce in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.