Skip to main content
Find a Lawyer

District of Columbia Code Division II. Judiciary and Judicial Procedure § 16-902. Residency requirements.

Current as of January 01, 2024 | Updated by FindLaw Staff

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no action for divorce or legal separation shall be maintainable unless one of the parties to the marriage has been a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia for at least 6 months next preceding the commencement of the action.

(b)(1) An action for divorce or legal separation by persons of the same gender, even if neither party to the marriage is a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia at the time the action is commenced, shall be maintainable if the following apply:

(A) The marriage was performed in the District of Columbia; and

(B) Neither party to the marriage resides in a jurisdiction that will maintain an action for divorce or legal separation.

(2) It shall be a rebuttable presumption that a jurisdiction will not maintain an action for divorce or legal separation if the jurisdiction does not recognize the marriage.

(3) Any action for divorce or legal separation as provided by this subsection, including any accompanying petition for alimony, assignment and equitable distribution of property, pendente lite relief, or child custody determination if the District has jurisdiction under § 16-4602.01 or § 16.4602.03, shall be adjudicated in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia.

(c) No action for annulment of a marriage performed outside the District of Columbia or for affirmance of any marriage shall be maintainable unless one of the parties is a bona fide resident of the District of Columbia at the time of the commencement of the action.

(d) The residence of the parties to an action for annulment of a marriage performed in the District of Columbia shall not be considered in determining whether the action shall be maintainable.

(e) If a member of the armed forces of the United States resides in the District of Columbia for a continuous period of 6 months during his or her period of military service, he or she shall be deemed to reside in the District of Columbia for purposes of this section only.

Back to chapter list
Previous part of code Next part of code
Back to chapter list

Cite this article: FindLaw.com - District of Columbia Code Division II. Judiciary and Judicial Procedure § 16-902. Residency requirements. - last updated January 01, 2024 | https://codes.findlaw.com/dc/division-ii-judiciary-and-judicial-procedure/dc-code-sect-16-902/

Read this complete District of Columbia Code Division II. Judiciary and Judicial Procedure § 16-902. Residency requirements. on Westlaw. Westlaw subscription required.

FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature or via Westlaw before relying on it for your legal needs.

Was this helpful?

Search all District of Columbia Codes

Welcome to FindLaw's Cases & Codes

A free source of state and federal court opinions, state laws, and the United States Code. For more information about the legal concepts addressed by these cases and statutes, visit FindLaw's Learn About the Law.

Go to Learn About the Law

Latest Blog Posts

For Legal Professionals

Learn About the Law

Get help with your legal needs

FindLaw’s Learn About the Law features thousands of informational articles to help you understand your options. And if you’re ready to hire an attorney, find one in your area who can help.

Go to Learn About the Law

Need to find an attorney?

Search our directory by legal issue

Enter information in one or both fields (Required)

Copied to clipboard