Grounds for Divorce in Louisiana
Choosing grounds is a strategy decision. Most Louisiana couples use no-fault options to keep tension and cost down. Louisiana also recognizes several fault-based grounds that can lead to a faster divorce if proven.
No-Fault Grounds
Article 103(1) allows divorce after spouses have already lived separate and apart for the full period. The period is 180 days if you have no minor children, or 365 days if you do.
Article 102 allows you to file first and then live separate for the same 180/365-day period after service or written waiver, and then finalize.
Fault Grounds (immediate or accelerated when proven)
Adultery.
Conviction of a felony with sentence to death or imprisonment at hard labor.
Physical or sexual abuse of a spouse or child, or a qualifying protective order issued after a hearing.
Covenant marriages have narrower, specified grounds and additional requirements.
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FAQs
Do I have to prove fault to get divorced in Louisiana?
No. Most people use no-fault separation-based routes under Articles 102 or 103(1).
How long must we live apart for a no-fault divorce?
Generally 180 days if there are no minor children, or 365 days if there are minor children.
What if I have a covenant marriage?
A covenant marriage limits grounds and requires counseling; some timelines differ and may include a prior separation from bed and board.
