Quick answer: Indiana requires that one spouse has been a resident of the state for six months, and of the county where the petition is filed for three months, immediately before filing. A final hearing cannot be held earlier than 60 days after the petition is filed. The usual ground is irretrievable breakdown, with no separation period.
This Indiana divorce timeline calculator applies IC 31-15-2-6 and the 60-day rule in IC 31-15-2-10. Enter the dates residence began and your planned filing date: it shows the earliest legal filing date and the earliest final hearing, nothing more. A real case usually takes longer, because the financial and parenting issues have to be settled or tried.
Indiana divorce timeline rules at a glance
| Rule | What Indiana says |
|---|---|
| State residence | At the filing, at least one party a resident of Indiana, or stationed at a U.S. military installation in Indiana, for six months immediately preceding (IC 31-15-2-6(a)) |
| County residence | At least one party a resident of the county, or stationed there, for three months immediately preceding the filing (31-15-2-6(b)) |
| Final hearing | Not earlier than sixty days after the filing of the petition (31-15-2-10) |
| Grounds | Irretrievable breakdown, felony conviction, impotence at the time of marriage or incurable insanity for two years, and no other ground (31-15-2-3) |
| Final separation | The date the petition is filed, for dividing property (31-9-2-46) |
| Separation period | None |
How does the Indiana divorce timeline work?
- Residence and where to file. See Indiana divorce residency and where to file.
- Agreement or dispute. See uncontested versus contested divorce in Indiana.
- Grounds. See the grounds for divorce in Indiana.
What does this divorce timeline calculator check?
The calculator adds six months to the date state residence began and three months to the date county residence began, and tells you whether your planned filing date is early; if it is, it uses the first valid filing date. It then adds 60 days to the filing date to show the earliest day a final hearing can be held. It cannot say how long the court will take. Support and custody questions that arise during the case are covered by the Indiana alimony calculator and the Indiana parenting time calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How long must I live in Indiana before filing for divorce?
At least one spouse must have been an Indiana resident for six months and a resident of the filing county for three months immediately before filing.
Is there a waiting period for divorce in Indiana?
A final hearing cannot be held earlier than 60 days after the petition is filed.
Does Indiana require a separation before divorce?
No. The usual ground is irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.
Can I file in a county where I have lived less than three months in Indiana?
Not unless your spouse meets the county rule; at least one party must be a resident of the county for three months before filing.
Does the calculator tell me how long my Indiana divorce will take?
No. It shows only the legal minimums; the real timeline depends on the court and on whether the spouses agree.