Washington is an independent city in District of Columbia that runs its own court. How and where to file family court papers for Washington: the clerk of court, e-filing, filing fees, and self-help for custody, child support, and divorce.
Washington is an independent city in District of Columbia, which means it runs its own court rather than sitting inside a county. Family court matters for Washington residents (custody, child support, divorce, and parenting plans) are filed with the Washington court clerk. Use the District of Columbia statewide resources on this page to reach the right clerk and forms. FamilyCourtHelp.com is a self-help resource and not a law firm.
District of Columbia uses eFileDC for electronic court filings. Whether self-represented filers in Washington can e-file depends on the court and case type, so confirm with the clerk before you submit. Where e-filing is not open to you, the clerk will accept paper filings in person or by mail.
Divorce filing fee: ~$120. The exact amount is set by the clerk and changes over time, so verify the current schedule before filing. If you cannot afford the fee, District of Columbia courts let you ask for a fee waiver based on income.
Yes. District of Columbia maintains a statewide self-help resource for people without a lawyer, and many clerks run a local self-help center too. Use those official resources for forms and procedure, and use FamilyCourtHelp.com to organize your case, draft documents, and prepare. This page is educational and not legal advice.
No. Washington is one of District of Columbia's independent cities, so it is not part of any county and handles its own court matters. File family cases with the Washington court rather than a county clerk.