Kansas Divorce Checklist — Step-by-Step (2026)

Phase 1 — Eligibility and Pre-Planning

• Confirm residency: either party has lived in Kansas for 60+ days
• Identify the District Court county (where either spouse has lived for 60 days)
• Determine path: Joint Petition (both agree) or Individual Petition (serve Respondent)
• If Joint Petition: confirm both spouses will sign all documents

Phase 2 — Financial Inventory

• List all marital property (acquired during marriage)
• List all separate property (pre-marital; gifts; inheritances)
• Bank and investment account statements
• Retirement account balances (marital portion)
• Real estate: value and mortgage balance
• Vehicles: values and loans
• All debts: creditor, account, balance
• Business interests (if any)
• Income information for both parties (pay stubs, last 2 years tax returns)

Phase 3 — Prepare the Separation Agreement

• All real property addressed (who keeps; buyout; refinancing; deed transfer to Register of Deeds)
• All financial accounts assigned
• Retirement accounts: QDRO for employer plans; IRA transfer language
• Vehicles assigned; title transfer through Kansas DMV
• All debts assigned; indemnification language
• Maintenance: award with terms — or explicit waiver
• If children: legal custody, physical custody, parenting time, Kansas Child Support Worksheet
• Both spouses sign and notarize the Separation Agreement

Phase 4 — Complete Court Forms (kscourts.org/Resources/Self-Help-Center)

• Petition for Divorce (Individual) or Joint Petition for Divorce (both sign)
• Summons (if Individual Petition)
• Statement of Assets and Liabilities — required financial disclosure
• Proposed Decree of Divorce (required in some Kansas counties)
• If children: Kansas Child Support Worksheet (income shares model)
• Waiver of 60-Day Waiting Period (if both agree)

Phase 5 — File at District Court

• File Petition + Separation Agreement at District Court Clerk
• Pay $195–$225 filing fee
• Receive case number
• If Individual Petition: serve Respondent; file Return of Service
• 60-day waiting period begins (or file mutual waiver)

Phase 6 — Financial Disclosure

• File Statement of Assets and Liabilities
• Exchange financial documents with spouse (in contested cases, formal discovery)

Phase 7 — Final Hearing

• Schedule final hearing with District Court
• Appear; judge reviews Separation Agreement and disclosures
• Judge enters Decree of Divorce
• Obtain certified copies

Phase 8 — Post-Decree Steps

• Real estate deed: Quitclaim or Warranty Deed → Kansas Register of Deeds
• QDRO for employer retirement plans
• Vehicle titles: Kansas DMV
• Name restoration: Kansas DOR → Social Security → accounts
• Beneficiary designations: life insurance, retirement, payable-on-death

Last reviewed: March 2026 | "Divorce" not dissolution | "Incompatibility" ground | 60-day wait WAIVABLE | 60-day residency | Joint Petition = no service | Statement of Assets required | Kansas Register of Deeds for deeds | kscourts.org/Resources/Self-Help-Center

Last reviewed: March 2026 · Verify current fees and forms with your local court before filing.