# D.C. Code § 16-902: Residency requirements > District of Columbia · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-902 ## Section - **Citation:** D.C. Code § 16-902 - **Heading:** Residency requirements - **Jurisdiction:** District of Columbia - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** DC Code / Title 16 / Chapter 9 / § 16-902 ## Text (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. ## Nearby sections - [D.C. Code § 16-901 § 16-901. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-901.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-902 § 16-902. Residency requirements.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-902.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-903 § 16-903. Decree annulling marriage.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-903.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-904 § 16-904. Grounds for divorce, legal separation, and annulment.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-904.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-905 § 16-905. Revocation and enlargement of decree of legal separation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-905.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-906 § 16-906. Causes for absolute divorce arising after decree for separation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-906.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-907 § 16-907. Parent and child relationship defined.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-907.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-908 § 16-908. Relationship not dependent on marriage or domestic partnership.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-908.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-909 § 16-909. Proof of child’s relationship to parents.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-909.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-909.01 § 16-909.01. Establishment of paternity by voluntary acknowledgment and based on genetic test results.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-909.01.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-909.02 § 16-909.02. Full faith and credit to parentage determinations by other states.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-909.02.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-909.03 § 16-909.03. Voluntary paternity acknowledgment program for birthing hospitals.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-909.03.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-909.04 § 16-909.04. Voluntary paternity acknowledgment program for birth records agency.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-909.04.md) - [D.C. Code § 16-909.05 § 16-909.05. Mayor authorized to designate other sites for paternity acknowledgment program.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-909.05.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_DC_T16_C9_S16-902. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.