Dissolution of marriage is generally another term for divorce—but in some states it specifically refers to an uncontested divorce—a no fault divorce with a written separation agreement. And in California, for example, there is a summary dissolution that provides an expedited process under limited circumstances (California Family Code §2400).
The laws regarding various methods for dissolving a marriage are usually located in a state’s statutes—often in the Family Code or Domestic Relations Code.
In Louisiana, dissolution of marriage is synonymous with divorce. Louisiana law allows for both fault-based and no-fault divorces. A no-fault divorce can be obtained when the spouses have lived separate and apart for a specific period of time, which is either 180 days if there are no minor children from the marriage, or 365 days if there are minor children. Louisiana does not have a summary dissolution process like California. Instead, the state has its own requirements and procedures for divorce, which are outlined in the Louisiana Civil Code. The process for divorce in Louisiana involves filing a petition for divorce, serving the petition on the other spouse, and following through with the necessary legal steps, which may include a period of separation, settlement agreements, and court hearings if the divorce is contested. The specific statutes governing divorce in Louisiana can be found in the Louisiana Civil Code, particularly in Title V, Articles 101 et seq.