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 Michigan, the term 'dissolution of marriage' is synonymous with divorce. Michigan is a no-fault divorce state, meaning that a spouse does not need to prove wrongdoing by the other party to obtain a divorce; it is sufficient to state that there has been a breakdown of the marriage relationship to the extent that the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there remains no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved. The primary statutes governing divorce in Michigan are found in the Michigan Compiled Laws (MCL), specifically within MCL 552.6 for filing a complaint for divorce and other related sections. Unlike California, Michigan does not offer a summary dissolution process. Instead, all divorces follow the same basic legal process, which includes filing a complaint, serving the other party, a waiting period (which can be 60 days if there are no children and up to six months if there are children involved), and finalizing the divorce through a judgment that resolves issues such as property division, spousal support, child custody, and child support.