What are the Steps to Filing for Divorce?

 

Step 1 – Make Important Decisions Regarding Your Future

Your first step in filing for divorce is deciding that divorce is the step you want to take. If you are confident that you are ready to dissolve your marriage, you’ll need to make decisions about the immediate and unforeseeable future.

Give some thought to your future and what property or arrangements would be most beneficial looking forward. This includes making a list of all marital assets, including property like cars, homes, furniture, and other owned property.

Step 2 – Organize Your Information

When you’ve made your decisions regarding divorce, you’ll begin collecting information including property deeds, financial information for both parties, vehicle titles, bank statements, credit card statements, loans and any other financial information.

If you plan on filing for spousal support or child Custody and support, you’ll also want to arrange any information or documentation you have as to why the children would be best suited in that arrangement and why you need support.

Step 3 – Order All Applicable Forms

You can order all of the divorce forms you’ll need to file divorce right here on My Divorce Documents.com. Select the package and any extra documents you need and download the divorce forms quickly and easily. All of our Divorce forms are current with state laws and are the same forms a lawyer would complete and file on your behalf. We even include our attorney authored guides to help you through the process of filling out the forms.

Step 4 – Complete Forms

With your information in hand, complete the divorce forms using the outlined steps included with each packet. The divorce documents should be typed or completed in black ink. Review the documents thoroughly before filing.

Step 5 – Copy and File Forms

Make at least two copies of the files and take the originals and your copies to the family law superior court that services your area. You should also call ahead of time to know what amount to bring and in what format for any filing fees or to find out if the filing fees are waived in your particular case.

The court will assist you in filing the original documents and will file stamp your copies.

Step 6 – Serve Forms as Applicable

Keep one set of copies for your records and have the other copy served to your spouse through the court or an authorized third party. If you and your spouse downloaded, completed and filed the divorce documents together, there is no need to serve either party. Full service instructions are included in the packet of divorce forms.

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