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Get Online Divorce Forms in Seconds!

There are several resources to finding divorce forms online.

Divorce forms online for all states are ready for immediate download.  By going to www.mydivorcedocuments.com you will be able to find specific states do it yourself forms and kits.  Close to 1 million people file for divorce in the United States yearly.  What most people do not know is that they are able to download divorce forms online for any state in the privacy of there own home in seconds.  Negotiating and handling your own paperwork through a do it yourself divorce process can save you a considerable amount of money and time.

You are able to download divorce forms that are court approved for any state in seconds.  The divorce forms and kit comes with a complete step by step guide and instructions on how to properly fill them out and process them.

A no-fault divorce or uncontested divorce essentially means that both spouses are in agreement on the terms of the divorce.  Another term would be “irreconcilable differences.”  No-fault divorce is valid in all 50 states and couples may file their own divorce paperwork without an attorney by simply filling out the proper divorce forms necessary.

Some states have some minimum requirements when filing for divorce.  Followed are a few of the most significant ones.

  • No matter which spouse files for divorce a residency requirement of  six months is most likely the case in all states.  Some states may vary.  You should be able to find this information online.
  • Most states have an essential waiting period from the time you file before the divorce is completed and approved.  That waiting period can be anywhere from 0 to 12 months depending on your specific case.  By downloading your specific state divorce forms and coming to an agreement with your spouse, you may be able to prevent this issue by a do it yourself divorce process.
  • Also remember that it is crucial that you file at the correct court house.  The correct court house usually resides in the county that either the husband or the wife has lived for the required minimum time period.

When you choose the state that you live in, you will need to download the documents with or without children pertaining to your specific situation.  There may be other questions that you will need to answer before filing your divorce papers which will be included in the divorce kit for you.

Although you and your spouse may agree to all aspects of the no-fault or uncontested divorce, you should give serious consideration to consulting with an attorney for financial planner if you are unsure about any financial or legal issues.  Keep in mind that any interactions with an attorney can lead to a more costly divorce.

Many states have courts with self-help services either on the Internet or in person.  Some states also offer legal help from certain law firms to help you with general questions about no-fault or filing your own divorce papers.

With that in mind, take a look at our website at www.mydivorcedocuments.com to see our inexpensive specific state do it yourself forms and kits.

Use a Divorce Kit Today!

My Divorce Documents is one of the most trusted names in divorce documentation online today.  We pride ourselves in creating complete divorce kits that help our customers to file their divorces by offering on site downloadable divorce forms, restraining orders, child support and custody documents, and everything you need to complete our divorce papers, including name change forms.

Our downloadable divorce forms allow you to fill out the papers with our step by step guides in the comfort and security of your home or office when it is convenient for you.

Divorce can be a very frustrating and trying time.  If you and your spouse have come to the conclusion that divorce is the only answer, this kit will not only save you time, but dollars in legal fees and pain.

No-fault divorce is just as it sounds, neither party is at fault.  Some states call no-fault divorce “dissolution.  It simply states that there are “irreconcilable differences” between the two and they wish to terminate the marriage.

In the Do-It-Yourself Kit the following details will be covered for you:

  • Personal property and real estate
  • Child custody, support and visitation
  • Alimony
  • Debts and other obligations
  • Change to former name for the wife
  • Income taxes

Both Spouses Must Agree on the Following:

Both parties must agree entirely on the following listed details or this kit will not work for you.  Legal advice is recommended if you cannot agree on all aspects of ending the marriage.  If you and your spouse can agree entirely on the following few items, you are a perfect fit for this kit:

1) You must meet residency requirements for your state.  In most states, that is 6 to 12 months. The residency requirements for all states are listed in this kit.

2) Both of you must agree on all aspects of ending your marriage.

3) No pregnancy involved.

4) You must know the whereabouts of your spouse. He/she will need to sign the documents later. He/she will not need to appear in court, however, the person filing will.

5) You must be aware that there will be court fees you’ll pay directly to the court when you file. The fees vary in each state vary depending on where you live.  You can find out by contacting your county clerk’s office.

If you are able to agree on these items, it’s possible to save yourself lots of money in legal fees.  If you cannot agree, we suggest you seek legal advice.

Divorce is usually a very trying time, but if you and your spouse have agreed to all matters in regards to ending your marriage, this kit will definitely save time, heartache and hundreds of dollars.  Be sure to go over all situations, even real estate and children.  In addition to the cost of the kit, you will need to pay court fees.  These vary from state to state, even county to county.  You pay these fees directly to the court.  You can contact your county clerks’ office for actual fees.

To begin this low-cost downloadable specific state divorce process, please go to www.mydivorcedocuments.com and see what we have to offer you now.

Common Questions of a Divorce!

A divorce is when both husband and wife have decided to separate and go there own way.  This usually takes the form of dividing their previously shared assets between them selves.  Some divorce proceedings become legal disputes over money, property, and child custodial rights.  When a couple cannot reach an agreement, the court will ultimately make those decisions for them, taking a wide range of factors in consideration when concluding a judgment.

In some states, divorce was socially shameful, and was highly discouraged or prevented by the Church and state.  Divorce was only allowed if one party broke certain marital obligations like, adultery, neglect or abuse.  Such marriages are now referred to as a “fault divorce”.   More recently, divorce has returned to its more usual state, by becoming legal, acceptable, and fairly common.  Some statisticians have reported that fewer than one in twenty divorces are contested in a courtroom.  Divorcing couples are usually reaching a settlement either with lawyers, mediation, or privately.  The restrictions on how easily a divorce can be obtained have been significantly lifted with the prevalence of the “no fault” divorce.

A no-fault divorce is a statement by each spouse that their petition to the court for a divorce has been mutually agreed on by both parties.  It attempts to hold neither party responsible for the dissolution of the marriage, and usually, couples reach a settlement over the division of rights and property.  In this case it would be bound by either an agreement between each other or mediation to avoid litigation.  In most states, all divorces require that a reason be given for the state to dissolve the marriage.  With the exception of the no-fault divorce, acceptable reasons include incompatibility between spouses, the existence of irreconcilable differences, or even the most practical description of a breakdown of the marriage.  The property is not necessarily equal in a no-fault divorce, subject to the agreed terms of the divorce, or ruling of the court.

A Summary Divorce in the United States, and some other countries, is the fastest and simplest form of divorce, granted to couples who had a short, inconsequential marriage.  In this case, few shared assets, and an equally low value of private assets.  It is also conditional on there being no child custodial issues, and no home or mortgage.

Commonly cited causes of divorce include:

  • Adultery by either one or both spouses
  • Strains caused by in-law family members
  • Physical and emotional abuse
  • Obsessive compulsions and addictions

It is a commonly held belief that women successfully negotiate the more favorable settlement or judgment more often than men in divorces, and this is actually supported by some surveys.  There is no question that mothers are usually granted the greater portion of custodial time over children compared to fathers.  However, the degree to which this happens has been gradually deceasing during the past decade.

The sharing of parental responsibilities and rights is one of the most important aspects of divorce in general.  These arrangements are always checked and ratified by a court, even where both parents are in agreement.  The ruling of custodial rights is always in favor of the child’s best interest.  In such a legal battle, the court can take a wide number of factors into consideration when deciding how to divide child custody.

With that in mind divorce rates are the highest they’ve been for hundreds of years.  The terms of divorce are becoming more manageable and acceptable to all involved.

On that note if you would like to begin your process of a divorce.  Simply go to www.mydivorcedocuments.com and purchase your do-it-yourself specific state divorce kit and begin your process today.

Steps for Filing for Divorce


Every state has a specific process to get a divorce.

Some states prefer to use the terms “dissolution of marriage”, rather then the word “divorce”.  Although relatively the same definition.  Below are a few steps to filing a divorce.

First Step: Communicating with your Spouse

An irate bitter divorce will only lead to a longer and more expensive one.  If you and your spouse are able to come to an agreement between the division of your marital property and the custody of any children, the divorce will be less difficult then those matters in a dispute.  Majority of couples are not fortunate enough to go into an “uncontested divorce”, and will have to go through the “contested divorce” proceedings in the courtroom.

Second Step: Discussing the Division of your Assets and Property

Each individual state will divide both parties property obtaining during their marriage.  Every state allows each party to determine how the property should be split.  If the two cannot come to an agreement, the judge will then split the property.  Most states have either “community property” or “equitable distribution” divisions.  In community property states the marital property and assets will be divided equally.  A court does not have the authority to base off of income, wealth or other contribution to the marriage.  In an equitable distribution state, a spouse is entitled to a portion of the marital property to their contribution to the marriage.  This means both financial and non-financial elements of the marriage such as raising children and taking care of the home.

Step Three:  Consult a Lawyer

State law governs multiple items related to a divorcing couple such as grounds for divorce, marital property and if a couple is legally separated for any duration of time before the divorce may be granted.

Step Four:  Know your state grounds for divorce

Some states allow a “no fault” divorce where the parties do not have to have a reason for divorce beyond irreconcilable differences.  If your state requires “fault” before the divorce can be granted, there may only be specific grounds which you are legally entitled to a divorce.  A few examples of a fault divorce are adultery, abuse etc.

Step Five: File for Legal Separation

Some states require that couples be separated for a certain amount of time before a divorce may be awarded.  Some states only require that a couple live apart from each other for a specific amount of time.  Some other states require filing a notice of the separation which the court as well.  All requirements will have to be met before a court will accept a divorce application.

Step Six: Be sure to gather all Financial Information

In a divorce the spouse’s assets and debts will be split.  When a divorce petition is filed, most states require a detailed financial data to help the judge determine child or spousal support orders if this may apply.

Step Seven: File the Petition for Divorce

If you choose to hire a lawyer, it is best you have him there representing you.  Some jurisdictions may have different forms for your divorce based on your divorce situation.  If you do not have an attorney this is the information that you most likely will be required to provide for the court:

-Present both yourself and your spouse

-Name and ages of any children that you have and current resident status

-Identify all martial property and debts and your individual income and assets.

When the petition is filed most states require the plaintiff provide three or more copies of the petition and summons.  A summons is a court requiring a party to answer a complaint and appear before the court.  The clerk will then stamp all copies and give you back two, one for yourself and one copy for you to serve on your spouse.

Step Eight: Pay the Court Costs

When a petition is filed the clerk will require that you pay the appropriate court fees.  If you are indigent you may ask the court to waive the fees, which may be included on the complaint form or may require a separate form.

Step Nine: Serve Your Spouse the Divorce Papers

The party who files a court action is responsible for serving the other parties to the lawsuit.  Serving the other party means giving them a physical copy of the petition you filed as well as the summons.  In most states you may serve the other party through the mail or by having another person serve the defendant in person.  In some jurisdictions you may pay a fee to have the Sheriff serve the opposing party for you.  Most states do not allow a plaintiff to personally serve a defendant.

Step Ten:  Provide the Court with Proof of Service

After the defendant has been served most states require the plaintiff submit a “proof of service” with the court.  In this document the person who served the defendant must attest to the service, how and when the party was served.  The proof of service may be a part of the petition or may be a separate form.

Due to divorces being complex and emotional events, most parties have an attorney represent them.  The other option would be to try a do-it-yourself divorce process.   If you decide to try this process you can begin by simply going to www.mydivorcedocuments.com and purchase your specific state down-loadable forms and kit.

Organization Tips for a Divorce!

Once you have made the final decision to get a divorce, attached are some tips you can do to prepare for a divorce.

1) Take Note

You will need to use your own money for divorce, not your spouses.  You will have to maintain yourself and your children for a while if you are dependent on your spouse and your spouse makes the decision to cut you off support.

You will also probably need funds to hire a lawyer.  If there is anyway to begin a separate account to guard against future financial possibilities, now is the time to do it.  If you need to borrow money from a relative or friend, be sure to sign a promissory note so the court will look at this as a loan that you have to repay and not as a gift.

2) Log a Divorce Calendar

If you are currently using a desk calendar or day planner, you will now need to include your divorce events.  There will be meetings with your lawyer and court deadlines to keep track of.  It may be helpful to keep track of discussions with your spouse.

A divorce Calendar may be used as evidence in your case when your spouse does not keep an appointment or violated an agreement or court order.  Visitation dates with children need to be calendared.  You will also want to keep track of appointments with your children’s teachers, doctors, coaches and tutors.  This may become evidence of your participation in your children’s lives in your divorce.

3) Create a To Do List

Be sure to stay organized and set your priorities straight during the divorce.  This is the easiest way to do it.  List all the items you have to accomplish and mark them off as you go through them.

4) Prepare a Divorce Folder or Binder

A divorce produces a lot of paperwork and may become a storm.  The simplest way to keep track of all these papers is with a three ring binder and a three-hole punch.  Put papers in chronological order and be sure to make an index for your own benefit.

5) Set up a Divorce File

You may prefer to set up individual files for various categories of divorce papers.   Some examples are correspondence with your attorney, drafts of agreements, financial information and pleadings.  Files with brads and a two hole punch will help you keep papers neat and organized.

6) Cut Expenses

If you have debt in your name, like credit cards or student loans, you will want to pay those debts down as much as possible before a divorce.  If your family is like most American families, you have been spending close to your entire income, if not more, and when one household becomes two, there will not be enough money to pay the expenses of both unless something changes.

You may have to cut your current expenses, sell the car and get a less expensive model, or maybe sell the house.  If your spouse does not voluntarily support you and the children, your remedy is to ask the Court to order support.  You will not have a good prediction of any of this and you will not know the answers for sure until the agreement is signed or the judge makes a ruling.  But, the point is to think about it, and identify problems and possible solutions. Then take the actions that you can take and avoid missteps.

7) Stay with a Consistent Routine

It will help if you try to keep things as normal as possible in your life.  Do not skip meals or change sleeping habits.  Positive routines like using you’re to do list and calendar will help you keep focus.  Exercise is always a great way to relieve stress.  Try to maintain friendships and daily routines as normal.

8) Be Constructive

Try to maintain a positive outlook and do not let yourself get involved with unnecessary conflicts with your spouse.  You will need his signature on a settlement agreement before your divorce is over.  You will still be parents together for years after the divorce.

9) Make a Plan

Take it one day at a time.  Focus on the present and not the past.  Try to control only those things within your control.  Many things in a divorce are outside of your control.  Try not to blow those things out of proportion.  Make a plan. Then keep working your plan.  That is how you will take control of your divorce and not let it take control of you.

10) Gather Financial Information

The more you can organize your own financial documents, the more you will reduce your attorney fees and improve your chances of success.  You are going to have to gather and organize a lot of information for your attorney or your case.  A good way of organizing the information you find is a financial statement which can be used as a checklist.

Many courts have a form financial statement available at the court clerk’s office and sometimes online. If you can obtain this form and fill it out, it will help you gather and organize your financial information.  Give it to your lawyer at the first meeting to save time and expense.

11) Do Your Research

It is valuable for you to learn everything you can about divorce early in the process.  If you know little or nothing about the process, you may not make the best decisions or choices.  Most people are uncomfortable with the unknown. You can raise your comfort level and your odds of success by finding out what is going to happen before it happens. The Internet is a convenient way to obtain summary and detailed information about divorce.

Of course there are other ways to research the subject.  You can start your research at a library or bookstore.  There are seminars and support groups.  Talk to friends who have been through divorce.  But, keep in mind that every divorce is different. It’s a good idea to learn about the basics of divorce law in your state early in the process.

With this is mind, if you and your spouse are able to come to an agreement without any hassle you are able to do an online divorce with a do it yourself specific state divorce process.  You can begin this low cost process by simply going to www.mydivorcedocuments.com and begin your easy and quick divorce today.

A Few Tips on Divorce!

1.  Safety First

First basic steps are to try and keep yourself and your family safe.  If you are in a situation where safety is an issue, be sure to contact the police and immediately consult with a lawyer.

2. If you are looking to seek full custody of your children do not leave the residence without the kids

If you do not take your children with you when you leave, you may most likely lose the chance of seeking full custody of your kids.

3. Consult with a family law attorney if necessary

If you have made your final decision to divorce then you may want to consult with attorney to get more information on the proper steps to take for the divorce process.  Keep in mind that consulting with an attorney involves legal fees and expenses.  Be sure to ask the attorney immediately on specific charges.

4. Even if your spouse requests that you move out of the family residence, you have the right to stay

Maybe you should suggest that your spouse move out of the residence if she or he wants to be separated so badly.

5. Play Fair

Keeping a civil relationship with your spouse is very important.  Do not go and play games with disconnecting or canceling memberships or accounts.  It is very important to realize the same judicial officer will most likely be presiding over your face from start to finish.  You want that judicial officer to respect you.  If you do not play fair, the judicial officer in your case will remember that you were unreasonable and this may affect determinations of future decisions regarding custody, support, etc.

6. Do not fight over objects that have no real sentimental reasons just because

Unless you are fighting over an heirloom or something that is irreplaceable, ask yourself how much the attorney’s fees and emotional grief will cost you, and determine if it would be less expensive to purchase a new or used item.

7. Documents

At the official meeting with an attorney if you decide to use one you are asked to provide accurate information and documentation.  The faster you obtain this information, the faster they will be able to proceed with your dissolution.  If they are required to obtain documents through formal discovery, it will be expensive.  If you do not have bank records, order them.  If the accountant has your taxes, obtain the copies and get them to to the attorney’s office.

8.  Acknowledge your feelings / Consider Counseling

Divorce can be a very difficult time.  Be sure to acknowledge this fact.  If you find that your decisions regarding custody and visitation and/or property division are made out of anger, try and seek some counseling immediately.  The quicker you handle your emotions, the faster you will be healthy and can be a better parent and person.
9. Photograph your possessions

If you fear that your spouse may take your possessions, photograph them to show their condition and value.

Attached were just a few tips for you to know going into a divorce.  Now if you and your spouse are able to come to an agreement and make decision together then hiring an attorney is unnecessary.  Today most divorcing couples are taking the opportunity to do there own divorce.  You can find out more information by simply going to www.mydivorcedocuments.com to begin your low cost do it yourself online divorce today.



Staying Positive through a Divorce!

Surviving a divorce can be very trying and crucial.

Nobody ever plans for divorce.  There is no right or wrong way to survive a divorce.  When you give thought to all of the stress and heartache that goes along with a divorce, you may want to just settle and not go through with it.  Be sure to take in consideration of all the reasons why you have even come to the conclusion of a divorce.  When you have made your final decision then you can begin the divorce process.

A divorce can make a person frustrated and leave a person hurt and miserable.  Also if you are not careful and let yourself become resentful it can affect you for the rest of your life.  On the flip side, you can triumph over the crisis and go on to live a happy and fruitful life if you play your cards right.

Along with all the roller coaster emotions, keep in mind that you are going to get through this time.  The first initial steps of a divorce are, you need to do are making your final decision and proceed with the divorce.  Do not change your mind after you have started the process.  This may only cause more pain and time.

It is important that you take a break and allow some time out for reflection.  It is really vital that you take back that part of you that may have been eaten-up by hatred and gain control of all your confused emotions during your marriage.

Staying Positive

The next step is to try and stay positive through the divorce process.  Always remember that through the storm there is a rainbow at the end.  The quicker you get through the storm you quicker you see the light and are able to begin your new life.  This may sound easier said than done; but it is something you should keep in mind to survive.

Always remember that: Where there is life, there is hope! It may not seem like that now for you but as impractical as it sounds, it is the truth and it is also correct.  You need to immerse yourself in the reality that you are alive, soon to be single and destined to once again enjoy the most from your life.

Always try to turn a Negative into a Positive!

You should plan for your days to be for filled with purpose and joy.  You can do this by filling your day with all of those small things which bring you happiness.

Lastly you must remain focused.  Focus on a hopeful and happy future.  Taking time out to focus for several minutes or hours a day to plan for the future can help you regain control and be positive steps towards healing.  It will not always be easy but as much as you can grab hold of the changes, and if you do you will recover.

Remain Strong!

Always remain strong.  No matter what happens, keep in mind to stay strong and do not let anything bring you down.  Keep your thoughts optimistic.  Do not let divorce steal away your life.  Promise yourself a better future and know you will pull it off.  Do not slouch when you walk.  Put a smile on your face and straighten up your shoulders.  Life has so much more to offer you.

With all of this in mind, if you are ready to dive into that divorce that you deserve to get a better life, you can take the first step here.  Simply go to www.mydivorcedocuments.com and begin your low cost downloadable specific state do it yourself divorce online NOW!

5 Tips to a Divorce!

Before you begin your divorce process, attached are five simple financial tips that can make your divorce a bit easier.

Tip # 1

Be sure to copy all of your legal documents and gather all of your financial information that you have accumulated over the duration of the marriage

First you will need to get a hold of all your finances like never before.  Whether you are a financial pro or whether you have not worked outside the home in years.  You will need to know everything possible in regards to your finances for the divorce.  One reason it is so critical to do this before the divorce process begins is that this information can often disappear once the divorcing begins.  It can become more difficult to find regardless of the cause or circumstances.  How can you know or plan for what to divide if you don’t know what you currently have?

Tip # 2

Begin to seek out expert advice to help you figure out what is next

Some of the financial information you’ve collected above you can start establishing your priorities. This may not sound like a financial step on the face of it but when you sit down and write the things that you’d like to have from your marriage, or try to envision what you might like or need in order to carry on into the future – these can and will actually be translated into numbers.  Do you think you and the children want to stay in the same neighborhood or house?  Do you want to hold onto most or all of your pension? If these are your priorities they will have a range of dollar signs eventually attached to them.

Tip # 3

Protect your Credit

Order a copy of your credit report early from all three reporting agencies: This is very important since you can now have this as a base line to know where you stand now, at the end of your marriage.  This way you’d be able to see whether any new unauthorized debt is being added in your name only and if you have no credit in your own name now, you may want to apply for a credit card.  To begin building your own credit now may be far easier while still married than after, all things being equal, especially if you have not been the primary breadwinner.

Tip # 4

Check up on your Insurance
Get to know the details of all the kinds of insurance that helps to protect your family.

Just the sheer number of types of insurance may be overwhelming, but take it one step at a time.  The goal is to get your hands around what coverage’s your family has and needs.  What are your policy numbers deductibles, limits, premiums?  Life, car, medical, dental, home-owners, renters, flood, insurance and the list goes on and on.  How important it is to keep your insurance related financial issues in order can not be over emphasized.   One example: On your life insurance policies, it’s really quite important that you locate and know now about who are the owners of the insurance – you, your wife/husband?  A family trust, your spouse, your children?  Knowing this now is essential  if for no other reason, you’ll now have this on your radar.

Tip # 5

Be sure to have your taxes prepared in a way that you will be comfortable for sometime

If it is tax season and you are preparing for a divorce, this may be notice that you should proceed with caution.  Be sure to contact your accountant or financial adviser and have him or her advise you not only the possible tax savings now that married jointly filing couples enjoy, but also on the potential future liability you could face in should the returns be found deficient.   Know that on returns where you sign jointly, you will be jointly held responsible.  This is most often the case whether or not you have any first hand knowledge of the all the financial information on your return.
As always, the best offense is a good defense and to arm you with knowledge is often the best first step in trying to achieve an equitable, fair outcome.  By trying to anticipate problems ahead of time you may avoid serious financial issues.  Be sure to get good advice throughout your entire process starting as early as possible in the process.

Now that you have a few pointers to remember during your divorce process, now is the time to decide how you want to go about your divorce.  There are several ways that you choose from.  These days many people are choosing to do there own divorce online.  This way not only saves you time but can also save you a lot of money as well.  You can begin this specific state down-loadable divorce process by simply going to www.mydivorcedocuments.com today.

Tips to an Online Divorce!!!

If you are 100% SURE that you want a divorce, be sure to protect every aspect of your life :

1. Speak to a Marriage Counselor or another certified specialist who may be able to help you save your marriage.

Even if you don’t think there’s hope for the marriage, “divorce counseling” can help you discover what went wrong, how to cope, and how to pick up the pieces and go on.  Don’t wait for your spouse to participate.

2.  Download the Divorce Forms for a Quick Divorce and learn about the Divorce Law first.  If you choose not, be sure to Talk to a divorce attorney before you do anything.

Even if you don’t end up hiring an attorney to handle your separation or divorce, you would be well advised to get as much information as you can before you even discuss divorce with your spouse.

3. Do not move out of the marital home without talking to an attorney first. Download a Do It Yourself Divorce.

Leaving the house without a good reason may cause you to pay alimony or may result in your inability to collect alimony.  If you leave the house, you may also be unable to return until after a court divides the property. This process might take more than a year.  The best advice is to stay in the house until after you talk with an attorney unless your spouse is violent.  If your spouse is violent, you must take all steps necessary to protect yourself and your children.

4. If you have been involved in any extramarital affairs, talk to a lawyer before you discuss this with your spouse or anyone else.

In this case, honesty may not be the best policy.  In addition to the fact that adultery is illegal in some states, admission of an affair can have other consequences.  If your spouse is a candidate for alimony, any illicit sexual behavior on your part (during the marriage…which includes the time you are separated) could end up costing you thousands in additional alimony payments.

5. Take concrete steps to safeguard your assets before you and your spouse begin discussing divorce.  Get the divorce facts online without hiring an attorney.

One of these steps is to take possession of certain assets during separation, especially those assets you wish to be using, such as furniture and vehicles, and those assets that might be liquidated by your spouse, including precious gems and stones, other collectibles, cash, and bearer bonds.

Get Your Divorce Forms today by simply going to www.mydivorcedocuments.com!

What to Expect in a Divorce?

One of life’s most difficult questions you may run into is if  you should end a marriage or not.  Many people are unsure as to whether they will pursue a divorce or want to understand the process for acquiring one.  Knowledge can be very empowering and may help you think more clearly as to how you wish to handle the issues within your marriage.  This article gives a basic overview of the stages of a divorce case.

In some cases you may not automatically want to file your Divorce Complaint, although there may be reasons you wish to do so.  In this case you may want to try and resolve the issues that are relevant to considering ending your marriage.  If you have come to the final decision of moving forward with a divorce and feel there is no hope left then you need to start your divorce process.  During this time, you will likely exchange whatever information needed to have disclosure on financial issues.  You can even work with mediators or care professionals, if necessary, in order to resolve any conflicts with regard to custody and parenting time of your children.  Once the settlement is reached, it is reduced to writing and executed by the parties and counsel.  At this time, the parties can file the pleadings to obtain a divorce and seek enforcement of the agreement they have reached.

In the event that the circumstances of your case force you to file your divorce pleadings immediately rather than pursue pre-filing settlement options as discussed above, then your case will proceed differently.  The filing of the Divorce Complaint has an important impact.  Generally speaking, it establishes the termination date of your marriage and is the date by which assets of a marriage are identified and valued.  The filing of the Divorce Complaint also triggers many court deadlines for moving your case forward.  For example, your spouse will have thirty-five days to respond to the pleading that you filed.  From there, you and your spouse will prepare financial disclosure forms called Case Information Statements.  These forms will be filed with the court.

You will also begin a process called “discovery” in which you and your spouse will have a certain fixed period of time to respond to formal requests for information. These demands are called “Interrogatories,” which are written questions, to which you must respond, and a “Notice to Produce,” or a demand for documents, to which you will also have to respond by producing the documents requested in the demand.  Depositions may also occur during this discovery period.  Depositions consist of a series of questions that you and your spouse answer under oath. The attorney representing your spouse asks you the questions; your attorney questions your spouse.  Furthermore, if there are contested issues of custody and parenting time and/or if there are assets that need to be valued, such as real estate or a business, those evaluations occur during this time period with the assistance of experts.

Once discovery is completed there are certain initiatives organized by the court to assist you in trying to reach a settlement of your case.  One such initiative is called Early Settlement Panel, where approximately two attorneys volunteer their time to sit as panelists and hear from your counsel the merits of your positions in your divorce.  At the conclusion of that presentation, the panelists will offer a non-binding and confidential assessment of how they would resolve your case based on their experience.  If your case does not settle at Early Settlement Panel, then you are provided the opportunity to go on to Economic Mediation.  During Economic Mediation, attorneys who are qualified mediators volunteer approximately two hours of their time to again hear from you and your counsel and try to help you reach a resolution of your open issues.  With both Early Settlement Panel and Economic Mediation, your spouse and his/her attorney also present their position. At the conclusion of Economic Mediation you report back to the judge assigned to your case to advise the court of the status of your case.  If at the end of Economic Mediation your case is still not settled, then the court will likely schedule an in-court settlement conference and/or a trial date.

The above offers a quick summary of the general process of a divorce.  Subjective circumstances of an individual case can certainly cause a case to evolve in a variety of different directions.  A complicated custody dispute can also make a divorce more involved, although courts do prioritize custody matters and try to expedite those cases, preferably within a six month period of time tolling from the filing date of the Complaint for Divorce.  It is also important to keep in mind that with the assistance of counsel and cooperation from the parties, even complicated matters can be solved expeditiously.  Every divorce varies according to your situation.

If you have read the divorce process and realize that you can have an amicable divorce and come to agreements to resolve this divorce quickly.  Then I encourage you to simply go to www.mydivorcedocuments.com where you can download your specific state low cost forms and kits today.