Divorce Forms

Hiring an Attorney

Obviously, the easiest way to file for divorce is to hire a qualified attorney to complete your divorce papers. In this case, all you will need to do is provide copies of your marriage license, vehicle titles, property deeds, health insurance papers, bank statements, and other supporting documents. However, you will also be responsible for reviewing the completed forms to ensure their accuracy.

If you can’t afford full legal representation, you may wish to hire a divorce lawyer who will agree to “unbundle” his/her services. In this arrangement, your attorney can do one of the following:

• Help you complete your divorce forms
• Advise you on laws and procedures related to child support, division of property, or other key divorce issues
• Make a court appearance on your behalf
• Act as “standby” council to step in if your divorce becomes more complicated than you had anticipated

A Do It Yourself Divorce

Although most divorce experts recommend having a professional prepare your forms, a do it yourself divorce may be an option if you have no children and very little property or debt. And, with a do it yourself divorce, you’ll save a substantial amount of money in legal fees.

In some states, you can download divorce forms from the county clerk’s website. If this option is not available where you live, you may want to contact the clerk’s office to determine which forms you will need and ask if there are local self-help legal clinics to provide assistance.

A quick Internet search will reveal that there are many different websites selling do it yourself divorce kits. Generally, you’ll want to purchase forms that are specific to your state. Laws regarding spousal support, division of property, and other important issues can vary substantially in different parts of the country. Each state also requires a slightly different set of forms.

The most common divorce forms are as follows:

• Petition for Divorce
• Notice of Hearing
• Certificate of Corroborating Witness
• Answer and Affidavit
• Financial Affidavit
• Settlement Agreement
• Divorce Judgment or Decree

To get started on your search for the forms needed to end your marriage, check out the following resources:

• We The People's Guide to Divorce: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Reaching an Agreement with Your Spouse and Getting a Hassle-Free Divorce by Ira Distenfield and Linda Distenfield provides an easy-to-understand explanation of the divorce process, plus links to download the necessary forms online.
• Nolo Press lets you save money on attorney fees by completing your own divorce papers.
• The DivorceLawInfo.com website lets you download a number of divorce forms.
• The Divorce-Forms.com website provides links to state-specific divorce forms.

If you don’t want to shop online, you can also purchase divorce kits from Staples or other office supply stores.

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