Picking Up Your Own Divorce Form
Although no one readily admits it, there
are couples every single day who are contemplating a divorce.
It could be the couple that everyone can hear arguing down the street, or it could be the unassuming couple that no one would believe is having a difficult time in their marriage. As if the realization that your
marriage is over is not difficult enough, the issue of dealing with lawyers and judges in a court is something that everyone would rather not have to deal with at all. If both people are in agreement that the divorce can be settled out of court, then there are tasks that need to be completed.
First, it is of utmost importance to understand that you can petition for a divorce by yourself if both individuals agree on how to divide community property. You should also ensure that every required court document has been signed and notarized. This will increase the likelihood that the divorce process will go smoothly. You will have to pay a filing fee at the courthouse, and the fee does vary depending on the state in which you reside. Do not fall for the trick that you have to pay for the divorce forms. They are free, and everyone has free access to them if you know where to go to find them.
Finding The Forms
When it is finally the right time to gather together all the required paperwork, you should place a call to the local courthouse and family law or divorce office. They will send all the required forms and instructions to you in the mail, or they can email them to you as electronic attachments that you download and fill out on your own. The one divorce form that typically is a separate document is the settlement agreement. You can pay a lawyer to create a settlement agreement for you, but this form is also free and available on the Internet.
Don’t forget to get explicit, detailed instructions on how to complete each form. They must be filled out and signed in a certain manner. They must also be copied a number of times for the court, and be filed with the court in a certain order. You can save thousands of dollars by doing this your self, but you must pay close attention to submission deadlines and the order in which you file the divorce forms.