How To

How to Get a Divorce Without a Lawyer

By eHow Legal Editor

Rate: (5 Ratings)

In many states it is legal to get a divorce without representation. If you have limited or no assets and no children or dependents, it may the way to go as you'll save money in attorney and court costs. Follow these general steps to get a divorce without a lawyer.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Step1
Determine if you qualify for a no-fault divorce in your state by utilizing online resources such as divorcelawinfo.com or calling your county clerk's office. It's important to understand the law governing divorce in your area as it varies by state.
Step2
Pick up the forms you will need from your local state courthouse or clerk's office. You can find state-specific forms online as well to download for free on websites such as family.findlaw.com.
Step3
Fill out the forms completely with all required information pertaining to your divorce. Follow the directions closely. These should be fairly simple if you have limited assets to split or have already arranged how they will be divided.
Step4
Sign the forms and have your spouse sign them as well. In some states they are required to be notarized (this can be done at your bank or many Post Offices).
Step5
Deliver the completed forms and any required fees to the organization in your state that will be handling your divorce. This information should be included on the instructions for filing.

Tips & Warnings

  • Visit your state's website for additional information regarding do-it-yourself divorces.
  • If you and your spouse are disagreeing over the distribution of assets or if you have children and need to establish custody agreements, it is recommended that you seek the advice of an attorney.

Who Can Help:

Comments

| View All Comments
Flag This Comment

on 10/3/2008 Great! Nicole. Really glad I could be of help. I've been telling those who don't know because it's hard enough going through a hard time such as this, then to have no vision of the future and empty pockets. Best of luck!

Barry

mommanic08 said

Flag This Comment

on 10/2/2008 Thank you Barry. I accessed that free e-book and it was quite helpful. I'm new to this divorce thing and I don't want to get taken because I'm nieve. I need to learn all I can to help protect myself. Thanks for the great resource.
Nicole

Flag This Comment

on 9/26/2008 I do know that it is possible to get a divorce without hiring a lawyer and dealing with all of the added expense that comes along with it. When I was in the process of obtaining a divorce, my brother referred me to a company he used and was successful in obtaining his divorce AND without a lawyer. He sent me this free e-booklet which I must say, changed my life. http://www.document-do-it-yourself-service.com/free_divorce_booklet.html. Life is just too short to worry about worrying. This is great information to say the least. Best of luck and remember, things do happen for a reason. When the time is right, its right.

Barry

Post a Comment

Post a Comment

Request a New How-To Article

Looking for more How To information? Chances are there’s an eHow member who knows how to do what you’re looking to do. Submit an article request now!

eHow Article: How to Get a Divorce Without a Lawyer

eHow Legal Editor

Category: Legal

Articles: See my other articles

Related Ads