How to Get a Divorce Without a Lawyer

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.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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).

5. 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:

• eFax is the world’s #1 Internet fax service.  Send and receive faxes by email and kiss your fax machine goodbye. 30-Day Free Trial

Resources

• State by state divorce resource listing for forms and advice
• Comprehensive list of divorce law references and guides

[Bubbastreet1]

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]

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

[Bubbastreet1]

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