DIY Divorces

You can access several necessary divorce forms online.

If you and your spouse have agreed to divorce and there is no conflict that will arise, you may want to consider filing for your divorce yourself. This is called a "pro se divorce," and both you and your spouse will represent yourselves when in court. Do-it-yourself divorces can be easily carried out thanks to the Internet and easy-to-access forms and methods of filing. If you can work with your spouse, a pro se divorce will help you to save money.

Instructions

1. Ensure that you're qualified for a pro se divorce. Both you and your spouse must come to a mutual agreement on the divorce and there cannot be minor children involved. Assets must be minimal and division of assets must be agreed upon. There can be no existing retirement or pension plans, stock options or investments. Neither person can be in active service in the U.S. military. You also must show that you're able to support yourself and that there isn't a history of abuse in the relationship. An imminent bankruptcy proceeding will disqualify you from filing a pro se divorce, and you also won't qualify if your spouse has already hired a lawyer.

2. Gather the necessary forms. Forms will vary by state, but in general you'll need a petition for divorce; a financial affidavit; a notice of hearing; an answer and affidavit; a certificate of corroborating witness; a settlement agreement; and a divorce judgment. You can ask your county clerk for a specific list of all of the forms and documents you'll need, based on your geographic location.

3. Ask an attorney to review your forms before you submit them. The attorney can also file the paperwork if you'd like.

4. Hire a company that will provide you with support. If you don't want to hire an attorney but need some guidance when filing your pro se divorce, there are plenty of companies out there designed to help you every step of the way. These firms can provide you with the necessary forms and also assist you with filling out and filing them.

References

• Divorce Dex: Pro Se Divorce
• Woman's Divorce: Do It Yourself Divorce