Houston Family Law LawyersDepending on the state you reside in, you may be able to file for divorce without an attorney. States differ on what guidelines they have, so you may wish to consult with a lawyer before filing. States do have some general guidelines, and the steps are usually as follows.
1. Find out what your state’s divorce laws are. You will need to know if you qualify for a divorce in that state and determine where you need to file the divorce. Typically, you will file in the court closest to your place of residence. Your local court clerk will be able to give you more information.
2. Next you will need to find and fill out all of the appropriate forms. There are several kinds of divorce, so you should choose the divorce method that is suits your circumstances best. Your state’s court website will most likely have all of the forms you will need. Otherwise, a trip to the court clerk’s office will be necessary.
4. Complete the forms by typing or by writing neatly in blue or black ink. Make sure you provide accurate and complete information. Take special care to fill in every blank that is applicable to your circumstances.
5. After you completely fill out the forms you will need to file them with the court clerk’s office at the proper court. Also make sure you bring money for the filing fees. Additionally, the court will need copies of your forms, so make sure to bring the correct number of duplicates.
6. After you file your forms, you will need to provide you spouse with proper notice of the filing. The court will either need documentation of waiver of citation, an answer to the service, or service in person or mail. If the court doesn’t have proof of service, then your case will not move forward.
7. Once the court receives documentation that the notice was served, then they will put your case on the court’s calendar. You are required to attend your hearing, whether it is contested or uncontested. Make sure you bring all of court filings to the hearing with you.
8. The last step is filing your final divorce decree. Once this has been filed, the judge will wait a predetermined period of time before they sign it. After it is signed your marriage is dissolved and you are officially divorced. Shared by: Houston Divorce Lawyer | Houston Family Law Lawyers
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