Petitioner Without Minor Children
You are the Petitioner without Children if you are beginning the divorce process before your spouse and you do not have minor children living at home.
You will need to complete the following forms:
Finding A Divorce Record
After a case is completed and a judgment of divorce issued, the case is closed. Records for closed divorce cases are kept in the county courthouse for a short time and then stored by the Superior Court Clerk’s Office in Trenton.
Contact the Superior Court Clerk’s Office Customer Service Unit at if you have any questions.
Finalizing Your New York Divorce
In an uncontested divorce, once the defendant is served, he/she may respond in any of the ways mentioned below:
The defendant files his/her answer with the supreme court and also serves the plaintiff, which means that the divorce becomes a contested one.
The defendant signs the Affidavit of Defendant form, which means that he/she agrees to all the terms of the divorce and you can move the next step i.e. calendaring.
The defendant doesnt respond, which means that he/she has defaulted and you move to the next step of calendaring.
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Use Templates And Forms
If you can agree with your spouse about the major issues related to your divorce, a do-it-yourself divorce option can be cheaper, easier and less stressful than a traditional divorce. Most courts offer divorce forms as downloadable documents that you can print and fill out or file using an online system. However, it can be confusing to figure out which forms you must use and how to fill them out correctly. An online divorce service helps solve this problem.
Online divorce services have checklists and questionnaires to provide the content you need for where youre filing. Fillable forms and sample documents, like a divorce agreement template, can help ensure you use the right documents and prepare them correctly. These programs make your do-it-yourself divorce easier than ever.
Eligibility For Divorce In Pa

Before we dive into the details, let’s talk about eligibility first. To be eligible for a mutual consent or no-fault divorce :
- at least one spouse must be a resident of the state of Pennsylvania for a minimum of six months prior to filing for the divorce
- the couple must have either no dependent children or be in mutual agreement with regards to custody and child support
- each party must agree to the terms outlined in the optional Marital Settlement Agreement
If that describes your divorce, you can certainly file by yourself. However, read through the rest of this blog post to make sure you’re fully prepared — and see if you need some help to file your divorce paperwork quickly and accurately. We often recommend filing in Montgomery County because you can view your case online and you don’t have to be a resident.
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How To Fill Out Divorce Papers
Every divorce form entails a set of instructions that guide you through the document. Read the instructions carefully, so that you have all you require and do not overlook anything.
Given that you dont understand some terms, ensure you check with your lawyer to know what they mean. Answer every question on the divorce forms accurately, because the paperwork will be submitted to the court.
After filling out all the necessary forms, you should:
- Serve them on your spouse to give notice of the divorce
- Officially submit them to the court
Getting Assistance With Filling Out Divorce Forms
If you dont know how to fill out divorce papers, you can seek help from others. Working with an attorney during the divorce process is crucial. Lawyers have the skills needed to deal with divorce matters. The attorney will help ensure no details are overlooked and all the necessary information is submitted on time.
A lot of courts also provide self-help centers where you walk in and get assistance in filling out your divorce forms. That is a worthwhile option if you cant afford to hire a lawyer or just need answers to a few questions.
- Other law courts offer online video tutorials on how to fill out divorce papers. Some even provide an automated divorce interview that fills out the paperwork automatically after you give the necessary details.
If you dont need assistance with completing divorce forms and opt to handle them yourself, be sure to get the right papers. Also, take the time required to fill them out fully. Do not rush to fill out the paperwork when you are doing something else. Set aside some quiet time to read through the instructions and fill out all the necessary details carefully.
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Submitting A Verified Consumer Request
You have the right to submit verified consumer requests to know information or for deletion. The request to know can be for any or all of the following:
The response to a request for any of the categories above will cover the preceding 12 months. Please note that we are not required to provide personal information to you more than twice in a 12-month period. We cannot respond to your request or provide you with personal information if we cannot verify your identity or authority to make the request. We will only use personal information provided in a verifiable consumer request to verify the requestorâs identity or authority to make the request.
You can submit requests by calling or using ourwebform.
Requests to Know or Delete for Child Under the Age of 13: We accept requests for minors under the age of 13 if we can determine that it was submitted by a parent or guardian. If submitting such a request, please provide sufficient documentation to demonstrate that relationship.
Understand Any Applicable Separation Requirements Or Waiting Periods
Many states dont require spouses to be physically separated before filing for divorce. Others, however, require that spouses live separately for a certain period before they can file for divorce.
If your state does have a separation requirement, it may apply to only certain types of divorces. For instance, you may be able to file for divorce immediately based on fault-based grounds, like domestic abuse, rather than waiting out a separation period. You must wait until any applicable separation period expires before filing for divorce online papers that are filed too soon can result in your case being dismissed.
A waiting period is a different kind of mandatory delay. In some states the court can enter a final order or divorce decree fairly soon after filing your divorce papers online. In others, the court will not schedule a hearing or enter a proposed order until a set amount of time has passed. This waiting period varies from 10 to 365 days.
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Mistake #: Losing Your Court Docket Number
Since most people who are filing for divorce as a do-it-yourself do not have a legal background, the legal jargon can be very confusing. One term in particular that is very important to understand is “court docket number.” The court clerks keep track of all cases through a system known as a docket. Each new case receives a unique, new docket number. The court docket number allows for the court to keep your case organized and allows for you to check the status of your case with the court at anytime.
The court docket number is first given to you after the initial paperwork is filed and returned back from the court. All subsequent forms that you file once you have received this number must include the docket number on them. Regardless of whether you file in person, through the mail, or E-file, your case will be given a docket number.
Who Regrets Divorce
A third of divorced couples regret their decision to separate. Avvo.com interviewed 257 women and 206 men and asked them how they felt about their divorce. spouses. The study also found that women are more likely than men to blame themselves for the break-up of their marriages.
According to the study, women were more than twice as likely to that they were the main cause of the divorce, compared to men who said that it was their spouses fault.
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When Can You Use Do
Using DIY divorce papers is usually allowed only when the divorce is uncontested. An uncontested divorce is where you and your spouse have settled all major issues, such as child custody and spousal support. If you and your spouse have not agreed to every major issue, you have a contested divorce. Consult an attorney for a contested divorce.
Before proceeding with a do-it-yourself divorce, make sure your spouse is being honest about savings and income, and is not hiding any assets.
If you aren’t sure, have been married a long time, have a lot of property, or are a victim of domestic violence, you should consult an attorney instead of filing a do-it-yourself divorce. Likewise, if you feel your agreement favors your spouse, seek help from an experienced divorce attorney.
How To File Divorce Papers Online

Online divorce services are best used for uncontested divorce cases. You’ll need legal aid if youre having any disputes with your spouse. Or, if youre able to resolve your issues and come to an agreement, you could find success with the online filing method.
With us, you can start your divorce online inthree easy steps. If you have any questions or concerns, were happy to provide you with the answers and guidance youre looking for. You can have peace of mind knowing that your divorce case is being taken care of by skilled professionals who care deeply about your experience.
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Mistake #: Not Familiarizing Yourself With All The Forms Ahead Of Time
Unfortunately many of the necessary forms in filing for divorce in PA are very similar. It may seem confusing whether you or your spouse is supposed to sign and file a form or which order to file the forms. That’s why you should familiarize yourself with all the forms before you even begin the process.
Pay attention to who is supposed to file certain forms and the titles of the documents. Additionally, it’s important to understand that the forms cannot be filled out all at once. Instead, you need to sign, date, and fill in appropriate information at the specified times.
Using An Authorized Agent To Submit A Request
Only you, or a natural person or a business entity registered with the Secretary of State to conduct business in California that you have authorized to act on your behalf, may make a verifiable consumer request related to your personal information. You may also make a verifiable consumer request on behalf of your minor child. If you use an authorized agent, you may provide a power of attorney executed pursuant to California Probate Code sections 4000 to 4465. If a power of attorney that meets those provisions is not submitted, you will be required to provide the authorized agent signed permission to submit a request, verify your identity directly with us, and directly confirm with us that you provided the authorized agent permission to submit the request.
If youâre an authorized agent making a request you need to do the following:
provide a copy of a power of attorney provided to you by the consumer pursuant to Probate Code sections 4000 to 4465 or
provide proof of signed permission along with a copy of your ID and have the consumer confirm with us that they provided you permission to submit the request by sending an e-mail.
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Confirm Where You Can File In California
To file for divorce in California, either you or your spouse has to have lived in California for the past 6 months and in your current California county for the past 3 months.
This is known as meeting the residency requirement. You can file for divorce in any county where one of you meets the residency requirement. Check which county you could file in if you’re not sure.
To file for a legal separation, one of you must live in California. There is no requirement for how long that person must have lived in California.
There are different rules or exceptions for domestic partners and same-sex couples. Learn more
Same-sex couples
If you married in California, but now live somewhere that doesn’t allow divorces for same-sex couples, you can file for divorce in the county you married. The court can end your marriage, but may not be able to make decisions about property, support, or children. Check with a lawyer to find out more.
Domestic partners
If your domestic partnership is registered in California, you dont need to meet the residency requirement. But, if neither of you meet the requirement, the court could end your partnership, but may not be able to make decisions about property, support, or children.
If its not registered in California, you will need to meet the residency requirement.
Here Is How We Can Make It Easier For You To Complete Your Divorce Using Onlinedivorcecom:
- We provide you with the full divorce packet that is required by your local court – no need to drive to your local courthouse to get the blank forms or search for the right divorce forms online. In rare cases, some local forms specific to a filing county can vary in color, paper material, size and / or scanning bar code so they may need to be obtained from the county clerk’s office directly.
- We complete the necessary forms for you based on the answers you give in a simple guided online interview – no need to read through the legal jargon and try to figure out how to fill out those forms yourself.
- We give you the detailed and easy to follow step-by-step instructions for filing your divorce with the court – so you know exactly what to do to get your divorce finalized.
- We provide unlimited technical support – if you need assistance through the online process you can always reach out to us via phone, email or live chat and we’ll do our best to help you.
- We save time and money for our clients – if divorcing spouses are in agreement regarding the terms of their divorce, they donât have to pay thousands to a lawyer to handle their divorce forms and they don’t need to spend hours trying to do it all by themselves.
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Grounds For Divorce In Ontario
Grounds for an online divorce using OnlineDivorce.com are the same as they would be for any divorce within the Province of Ontario. Grounds are merely the reason for divorce, and the province must approve them.
To obtain a dissolution of marriage in Ontario, you will have to prove that your marriage is broken down . The Canadian law states that a marriage breakdown occurs if:
- Both the filing and the defending spouse have lived separate and apart for a minimum of one year with the consideration that the marriage is over and complete or
- the defending spouse has committed adultery or
- the defending spouse has been physically or mentally cruel to the petitioning spouse, making it unbearable for the spouses to continue living together.
Cruelty can include both acts of physical violence as well as those that would cause severe mental anguish.
*Most divorces granted in Canada are based on the one year of separation grounds. It is important to realize that ‘living separate and apart’ does not necessarily mean that the spouses must live in separate homes – they can be separated but still share a same home for reasons such as children, money, or convenience.
Who Pays Costs In Divorce
The spouse who applies for a divorce is known as the Petitioner, while the other person is known as the Respondent. The costs of the petitioners will be higher than those of the respondents. In such a case, it is important to make sure that both parties are aware of their rights and obligations, and that they understand how the process works.
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