Getting a Divorce Without a Lawyer

If the right precautions are not taken, the process behind obtaining a divorce can easily end up costing an arm and a leg. Handling a divorce is stressful enough without the hassle of financial burdens that goes along with attorney and court fees. But what if you could cut out the middleman? Truth be told, there are ways of obtaining a divorce without the aid of a lawyer, saving you a bit of time and money in the long run. In this article, we will outline the steps necessary to filing on your own.

Step 1 - To begin, you will need to familiarize yourself with the paperwork that will be required to get the process on the road. Get in touch with your local courthouse and ask for copies of recent divorce papers. These documents are public record, and are free to the public. If you feel uncomfortable, you can always ask a friend or family member who has gone through the process to view their papers instead.

Step 2 - Take these papers home and get in contact with your spouse. Discuss what each person wants out of the divorce, such as custody and property matters. Try to reason that the process will be must less costly and painful without the aid of a lawyer, provided you are both able to agree to terms.

Step 3 - Next, read through the copied documents from your lawyer and edit them to reflect your individual situation. Edit all personal information, agreements, etc.. Once you are finished, you are ready to begin on your own paperwork.

Step 4 - Type up your documents using a computer program such as Word or any other text editor. Base your paper off the edited copies that you have doctored earlier, using the same format and verbage.

Step 5 - Be sure to proof read your copies! Fix any errors as you find them and take them to your spouse to review. Once you have the OK, head on down to your county clerk's office and have them notarized.

Step 6 - Your spouse must be served regardless of whether you two agree or not. Your spouse will have to have the papers notarized as well, signing their name under the notary's signature. If you and your spouse are on good terms, you can knock this out very easily by having both of you head down to the notary the first time around. This will allow you to have all papers notarized at the same time.

Step 7 - Once the necessary documents have been signed and notarized, the paperwork should be taken over to the county clerk. The clerk will inform you of the docket date and inform you of the specifics regarding the filing fee. Most fees tend to range between $50 and $100.

Step 8 - On your day in court, the judge will review all the paperwork to ensure all matters are accounted for. Both parties will be asked to agree to the specifications outlined within the documents. Once both parties have provided an affirmative answer, a divorce will be granted.