Anna is a certified life transformation and relationship coach with an in-depth focus on positive psychology and transactional analysis. Using her 3+ years of experience, she helps her clients understand the essence of the problem, build self-esteem, establish healthy relationships, find harmony, and manifest their dreams into reality.
Quite often, marriage dissolution goes hand in hand with complex legal paperwork. First of all, spouses have to figure out which forms they need for their particular case and then fill out all the divorce papers without a single mistake. It can be challenging for a person who is not an expert in legal matters and doesn’t know the process’s peculiarities in their state.
However, there is a solution. A married couple can prepare divorce papers online. Let’s figure out how to do it and whether this option is suitable for everyone.
Preparing divorce documents via the Internet is often referred to as “online divorce.” However, it’s crucial to understand that a person can only get divorced through a court. The court reviews the documents, makes a decision, and issues a divorce decree.
Spouses who want to get online divorce forms should also keep in mind several essential requirements. First, both sides must know each other’s location. Second, spouses must discuss all the issues concerning their divorce and agree on each item, including:
If these requirements are met, the spouses can qualify for an uncontested divorce and use an online tool to prepare their documents.
If the spouses can’t reach an agreement on all or some of the issues but don’t want their divorce to be contested, they may continue negotiations and look for other compromises. As an alternative, a married couple may want to hire a mediator to help them find a solution. Only after all the issues are resolved can spouses prepare documents online.
Quite a few platforms deal with divorce paperwork in the USA. Some are nationwide, which means that spouses can use their services regardless of their state of residence. There are also local websites that focus on specific states.
Given that divorce laws and procedures vary from state to state and even from county to county, such platforms take into account all the peculiarities of a particular territory, constantly updating the forms following national and local requirements.
It shouldn’t be a problem to find such sites. The user just needs to enter “online divorce,” “DIY divorce,” “prepare divorce forms online,” “online divorce papers,” or a similar query into a search engine. The first search results will show platforms that may suit some couples who want to end their marriage.
However, it is crucial to keep in mind that different sites offer different services. Some platforms represent law firms. Thus, they can provide legal advice. Other companies offer a full range of services, including filing the documents with the court. Still, most websites provide completed printable divorce forms and filing instructions so that clients can apply to the court on their own.
Price is another critical aspect. When choosing a platform, spouses should pay attention to whether there are any hidden costs. Having chosen a service with a suspiciously low price, there is a possibility that the client may be charged with additional fees.
Most online divorce platforms are relatively easy to use. Usually, they provide detailed information on the divorce laws and regulations, have straightforward navigation, and offer instructions on using the service. If spouses are ready to get it done online, they will need to take several steps.
Basically, at the first stage, the spouses need to confirm that they know each other’s location and that they don’t have any disputes regarding the marriage dissolution. Usually, it’s a short form that also serves as registration to create an account.
This stage is the most important. The spouses need to answer some questions related to their divorce. The number of questions may vary depending on the marriage peculiarities (common children, property, debts, mortgages, businesses, etc.) and the state or county laws where spouses want to file their papers.
A couple should read the questions carefully before answering because how the forms are selected and filled out will depend on this information. If mistakes are made while working with the questionnaire, there is a chance that the documents may not be filled out incorrectly. Thus, the court may reject them, and the spouses will have to start the process from the very beginning.
Some platforms provide explanations and even links to relevant laws to make it easier for spouses to answer the questions.
Spouses can answer the questions together, or one party can do it independently and then get approval from the other side. One of the advantages of online divorce forms preparation platforms is that spouses are free to choose where, when, and how to work with the questionnaire. The main thing is that in the end, both parties must agree with the answers provided.
After answering the questions and paying a fee, the soon-to-be-ex spouses will have to wait two or more business days to get their ready-made documents. Usually, they will receive an email with all the forms that need to be printed and signed. Some platforms give access to the documents in a personal account.
Having signed the documents, the spouses may file them to the court if they are sure about their decision and don’t have any disagreements. The procedure may differ depending on the state and county. Some platforms provide instructions on how to file divorce papers with the court. If there is no such option, then spouses can contact their local court clerk or check the court’s website to learn about the process.
Using online tools to prepare divorce documents is one of the easiest and fastest ways to get completed papers. Moreover, it saves time because spouses don’t have to waste hours filling out forms themselves. Most often, all they need to do is answer questions about their marriage, and the selected platform will do the rest.
However, one should keep in mind some essential details. To be eligible to get divorce papers online, both spouses must agree with the decision to dissolve their marriage and resolve all possible issues to start an uncontested process. It may not be easy to negotiate and find solutions that will meet each side’s interests and needs, but it can help spouses save money on lawyers and avoid lengthy court proceedings.
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