Document Guides

How to complete specific divorce forms, petitions, agreements, and court filings correctly.

113 articles in this topic

How to Complete the Divorce Petition Form

Step-by-step instructions for filling out the divorce petition form correctly.

How to Complete the Divorce Response Form

How to fill out and file your response to a divorce petition.

Marital Settlement Agreement Form: How to Complete It

Instructions for drafting a comprehensive marital settlement agreement.

Parenting Plan Form: How to Fill It Out

Step-by-step guide to completing the parenting plan form for your custody arrangement.

Child Support Worksheet: How to Calculate and Complete

How to fill out the child support calculation worksheet for your state.

Financial Affidavit Form: Complete Guide

How to accurately complete the financial affidavit required in divorce.

QDRO Form: How to Draft a Qualified Domestic Relations Order

Step-by-step guide to preparing a QDRO for retirement account division.

Name Change Petition in Divorce: Form and Process

How to complete the name change request as part of your divorce.

Divorce Summons Form: How to Complete and Serve

How to fill out the summons form and properly serve it on your spouse.

Proof of Service Form: Documenting Proper Service

How to complete the proof of service form after serving divorce papers.

Fee Waiver Application: How to File for Free

How to apply for a filing fee waiver if you cannot afford court costs.

Motion for Temporary Orders: Form and Filing Guide

How to file a motion for temporary custody, support, or restraining orders.

Stipulation and Order Form: Documenting Your Agreement

How to complete a stipulation form when both parties agree on terms.

Default Judgment Form: Filing When Spouse Doesn't Respond

How to complete and file default judgment paperwork when your spouse fails to respond.

Final Decree of Divorce: What It Includes

What goes into the final divorce decree and how to review it before signing.

Property Declaration Form: Listing Assets and Debts

How to accurately complete the property declaration form for your divorce.

Income and Expense Declaration: Form Guide

How to complete the income and expense declaration required in divorce.

Request for Order Form: Asking the Court to Decide

How to file a request for order when you need the court to make a ruling.

Discovery Requests in Divorce: Forms and Procedures

How to draft and serve discovery requests for financial disclosure.

Interrogatories in Divorce: Drafting Written Questions

How to prepare interrogatories to gather information from your spouse.

Request for Production of Documents in Divorce

How to request specific documents from your spouse during discovery.

Deposition Notice Form: Scheduling Sworn Testimony

How to prepare and serve a deposition notice in a divorce case.

Subpoenas in Divorce: Obtaining Records From Third Parties

How to issue subpoenas for financial records, employment data, and other documents.

Motion to Compel Discovery: When Your Spouse Won't Comply

How to file a motion to compel when your spouse fails to respond to discovery.

Motion for Contempt: Enforcing Court Orders

How to file a motion for contempt when your spouse violates a court order.

Motion to Modify Custody: Form and Requirements

How to file a motion requesting changes to an existing custody order.

Motion to Modify Support: Form and Filing Guide

How to file a motion to change child support or alimony amounts.

Motion to Relocate With Children: Form and Process

How to file a motion requesting permission to move with your children.

Motion for Protective Order: Form and Filing

How to request a protective order during divorce proceedings.

Notice of Appeal in Divorce: Form and Deadlines

How to file a notice of appeal if you disagree with the divorce court's decision.

Qualified Medical Child Support Order Form

How to complete the QMCSO for health insurance coverage of children.

Military Divorce Forms: Additional Requirements

Special forms required when filing for divorce involving a military service member.

Domestic Violence Restraining Order Forms

How to complete the forms for a domestic violence restraining order.

Voluntary Declaration of Paternity Form

How to complete a voluntary declaration of paternity during divorce.

Waiver of Service Form: When Your Spouse Cooperates

How to use a waiver of service when your spouse agrees to accept divorce papers.

Appearance and Waiver Form: Simplifying the Process

How to complete the appearance and waiver form for an uncontested divorce.

Certificate of Divorce: How to Obtain a Certified Copy

How to request certified copies of your divorce decree from the court.

Joint Petition for Divorce: Filing Together

How to complete a joint divorce petition when both spouses agree.

Uncontested Divorce Packet: All Forms You Need

A guide to every form in the uncontested divorce packet and how to complete each one.

Divorce With Minor Children: Additional Required Forms

Extra forms required when your divorce involves minor children.

Divorce Without Children: Simplified Form Requirements

The streamlined forms needed for a divorce without children.

Separation Agreement Form: How to Draft One

Instructions for creating a legally sound separation agreement.

Property Settlement Agreement Form: Division of Assets

How to complete a property settlement agreement dividing your marital assets.

Spousal Support Agreement Form: Documenting Alimony Terms

How to create an enforceable spousal support agreement.

Custody Modification Agreement: When Both Parents Agree

How to formalize changes to custody when both parents are in agreement.

Child Support Modification Form: Filing for Changes

How to complete the paperwork to modify an existing child support order.

Parenting Time Modification Form: Adjusting the Schedule

How to file paperwork to change your parenting time arrangement.

Divorce Complaint Form: Starting the Case in Complaint States

How to complete the divorce complaint form in states that use complaints rather than petitions.

Answer to Divorce Complaint: Response Form Guide

How to file your answer to a divorce complaint including counterclaims.

Counterclaim for Divorce: Filing Your Own Claims

How to file a counterclaim with your response to a divorce petition.

Motion for Default: When Your Spouse Won't Participate

How to file for default when your spouse refuses to engage in the divorce process.

Trial Brief for Divorce: How to Prepare

How to draft a trial brief for a contested divorce hearing.

Proposed Judgment Form: Drafting the Final Order

How to prepare a proposed judgment for the court to review and sign.

Notice of Hearing Form: Scheduling Court Dates

How to complete and serve a notice of hearing in your divorce case.

Declaration Form in Divorce: Written Testimony Under Oath

How to prepare a written declaration for use in divorce court.

Exhibit List for Divorce Court: Organizing Your Evidence

How to prepare and organize your exhibit list for a divorce hearing.

Witness List for Divorce: Identifying Who Will Testify

How to prepare your witness list and coordinate testimony for divorce court.

Motion for Attorney Fees: Requesting the Other Party Pay

How to file a motion asking the court to order your spouse to pay your attorney fees.

Motion to Dismiss Divorce: Stopping the Proceedings

How to file a motion to dismiss a divorce case and when it is appropriate.

Motion for Continuance: Requesting More Time

How to request a postponement of a divorce hearing.

Child Custody Affidavit: Required Disclosure Form

How to complete the custody affidavit disclosing your child's residence history.

Domestic Relations Financial Affidavit: Detailed Guide

A detailed walkthrough of the domestic relations financial affidavit form.

Mandatory Disclosure in Divorce: Required Financial Documents

The financial documents you must disclose during divorce and how to compile them.

Divorce Forms by State: Where to Find Your Paperwork

Where to find official divorce forms for every state and how to access them.

Filling Out Divorce Papers: Common Mistakes to Avoid

The most common mistakes people make on divorce forms and how to avoid them.

Notarizing Divorce Documents: When and How

Which divorce documents need notarization and how to get them notarized.

Filing Divorce Papers With the Court: Process and Tips

How to file your completed divorce papers with the court clerk.

E-Filing Divorce Papers: States That Allow Online Filing

How to electronically file divorce documents in states that offer e-filing.

Serving Divorce Papers by Mail: When It Is Allowed

How to serve divorce papers by certified mail and which states allow it.

Service by Publication: Divorcing an Absent Spouse

How to serve divorce papers by newspaper publication when you cannot find your spouse.

Complete Divorce Forms Package: Cases With Children

Every form needed for a divorce with children and the order to file them.

Complete Divorce Forms Package: No Children

The full set of forms for a divorce without children and how to file them.

Consent Order Form: When Both Parties Agree

How to draft a consent order when you and your spouse reach agreement on an issue.

Post-Judgment Motion Form: Requesting Changes After Divorce

How to file motions after your divorce is finalized to modify or enforce the decree.

Wage Withholding Order for Support: Form Guide

How to set up automatic wage withholding for child support or alimony payments.

Contempt Motion for Non-Payment of Support

How to file a contempt motion when your ex-spouse stops paying support.

Change of Address Notification to Court

How to notify the court of your address change during or after divorce.

Motion for Reconsideration in Divorce: Form and Process

How to ask the court to reconsider a decision in your divorce case.

Satisfaction of Judgment Form: Confirming Compliance

How to file a satisfaction of judgment when all divorce terms have been met.

Organizing Your Divorce Paperwork: A Filing System

How to organize and maintain all your divorce documents for easy access.

Court Filing Deadlines in Divorce: A Quick Reference

Important filing deadlines in divorce cases and what happens if you miss them.

Divorce Forms Checklist: Track Your Progress

A printable checklist of all divorce forms and their filing status.

How to Read Your Divorce Decree: Understanding Legal Language

A guide to understanding the legal language in your divorce decree.

Correcting Errors in Your Divorce Decree

How to fix mistakes in a final divorce decree after it has been entered.

Getting a Certified Copy of Your Divorce Decree

How and where to obtain a certified copy of your divorce decree.

Requesting Divorce Records: Public Access and Privacy

How to request divorce records from court archives and what is publicly available.

Preparing Documents for the Court Clerk: Formatting Requirements

Formatting and preparation requirements for documents filed with the court.

20 Common Divorce Form Errors and How to Fix Them

The most frequent errors on divorce forms and how to correct them before filing.

Divorce Paperwork Timeline: When to File Each Document

A timeline showing when each divorce document needs to be filed during the process.

Self-Represented Litigant Forms: Resources by State

Special forms and resources available for people representing themselves in divorce.

Court Self-Help Centers: Free Assistance With Divorce Forms

How court self-help centers can assist you with completing divorce paperwork.

Legal Document Preparers vs Attorneys: Which Do You Need

The difference between document preparers and attorneys and which is right for your case.

Online Divorce Form Services: How They Work

How online divorce form preparation services work and what they cost.

Divorce Mediation Agreement: Documenting Your Resolution

How to formalize the agreements reached during divorce mediation.

Collaborative Divorce Participation Agreement Form

What the collaborative divorce participation agreement includes and how to sign one.

Settlement Conference Brief: How to Prepare

How to write a settlement conference brief for your divorce case.

Automatic Temporary Restraining Orders in Divorce

How ATROs work in divorce cases and what they prohibit.

Status Quo Order in Divorce: Maintaining the Current Situation

How status quo orders work to prevent changes during the divorce process.

How to Fill Out a Divorce Petition: Field-by-Field Instructions

Step-by-step guide to completing the initial divorce petition, what each field means, and common mistakes.

Financial Disclosure Forms in Divorce: How to Complete Them Accurately

What financial disclosures require, how to fill them out, and consequences of incomplete or false reporting.

Proof of Service in Divorce: Filing Requirements and Methods

How to properly serve divorce papers, acceptable methods, proof of service forms, and what happens if service fails.

Waiver of Service in Divorce: When Your Spouse Agrees to Skip Formal Service

How waiver of service works, when it is available, the form to use, and advantages of this approach.

How to File an Answer to a Divorce Petition: Response Guide

How to respond to being served divorce papers, filing deadlines, counterclaims, and what happens if you don't respond.

Completing the Child Support Worksheet: Income and Expense Guide

How to fill out child support calculation worksheets, what income counts, and how deductions work.

Stipulation Agreements in Divorce: Putting Your Agreement on Record

What stipulation agreements are, when to use them, how to draft one, and getting court approval.

Filing a Motion for Default in Divorce: When Your Spouse Doesn't Respond

How to proceed with divorce when your spouse fails to respond, default judgment process, and requirements.

Property Declaration Forms: Listing Assets and Debts for Court

How to complete property declaration forms, what to include, valuations, and supporting documentation.

Name Change in Divorce: Forms and Process to Restore Your Former Name

How to change your name during divorce, required forms, updating documents afterward, and timeline.

Protective Orders During Divorce: How to File and What They Cover

Types of protective orders available during divorce, filing process, temporary vs. permanent, and enforcement.

Filing Fee Waiver for Divorce: How to Apply If You Cannot Afford Court Costs

How to request a fee waiver for divorce filing, income thresholds, required documentation, and appeals.

Divorce Filing Document Checklist by State

State-by-state checklist of required documents for filing divorce, from petition to financial disclosures.

Modifying Divorce Orders After the Decree: Which Documents to File

How to file motions to modify custody, support, or property terms after your divorce is finalized.

Getting Divorce Documents Notarized: Requirements and Options

Which divorce forms need notarization, online notarization options, and common notarization mistakes.