Divorce papers PDF: how to find, fill out, and file them

Last updated 2026-07-09

What exactly are divorce papers, and what does a full PDF packet include?

"Divorce papers" is a catch-all for the set of court forms that start a divorce and carry it to a final decree. The exact forms vary by state and sometimes by county. Almost every uncontested divorce needs at least three core documents: a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (or Petition for Divorce), a Summons, and a Marital Settlement Agreement (sometimes called a Separation Agreement or Property Settlement Agreement). Some states fold the last two into one document. Others keep them separate.

Beyond those anchors, you may also need a Proof of Service form (showing your spouse was properly notified), a Financial Affidavit or Declaration of Disclosure (required in California, Florida, and many others), a Parenting Plan if you have minor children, a Child Support Worksheet, and a Final Decree or Judgment form the judge signs at the end. In some counties the clerk prepares the final decree. In others you submit a proposed order yourself.

A single petition is rarely enough. Plan for four to eight forms in a simple no-kids case, and eight to twelve when children or real estate are involved. Every state makes these available as PDFs, usually at no charge, through its official court website or self-help center. ^[1]

You can find a general overview of what the forms cover in our guide to divorce papers.

Where can I get free divorce papers as a PDF download?

Your state's official court website is the fastest and only free source you actually need. Most state court systems keep a self-help or forms section where every fillable PDF is posted by case type. Here are the direct starting points for the largest states.

State	Where to find forms	Filing fee range
California	courts.ca.gov (Family Law section)	$435 (petition) [2]
Texas	txcourts.gov (Self-Help)	$300, $350 [3]
Florida	flcourts.org (Self-Help Center)	$408 (no kids) [4]
New York	nycourts.gov (DIY Forms)	$210 [5]
Illinois	illinoiscourts.gov (Forms)	$289, $329
Arizona	azcourts.gov (Self Service Center)	$349
Georgia	georgiacourts.gov (Self-Help)	$200, $220

If your state isn't listed, search "[your state] courts self-help forms divorce" and click the .gov result. Skip any site that charges you to download forms the court gives away. Those sites make money by repackaging public documents. The forms are identical to what's on the court website.

County matters too. California in particular has county-specific cover sheets and local rules, so download from your specific superior court (lacourt.org for Los Angeles, sfsuperiorcourt.org for San Francisco) rather than the statewide site alone. ^[2]

For federal-law context, the U.S. government's official gateway is usa.gov, which links out to each state's process. ^[6]

How do I get divorce papers in New York as a PDF?

New York is one of the friendliest states for DIY divorce, mostly because the Unified Court System built a dedicated DIY Uncontested Divorce program with step-by-step instructions and every form in one place. Go to nycourts.gov and look for the "Do Your Own Divorce" or "DIY Uncontested Divorce" section. ^[5]

The New York uncontested packet includes the Summons with Notice (or Summons and Verified Complaint), Verified Complaint for Divorce (UD-2), Affidavit of Defendant (UD-7), Affidavit of Plaintiff (UD-6), Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law (UD-10), Judgment of Divorce (UD-11), and a Note of Issue (UD-9). A divorce with children adds a Child Support Standards Act (CSSA) worksheet and a parenting plan. Count on about a dozen forms in a full New York packet.

The filing fee in New York Supreme Court is $210 as of 2024, paid to the county clerk. ^[5] If you already paid an index number fee when filing the original summons, ask the clerk whether you owe anything more. That split trips people up.

New York requires that the defendant (the non-filing spouse) be personally served by someone other than you. A process server or an adult friend works, and then you file a proof of service. That's the step DIY filers miss most. The nycourts.gov site has a plain-language checklist explaining exactly how service must happen. ^[5]

Are PDF divorce forms fillable, or do I have to print and handwrite them?

Both exist, and the experience changes by state and even by county.

Most state court systems now offer interactive fillable PDFs. You open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader (free) or a browser PDF viewer, type into the fields, and print. California, New York, Florida, and Texas all have fillable versions of their primary divorce forms. ^[2][4][5]

Some older county forms are scan-only PDFs with no active fields. Print those first, then fill them in by hand in black ink. Courts don't care whether you typed or handwrote as long as it's legible. Blue ink is sometimes rejected. Black is accepted everywhere.

One practical warning: even with a fillable PDF, don't fill it inside a web browser. Chrome's built-in viewer sometimes fails to save field data. Download the file, save it to your desktop, and open it in Adobe Acrobat Reader. Save a copy before you print so you still have the typed data if the clerk asks for a correction.

Signature fields almost always want a wet signature (real pen on paper) after printing, even when everything else is typed. A few states now accept electronic signatures on certain forms. Until your court's website says so in writing, assume you're printing and signing by hand.

What does it cost to file divorce papers, and are there any fee waivers?

Each state legislature sets its own filing fees, and they change periodically, so the numbers below reflect publicly posted schedules as of mid-2024. The petition fee is the big one. Most states also charge a smaller response fee if your spouse files a formal answer.

California charges $435 to file the petition and $435 for the response, the highest in the country. It also allows fee waivers (form FW-001) for anyone whose income falls below roughly 125% of the federal poverty line or who receives public benefits. ^[2] Florida charges $408 for a petition with no dependent children and $409 with children. ^[4] Texas runs $300 to $350 depending on the county and whether children are involved. ^[3] New York's index number plus filing fees total around $210. ^[5]

Every state has a fee waiver process. Look for "application to waive court fees," "in forma pauperis," or "indigency waiver" on your court's site. You complete a financial affidavit, and the clerk or a judge approves or denies it, usually within a few days.

Filing fees are separate from any professional help. Handle everything yourself and the filing fee is your only hard cost. Use a document preparation service such as DivorceClear (which builds a complete uncontested packet for $149) and you pay that fee on top of the court's fee. The filing fee always goes to the court, never to a service.

For the broader money picture, the divorce rate in America article has data on how costs vary by case type.

How do I fill out a divorce petition PDF correctly?

The petition is the document that opens the case. It tells the court who you are, who your spouse is, when and where you married, whether you have minor children, and what you're asking for. Get it right the first time and you skip a return trip to the courthouse.

Here's what nearly every petition asks for, field by field.

Names and addresses. Use full legal names as they appear on your marriage certificate. Middle names help if you share a common surname. Many courts ask for a mailing address rather than a residence address, for privacy.

Date and place of marriage. Keep your marriage certificate in front of you. The court sometimes wants both the city and county, or the city and country if you married abroad.

Grounds for divorce. All 50 states now offer a no-fault option. ^[6] Most people check the no-fault box, usually worded as "irreconcilable differences," "irretrievable breakdown of the marriage," or "incompatibility." You don't have to allege misconduct. In an uncontested case, no-fault is almost always the right call.

Residency. This is the section people botch most. You must have lived in the state long enough to meet its residency requirement before you file. California wants six months in-state plus three months in the county. New York wants either that you lived there as a couple, or that one spouse lived there two years, or one spouse for one year if the marriage happened in New York. ^[5] Texas wants six months in the state and 90 days in the county. ^[3] If you don't qualify yet, you wait until you do.

Children. List every minor child of the marriage by name and date of birth. Even with custody already agreed, the court needs this to confirm jurisdiction under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA).

Property and debt. Some petitions ask for a basic description of assets. Others just ask whether real estate is involved. The actual split goes in your Marital Settlement Agreement, not the petition.

What you're asking for (the "prayer for relief"). Check the boxes for what you want: dissolution of marriage, restoration of a former name, approval of the attached settlement agreement, and so on. If a box is blank, the judge may not grant it even though you meant to ask.

What is a Marital Settlement Agreement, and do I need one?

Yes, if you have any property, debt, or children. The Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) is the contract between you and your spouse that spells out every term of the divorce: who keeps the house, how retirement accounts split, who pays which debts, the custody schedule, how much child support is paid and by whom, and whether either spouse pays alimony.

The judge reads the MSA and, if it's fair and complete, folds it into the final decree. Once that happens, the MSA carries the force of a court order. If one party ignores it, the other can go back to court to enforce it.

In an uncontested divorce, the MSA is what makes it uncontested. You and your spouse have already agreed. The MSA puts that agreement in writing in a format the court accepts. If you can't agree, the case turns contested and a judge decides, which usually costs five to ten times more and drags on far longer.

An MSA doesn't have to be long. A simple case (no kids, few assets, no real estate) might run two or three pages. A case with children, a house, and retirement accounts might run ten to fifteen. Length isn't the point. Completeness is. Courts regularly reject MSAs that are vague ("they'll figure out the house later") or that skip required sections like a child support calculation where the state mandates one.

For the legal framework behind these agreements, the laws divorce resource explains how state statutes handle property division.

How do I file the completed PDF forms with the court?

After you fill out, print, and sign every required form, you file them with the clerk of the court that has jurisdiction over your divorce. In most states that's the Superior Court, District Court, or Circuit Court in the county where you or your spouse live.

Three ways to file:

1. In person at the courthouse clerk's office. Bring two copies of everything. The clerk keeps the originals and stamps your copies. Pay by check, money order, or debit card (cash isn't always accepted). This is the most reliable method your first time, because you can ask the clerk basic procedural questions on the spot.

2. By mail. Many courts accept mailed filings. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope so the clerk can return your date-stamped copies. Add tracking so you know the package arrived.

3. Online e-filing. California, Texas, Florida, and a growing number of states allow or require e-filing through a state-approved portal, with fees paid online. Check your court's website. Some courts require e-filing while others still want paper.

After you file, the clerk gives you a case number. Write it on every document from that point on. Then you serve your spouse, a separate legal step from filing.

Service rules vary. California allows service by mail with an acknowledgment, or personal service by anyone 18 or older who isn't a party to the case. New York generally requires personal service of the summons. Florida allows a process server or sheriff. Check your state's rules before you assume mail is enough.

Your state's court self-help center has the exact service rules. ^[1]

What are the residency requirements before I can file divorce papers?

Residency requirements exist to stop "forum shopping," where a spouse files in whichever state has the friendliest laws. Every state sets a minimum residency period, and you can't file until you meet it.

Here are the requirements for the largest states.

State	Residency requirement	Statute
California	6 months in state, 3 months in county	Cal. Fam. Code § 2320
Texas	6 months in state, 90 days in county	Tex. Fam. Code § 6.301
Florida	6 months in state	Fla. Stat. § 61.021
New York	1 year (or 2 years, depending on connection)	Dom. Rel. Law § 230
Illinois	90 days	750 ILCS 5/401
Arizona	90 days	A.R.S. § 25-312
Nevada	6 weeks	NRS 125.020

Nevada's six-week rule is the shortest in the country, which is why it has long been the go-to for quick divorces. Alaska and South Dakota also have short requirements, in the 30-to-90-day range.

If you moved recently, you may have to wait before you can file in your new state. In the meantime you might still qualify to file in your old state if your spouse lives there and you meet that state's rules. Ask the court's self-help center before filing if your residency situation is messy.

How long does it take after I file the papers for the divorce to be final?

Two timelines stack on top of each other: the mandatory waiting period the state imposes, and the court's own processing time.

Waiting periods are written into state law and can't be waived except in rare cases. California has the longest at six months from the date the respondent is served. ^[2] Texas requires 60 days from filing. ^[3] Florida requires 20 days. Illinois dropped its mandatory period in 2016 for uncontested cases. New York has no fixed waiting period, but clerk processing time can run months.

On top of the waiting period, the court has to process your paperwork, schedule a hearing (or, in some uncontested cases, approve without one), and enter the final decree. In busy urban courts that backlog adds weeks or months. Los Angeles Superior Court has historically run slower than smaller California counties.

A realistic ballpark: a simple uncontested divorce in most states takes three to six months from filing to final decree if everything's in order. California takes at least six months by law. Nevada can wrap in six to eight weeks. New York usually runs four to six months once you account for processing.

Errors on your PDF forms are the single biggest cause of delay. A rejected filing restarts the clock on your processing time, though not on any mandatory waiting period already running.

What are the most common mistakes on DIY divorce PDF forms?

Courts see the same errors again and again from self-represented filers. Knowing them ahead of time saves real time.

Wrong forms for the county. A San Diego divorce form won't fly in Riverside County even though both sit in California. Download from your specific county court.

Wrong case type. Some courts split forms into divorces without children, divorces with minor children, and divorces with adult-only dependent children. Filing the wrong set means rejection.

Blank required fields. Courts read a blank field as an error, not as "not applicable." If a field doesn't apply, write "N/A" or "None."

Wrong or missing notarization. Financial affidavits often require a notary's signature and seal. Signing in front of a notary is different from just signing. The notary watches you sign and verifies your identity.

Vague property descriptions. "We agree to split the assets fairly" is not a legal description. Real estate needs a legal description (from the deed or property records). Bank accounts need the institution name and last four digits. Retirement accounts need the plan name and a statement about whether a QDRO (Qualified Domestic Relations Order) is required.

Missing child support calculation. Every state with minor children requires a completed child support worksheet showing how the guideline amount was calculated, even when both parents agree on a different number. ^[7] Submit the agreed amount without the worksheet and the agreement gets bounced.

Ignoring local formatting rules. Some courts demand one-inch margins, specific font sizes, or numbered lines. California is strict about using judicial council forms. Submit a homemade document where an official form exists and you'll get rejected.

To lower the risk of these errors, a document preparation service like DivorceClear builds your specific state and county forms and checks them for completeness before you print, for $149. That's not legal advice, and it doesn't replace a divorce attorney if your case is complicated. It does catch the most common formatting and completeness mistakes.

Do I need a lawyer to file divorce papers, or can I really do it myself?

You have a constitutional right to represent yourself in any civil case, divorce included. The legal term is "pro se" representation. Courts everywhere handle huge volumes of self-represented filers, and most states have built self-help infrastructure specifically to support them. ^[1]

For a genuinely uncontested case, meaning you and your spouse agree on property, debt, children, and support, with a short marriage and no complex assets, doing it yourself is realistic. Millions of Americans do it every year.

Where DIY starts to carry real risk:

• You own a home together. Splitting real estate involves deed transfers, possible capital gains tax, and in some states specific MSA language. A mistake here can cost far more than an attorney would have.
• Either spouse has a pension or 401(k). Dividing retirement accounts needs a QDRO, and QDROs must meet plan-specific rules. Get it wrong and one spouse loses money they were legally owed.
• There's domestic violence in the history. A self-represented victim facing an abusive spouse in the same proceeding sits at a safety and legal disadvantage.
• You can't agree. A contested case is litigation. That's when you need a divorce lawyer.

For the middle ground, online document preparation services and licensed legal document assistants (in states like California that license them) help you complete forms correctly without giving legal advice. They don't replace a lawyer when the situation demands one, but they're a legitimate tool for straightforward cases.

Honest take: short marriage, no kids, no real estate, rough agreement on who keeps what, and doing it yourself with official court forms is entirely reasonable. For anything more complex, a one-hour consultation with a family law attorney is money well spent.

What happens after the divorce papers are filed and served?

Once you file and serve your spouse, the case is open and waiting for either a response or a default.

If your spouse is cooperating (the norm in uncontested cases), they may sign an Acceptance of Service or an Affidavit of Non-Contest, which skips formal process service. They may also file a formal Response. That doesn't mean they're fighting. It just means they've made a legal appearance in the case.

Once the mandatory waiting period passes and all paperwork is in order, you submit the final set of documents for the judge's signature. In many uncontested cases there's no hearing. The judge reviews the paperwork and signs the decree in chambers. Some courts require a brief uncontested hearing, usually five to fifteen minutes, where you confirm basic facts on the record.

The judge signs the Judgment of Divorce (or Decree of Dissolution), and you're legally divorced from that date. The clerk enters it in the court record and issues certified copies. Get at least two certified copies. You'll need them to update financial accounts, change your name on a driver's license, and handle beneficiary designations.

Name restoration (going back to a former name) should be requested in the petition and confirmed in the final decree. Then you use the decree plus your Social Security card to update your name with the Social Security Administration first, then the DMV, then your banks.

For what comes after the decree, your state bar association's public legal aid arm is worth bookmarking before you reach this stage.

Frequently asked questions

Can I download divorce papers PDF for free, or do I have to pay?

The forms are always free from your state or county court website. You pay nothing to download a PDF from courts.ca.gov, nycourts.gov, flcourts.org, or any other official court site. The only mandatory payment is the court's filing fee when you submit, which runs $75 to $435 depending on the state. Any site charging you to download the forms is just repackaging public documents.

Where do I find divorce papers NY PDF specifically?

New York's Unified Court System posts the complete uncontested divorce packet at nycourts.gov under the DIY Uncontested Divorce section. The packet includes about a dozen forms: the Summons, Verified Complaint (UD-2), Affidavit of Plaintiff (UD-6), Affidavit of Defendant (UD-7), and the Judgment of Divorce (UD-11), among others. Filing costs $210 in index and court fees, paid to the county clerk.

What is the difference between a divorce petition and a divorce complaint?

Same document, different names depending on the state. States using no-fault "dissolution" language tend to call it a Petition. States with older civil procedure frameworks often call it a Complaint. The content matches: it names both parties, states the grounds for divorce, asserts residency, and asks the court for relief. You'll see Petition in California, Florida, and Texas; Complaint or Verified Complaint in New York and Massachusetts.

Do both spouses have to sign the divorce papers to file?

No. Only the filing spouse (the petitioner) signs the petition to file it. The other spouse (the respondent) is then served. Both spouses typically sign the Marital Settlement Agreement, though, and the respondent may sign an Acceptance of Service or waiver. In some states, if both want to file together, a Joint Petition option lets both sign from the start.

Can I fill out divorce papers online without printing them?

A handful of states are moving toward fully electronic filing, but most still require you to print, sign with a wet signature, and file paper copies or upload scanned signed copies. Florida and Texas have e-filing portals where you upload PDFs. Even there you usually print, sign, scan, and then upload. Fully online, no-print divorce filing is not the norm across most states as of mid-2024.

What if my spouse refuses to sign the divorce papers?

Refusal to sign stops a divorce in no U.S. state. You file the petition, serve your spouse properly, and if they don't respond within the deadline (usually 20 to 30 days), you request a default judgment. The court can grant a divorce without the other spouse's participation. The catch: a default divorce may lead the court to accept all your terms as stated, so your MSA needs to be solid before you head to default.

How many copies of the divorce papers do I need to bring to the courthouse?

The standard is three copies of each form: one original the court keeps, one the clerk date-stamps and returns, and one for your records or your spouse. Some courts accept two. Call the clerk's office ahead or check their website, since local rules vary. Three copies is almost always safe. Staple each set separately; don't combine all forms into one stack.

Do divorce papers expire if I don't file them right away?

The forms have no expiration date. But once you file and serve your spouse, the respondent gets a fixed window (usually 20 to 30 days) to respond, and procedural deadlines start running. There's also a practical concern: laws change. Forms from three or four years ago may carry outdated checkbox language or cite repealed statutes. Re-download current forms from the court website instead of reusing old saved copies.

What court do I file divorce papers in?

In most states it's the Superior Court, District Court, or Circuit Court in the county where you or your spouse currently live and meet the residency requirement. New York uses Supreme Court (despite the name, that's a trial-level court) for divorce. Texas uses District Court. Always file in the correct county. Filing in the wrong one is a jurisdictional error the court will catch and reject.

Is a divorce decree the same as divorce papers?

No. Divorce papers are the forms you file to start the process: the petition, summons, and settlement agreement. The divorce decree (or Judgment of Dissolution) is the court order a judge signs at the end that legally ends the marriage. The decree incorporates your settlement agreement and is the document you'll use afterward to prove you're divorced, change your name, and update beneficiaries.

What if I made a mistake on the filed divorce papers?

Minor clerical errors can usually be fixed by filing an amended form or an errata (correction) with the clerk. For errors the court catches during review, you'll get a rejection notice explaining what to fix and a deadline to resubmit. Substantive errors in a final decree (wrong asset assignment, wrong child support amount) require a motion to amend or correct, which is more involved. Catching errors before filing is far easier than fixing them after.

Can I use divorce papers from another state?

No. Each state's forms are specific to that state's statutes, terminology, and required fields. Filing California forms in Texas, or the reverse, gets you rejected. If you moved to a new state, wait until you meet the residency requirement and then use that state's forms. Your divorce is governed by the laws of the state where you file, regardless of where you married.

Do I need a notary for divorce papers?

Some forms need notarization, others just a signature. Affidavits and financial disclosure statements most often require a notary. The petition itself usually does not. Each form says at the signature block whether a notary is required. Banks often provide free notary services; UPS Stores, libraries, and many court clerk offices also notarize for a few dollars per document.

What is a QDRO and do I need one with my divorce papers?

A Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is a separate court order directing a retirement plan administrator to divide a 401(k), pension, or similar plan between spouses. You don't file it with the initial divorce papers, but you reference the need for one in your MSA. The QDRO is typically drafted after the divorce decree is entered and submitted directly to the plan administrator. Skip this step and the plan won't recognize the division.

Sources

1. National Center for State Courts, Self-Help Center Resources: Every state court system maintains a self-help or forms section with divorce PDFs posted by case type at no charge.
2. California Courts, Family Law Forms and Fees: California's petition filing fee is $435; fee waivers available via form FW-001 for those below 125% of federal poverty line; six-month residency requirement under Cal. Fam. Code § 2320.
3. Texas Courts Self-Help Center, Divorce: Texas requires six months in-state and 90 days in the county before filing under Tex. Fam. Code § 6.301; filing fees run $300–$350 depending on the county.
4. Florida Courts, Self-Help Center, Dissolution of Marriage: Florida filing fee is $408 for a petition without dependent children, $409 with children; six-month residency required under Fla. Stat. § 61.021.
5. New York Unified Court System, DIY Uncontested Divorce: New York DIY uncontested divorce packet includes approximately 12 forms; filing fee totals approximately $210; residency rules governed by Dom. Rel. Law § 230.
6. USA.gov, Divorce Information and Resources: All 50 states now offer a no-fault divorce option; USA.gov links out to each state's divorce process.
7. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child Support Services: Every state with minor children requires a completed child support worksheet showing how the guideline amount was calculated, even when parents agree on a different number.
8. California Family Code § 2320, Residency Requirements: California requires six months in-state and three months in the county as a precondition to filing for divorce.
9. Texas Family Code § 6.301, Residency Requirements: Texas requires six months' residency in the state and 90 days' residency in the county before a divorce petition may be filed.
10. Florida Statutes § 61.021, Residency Requirements: Florida requires that at least one party has been a resident of the state for six months before filing for dissolution of marriage.
11. Nevada Revised Statutes § 125.020, Residency: Nevada's residency requirement for divorce is six weeks, the shortest of any state.
12. IRS Publication 504, Divorced or Separated Individuals: Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDROs) are required to divide 401(k) and pension plans in divorce without triggering early withdrawal penalties.