How to File for Divorce With No Children or Property
- 1). Contact the clerk of courts. Call or stop by the clerk of courts office in the county where you reside to inquire about filing for a simplified dissolution. The office will likely be located in the courthouse or other county government building. Request a simplified dissolution packet and ask about any specific requirements for your county and state, such as residency rules.
- 2). Share information with your spouse. Simplified dissolution is only possible when both parties agree to the terms of the divorce. Share what you have learned about your county's simplified dissolution process with your spouse so you can both fill out the required forms and agree on how the filing fees will be paid.
- 3). Complete forms. Fill out all simplified dissolution forms and return them to the county clerk of courts office, along with your filing fee. You and your spouse can either turn the forms in together or go separately to submit your own forms. A signature with a notary public witnessing will be required. If you do not know a notary, the clerk's office will likely have a deputy clerk who can notarize your signature. Remember to sign any forms requiring a witness or notary public in their presence. Bring photo identification and any other forms of identification the clerk's office requires. Be prepared to pay your filing fee at the time you turn in the forms.
- 4). Appear in court. The clerk of courts office will advise you of the hearing date for your divorce proceedings. Some states have a mandatory waiting period before the hearing will be held. When the date arrives, dress appropriately for court. Simplified divorce proceedings may be held in a judge's chambers or in a courtroom. The judge will ask you and your spouse questions, such as if there is any chance your marriage can be saved, the reason for the divorce and if you have been pressured to file for simplified dissolution. He will also ask the wife if she would like her maiden name restored.
- 5). Record final judgment. Once the judge has signed the final order granting your divorce, you will need to have it recorded in the clerk's office and placed in your case file. At this point, you are officially divorced.
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