If you have made up your mind to go through with divorce from your partner, delaying the deed is not in your best interest. Here’s a step by step guide on how you can begin the filing procedure without a divorce attorney.

Bring up your intention of filing for divorce with your partner

This is the first thing you will have to do since your partner is just as involved in this as you are. Make sure to keep a cool head, and if it helps, get a mutual friend involved.

Consider if pro se divorce filing works for your case

Most divorce cases are too complex to go this route. However, if your marriage has not been that long and both parties agree, this is a viable alternative.

See if there are any issues that need arbitration

Once you have brought the matter to light with your spouse, you will need to take care of a lot of things before both of you can go your separate ways. There are some matters where the two of you might not share a common opinion, and for those, getting a mediator involved might help.

Decide if you need legal representation or not

This is one of the most important decisions you will need to take, and depending on how prepared you may, may either make your divorce case or break it. The right course of action is such an important matter as divorce is to go with a professional, but keep in mind that self representation is not impossible.

Visit the office of the court clerk in the state where you live

Here is where all the divorce cases in your state are processed, and where you will be able to get the right directions on how to file one yourself. See a rep who will then direct you to the right people and documentation you will need to file and attest so that the process can be initiated.

Get all the required paperwork for filing a divorce

Take the list of items you need to prepare for the divorce filing and check it off one by one, making sure you do not miss any detail that you prevent your request from going forward.

Submit all necessary documentation to initiate the divorce proceedings

If you have all the required divorce documents in order, carefully go through the stack once again to make sure nothing is missing as even a single discrepancy can jeopardize your case from being initiated. Once you are completely certain everything is in order, submit it at the clerk’s desk.

Pay the processing fee for the court

Once you have submitted all the required documentation, you will need to pay the fee to the court and get the receipt so that it your request can be processed further. The exact amount varies from state to state.

Make sure you have a record of everything

Keep yourself on the safe side by recording each and every bit of evidence and keeping it safe in case you need to present it before the court of law. The right documentation can make your case, so it is not something that you should take lightly.

Wait for the court to announce a date for the hearing

Now that you have followed all the essential steps for filing a divorce and taken care of the paperwork, it is now dependent on the court when they hold a session to summon both parties and state their case.

And there it is. You have successfully filed for a divorce from your partner and gotten the ball rolling. We understand that it wasn’t an easy decision, but it was needed for your peace of mind. Now sit back and relax as the court does its thing, and soon you will be free from the shackles of marriage and once again a free man or woman.

If you found out that the above procedure was too much of a hassle and not for you, rest assured as a professional family law attorney will handle everything for you, from filing the divorce to dealing with your spouse’s lawyer so you don’t have to. Make sure, however, that you only choose a reliable and top rated divorce lawyer Fairfax VA, with experience representing parties who are willing to get a divorce or separation, one that has a good track record.