how to file for divorce without an attorney in washington

by Darian Fahey V 9 min read

If you are not working with an attorney, it is your responsibility to file the right documents with the right court. There are 39 superior courts in Washington, but not all of them administer divorces. Some are general jurisdiction courts only. In most cases, you will file your divorce papers with county court where you live.

Full Answer

How to file for a divorce in Washington State?

Jun 24, 2021 · Divorce Without a Lawyer in Washington Divorce begins when the plaintiff submits the relevant papers to the court. To do this, they need to select and fill out the necessary forms.

Can I get a divorce without a lawyer?

You can absolutely file for a Washington State divorce without the help of an attorney. However, this is usually a good option for the small minority of couples Call (425) 460-0550

Is Washington a no-fault divorce state?

Feb 25, 2022 · You can make use of an online divorce service to complete your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage for a divorce in Washington. The online service will prepare all your documents required to file for divorce as per your circumstances, in a format that will be accepted by the Washington court.

How long do you have to live in Washington to divorce?

Aug 14, 2020 · Can I file for divorce in Washington without using a lawyer? Yes. When you and your spouse are able to agree on all issues related to your divorce, meaning that the divorce will be uncontested, then you can complete all the paperwork on your own and have it reviewed by the court before the final decree is approved and signed.

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How do I file for divorce without a lawyer in Washington State?

The Uncontested Divorce Process in Washington State
  1. Petition for Divorce (Dissolution)
  2. Confidential Information Form (and Attachment)
  3. Summons.
  4. Acceptance of Service.
  5. Certificate of Dissolution.
  6. Proof of Personal Service.
  7. Agreement to Joint Petition.
  8. Notice of Hearing.
Sep 18, 2020

How do I file for divorce myself in Washington state?

The main form you will need to fill is Petition for Divorce. It has to be filled out by one of the spouses and served to the second one. You can get divorce papers filled out by a lawyer, an online divorce company, or download and fill them out yourself. The second step is filling the paperwork with the court.

How much does it cost to file for a divorce in Washington State?

$280
How much does a divorce in Washington cost? The court filing fee is $280 for a dissolution of marriage (divorce). Other costs may include photocopying and delivery service fees. If you can not afford this fee, you may fill out a special form that will request the court to waive the filing fee.

Can I serve my own divorce papers in Washington state?

A: You cannot hand the divorce papers to your spouse. In Washington, you can serve papers by having someone who is 18 years old or older hand-deliver them to your spouse. You can hire a professional process server, or you can ask a friend to hand-deliver the papers to your spouse.Sep 20, 2021

Can you file divorce online?

If your divorce is uncontested, filing online may be the way to go. Getting divorced online is a common way for couples to end their marriage. Many companies provide divorce forms online. These websites prepare forms for you based on the information you provide.

What documents do I need to file for divorce in Washington State?

Forms you will need in this packet:
  • Petition for Divorce - FL Divorce 201.
  • Summons - FL Divorce 200.
  • Confidential Information - Form FL All Family 001.
  • Notice re Military Dependent - FL All Family 103.
  • Proof of Personal Service - FL All Family 101.

How long do you have to be separated before divorce in Washington State?

If there are still disputed issues, the judge will decide for you. Once the judge finalizes your legal separation, you must wait six months before asking the court to convert it to a formal divorce. (West's RCWA 26.09.

How can I get a divorce for free?

Legal Aid Divorce Help

Call your city or state bar association to ask for contact information or do an internet search to find them. These organizations provide no-cost (and also low-cost) legal assistance. If you are indigent, they may represent you at no cost and will file all fee waiver papers on your behalf.

Can you divorce without a lawyer?

A mutual consented divorce is an easier and faster way you can get a divorce without a lawyer. For obtaining a divorce mutually, both the parties must agree that the divorce should take place, and decided on other relevant factors.

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Washington State?

Washington is a 50/50 divorce state. This means that almost all property, assets, and debts acquired during a marriage are subject to division in a divorce—regardless of who secured them. However, it does not mean that everything will be divided in half between spouses.Jun 1, 2021

How long is the divorce process in Washington State?

Technically, a divorce in Washington State can be finalized 90 days after the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is filed and is signed by both spouses (or is signed by one spouse and served to the other spouse). However, many divorces take longer than 90 days to finalize due to a number of different factors.

Who gets the house in a divorce in Washington State?

One Party's Separate Property.

Courts usually award each spouse his or her separate property and divide community property 50/50. Consequently, if the house is entirely one spouse's separate property, he or she almost always receives it unless the parties agree otherwise.

Where to file for divorce in Washington State?

Non-residents also have the option of filing their papers in Lincoln County; however, both spouses must agree to file for divorce in Lincoln County before the divorce case can be opened there.

Is Washington a no fault divorce state?

Washington is completely a “ no-fault ” divorce state and the only “reason” or “ground” for divorce is that your marriage is “broken irretrievably”. Washington does not let couples to assign blame or get into the reasons why the marriage “broke down”. According to the state law, it is necessary for only one spouse to believe ...

How long does it take to get divorced?

You can file for divorce in the Family Court or Superior Court depending on the county where you reside. There is a minimum waiting period of 3 months from the date the divorce petition is filed with the court and served on your spouse and before the court can finalize your divorce.

Does Washington state let couples blame each other?

Washington does not let couples to assign blame or get into the reasons why the marriage “broke down”. According to the state law, it is necessary for only one spouse to believe that the marriage cannot be saved and the court will grant a divorce although the other spouse does not agree.

How to serve divorce papers?

Once you file the papers with the court of the appropriate county, according to the state law, you must serve your spouse. You can either serve the papers via the sheriff for a fee or you can employ a professional process server to deliver the documents to your spouse. You can also publish the notice of the divorce in your local newspaper ...

What is contested divorce?

If both parties are not able to come to an agreement regarding the terms of the divorce, then this is known as a contested divorce, which usually goes to trial.

What is the online divorce service?

The online service will prepare all your documents required to file for divorce as per your circumstances, in a format that will be accepted by the Washington court. You need to answer questions about your marriage and the online service will prepare the divorce documents for you.

How to file for divorce in Washington state?

Divorce forms in Washington can either be found online or in a hard copy format at your local courthouse. At a minimum, you will need to file the following forms: 1 Petition for Divorce (Dissolution) – FL Divorce 201 2 Summons: Notice About a Marriage or Domestic Partnership – FL Divorce 200 3 Confidential Information – FL All Family 001 4 Attachment to Confidential Information (Additional Parties or Children) – FL All Family 002 5 Certificate of Dissolution, Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage or Legal Separation – DOH 422-027 6 Proof of Personal Service (after your spouse is served with divorce papers) – FL All Family 101 7 Agreement to Join Petition (Joinder) – FL All Family 119 8 Service Accepted – FL All Family 117

Do you have to be a resident of Washington to divorce?

Much like regular divorces in the state, there is no minimum residency requirement and either spouse can file in the county where they live or are stationed.

What is the name of the person who files for divorce in Washington?

If you are the one initiating the divorce process, you will be known as the petitioner . If your spouse is the one who files the initial papers, then you will be known as the respondent. Divorce forms in Washington can either be found online or in a hard copy format at your local courthouse.

How to serve your spouse in Washington?

In Washington, you can serve your spouse in three possible ways: Personal service. Someone who is 18 or older must hand-deliver papers to the other person or to someone who is an adult living at the other party’s residence. You can have a friend do this or you can pay a server to complete the task.

What are the residency requirements for divorce in Washington?

What are the residency requirements to file for a divorce in Washington? To file for divorce you or your spouse must be a resident of Washington. There are no specific requirements regarding the length of time. All you must do is provide proof that you are a resident and that you maintain a permanent home in the state.

Can you get divorced in Washington if you are pregnant?

You will be able to get a divorce in the normal time frame in Washington even if you are pregnant at the time you file your petition. A judge cannot delay a divorce because one of the spouses is pregnant. You will need to identify if you are pregnant when you file the Petition for Divorce at the beginning of the divorce process.

Is divorce an emotional process?

Even under the best of circumstances, divorce can be an unsettling and emotional process from start to finish. Many people go through divorces in Washington and most everyone has questions they need to have addressed. Understanding what to expect can help ease concerns about what they are about to go through.

Get Your Divorce Forms Completed Online

The paperwork provided by our online service allows you to get all the required divorce forms completed without leaving home. There is also no need to learn the Washington family law and divorce regulations. Our system assists the customer with instructions on how to complete the questionnaire and file the documents.

Online Divorce Without a Lawyer in Washington

Just answer several questions concerning the conditions of your divorce case, and we will be able to select and fill out the proper forms needed for your particular case. Within a couple of days, you will receive your paperwork package via email. Just print them out and sign them. The next step is to file the papers.

Is an uncontested divorce possible in Washington State?

Pros and Cons of an Uncontested Divorce. Although an uncontested divorce isn’t possible in every divorce case, there are several key benefits of an uncontested divorce in Washington State if it’s a possibility for you: Less expensive than a contested divorce. Minimizes disputes and keeps amicable relationships intact.

Is there a court hearing for an uncontested divorce in Washington?

An uncontested divorce in Washington State is a divorce in which neither spouse is the defendant. There’s no need to attend a court hearing and it’s much quicker, easier, and cheaper than a contested divorce. Since Washington is a no-fault state, there’s no need to prove your spouse did something wrong in order to file for divorce.

What happens if you can't agree on an uncontested divorce?

If you can’t agree on any of these issues, an uncontested divorce will not work and you’ll need to go through the process of a contested divorce. In this instance, the courts will intervene and help resolve any issues.

Can an uncontested divorce work?

All other issues pertaining to your marriage. If you can’t agree on any of these issues, an uncontested divorce will not work and you’ll need to go through the process of a contested divorce. In this instance, the courts will intervene and help resolve any issues.

What is the best candidate for an uncontested divorce?

The best candidates for an uncontested divorce are a couple with no children, few assets to split, who have an amicable relationship. In this case, there are fewer issues to resolve to make the divorce final.

Can a couple with no children get an uncontested divorce?

The best candidates for an uncontested divorce are a couple with no children, few assets to split, who have an amicable relationship. In this case, there are fewer issues to resolve to make the divorce final. However, this doesn’t mean those with children and substantial assets cannot get an uncontested divorce.

What is the role of an attorney in divorce?

This usually happens when one spouse seeks the advice of an attorney to file the uncontested divorce papers. Although they are acting on behalf of one spouse, both eventually benefit since all legal work is taken care of.

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