how to file for divorce without an attorney in washington state

How to File for Divorce in Washington State?

• Hiring a Lawyer to File for Divorce. When trying to understand how to file for divorce in Washington state, couples usually receive advice to visit a lawyer.
• Filing for Divorce Without a Lawyer. Some spouses make a decision to collect and fill out the necessary paperwork themselves. ...
• Do-It-Yourself Divorce. ...
• Getting a Divorce Online. ...

Full Answer

How to file for a divorce in Washington State?

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

Can I get a divorce without a lawyer?

Feb 25, 2022 · Six steps to a Washington divorce Initiate the divorce process Notify your spouse Decide whether to pursue an uncontested divorce or a contested divorce Decide whether to hire an attorney or not Resolve the three big issues Finalize all paperwork Or you could use an online service to streamline the process 3StepDivorce ($299) Complete Case ($299)

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

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. These may vary...

Do you have to be a resident to file for divorce?

Sep 18, 2020 · The Uncontested Divorce Process in Washington State. To begin the process of an uncontested divorce, you must know your spouse’s address and both agree on the terms of the divorce. Washington State Courts have a set of online forms you need to fill out (these are also available as hard copies at all courthouses in Washington). They are free to fill out online but …

How long does it take to get divorced in Washington?

The final divorce decision in Washington can be provided no earlier than 90 days after the filing of paperwork in court. The court will usually assign a date for the final hearing, but the spouses do not always have to be present in the courtroom.

Is Washington a no fault state?

Washington is a no-fault state . This means that from a legal standpoint, the only basis for divorce is that the marriage is irrevocably broken, and the spouses have no chance for reconciliation. No-fault grounds for divorce are pretty convenient since, in this case, neither spouse blames each other for the broken marriage.

How long does a divorce decree last?

The final decree will be provided only after the judge decides on all disputes. This can last up to a year. For a contested divorce, the spouses will have to hire lawyers to protect their interests in court.

How much does it cost to get divorce papers online?

On average, the cost of preparing forms online is about $150-$500. For an additional price, such companies can also file your papers with the court, thereby making divorce even more convenient. Today, preparing an application for divorce online is one of the most popular ways to obtain the necessary documents.

Is online divorce good?

Moreover, services like internet divorce make things much more manageable. If you want to get quality papers quickly and reduce the cost of dissolution, online divorce is a great solution.

How long does it take to get divorced in Washington?

An uncontested divorce in Washington State takes an average of three months to complete. Contrastingly, a contested divorce can easily take twelve months or longer, depending on the complexity of the marital assets.

How much does a divorce cost in Washington State?

On the other hand, a contested divorce in Washington State costs an average of $20,000 per party (mostly due to attorney fees). This shows the vast difference between the two and the money you can potentially save when filing for an uncontested divorce.

What is alimony in divorce?

Alimony or spousal support (if required) Division of all joint assets. Division of all debt accrued during the marriage. 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.

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.

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.

Can you file divorce jointly?

If you and your spouse agree on the divorce from the very beginning, you can also file jointly. In this case, one spouse must still be the petitioner and the other the respondent. The difference is you’ll need to fill out the joinder section of the petition.

How to file for divorce in Washington state?

When trying to understand how to file for divorce in Washington state, couples usually receive advice to visit a lawyer. It is definitely the best course of action for a contested divorce, where you will ask a judge to make divorce-related decisions for you and your spouse. In such a case, a lawyer will advocate for you during a trial and help you get the best outcome out of your marriage dissolution. However, if you are planning to have an uncontested marriage dissolution and have already come to an agreement with your spouse regarding it, hiring a lawyer is not a necessity. Therefore, you can save an incredible amount of money by getting help with your paperwork online.

How to get divorce in Washington?

The basic steps to divorce in Washington are the following: 1 The first step is completing all the divorce forms. 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. 2 The second step is filling the paperwork with the court. According to WA state laws, there are no specific residency requirements that you should meet to file with a certain court. However, you need to make sure it has jurisdiction over your property or children if any. 3 The third step is serving your spouse. If you file for an uncontested divorce in Washington, your ex-husband or wife will need to sign an Acceptance of Service form acknowledging that he or she has received the paperwork. If your case is contested, there will be much more steps involved and your lawyer will be responsible for the process. 4 The last step is signing and filing the final divorce paperwork. Once the 90-day waiting period is over, you will be able to arrange a hearing date and visit the court to finalize your case. If your marriage dissolution is uncontested, it will not take much time to get to the end of the process. However, if it is, it might take months or even years.

How much does it cost to get divorced in Washington?

Legal Fees. Unlike in other states, where the fees can reach almost $500, the Washington state divorce filing fees are just $280 . However, you might have to cover some extra costs like a delivery service or photocopying.

How much does a divorce attorney cost in Washington?

In Washington state, the cost of a divorce lawyer is between $250 and $285 per hour. Average divorce attorney prices are $10,500 to $12,000 for the whole marriage dissolution, but the mutual divorce cost will be significantly lower, averaging at around $5,000. The main thing you should take into account when calculating the cost of legal services is that the more issues have to be resolved by an attorney and the judge, the more expensive the divorce will be. Reaching an agreement together with your spouse will help you to significantly lower the costs.

How much does an uncontested divorce cost?

Even if you decide to get a lawyer, you will likely have to pay them about $4,000-$5,000, which is around $10,000 less than in a contested case.

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.