What You Need to Know About Getting an Online Divorce

Divorce is a very stressful process, it traps people in depression, and it can even ruin an individual’s life. The mental stress, unstable emotional condition, and the legal matters make divorce one of the worst chapters of a person’s life. Ending a marriage is difficult, and the long, tiring, and costly process of filing a divorce add into the trauma.

Things are a little less complicated for couples who are getting an uncontested divorce, which is not as messy as contested divorces. An added advantage of uncontested divorces is that couples can opt for online divorce. As the world is in its digital age today, people can not only order pizza, buy their favorite clothes, but can even get divorced online!

What is an Online Divorce?

In accordance with Complete Case, when both the entities involved in the divorce have decided to split in a friendly manner and have agreed on the terms, they must go for an online divorce. For cases where things are complicated, online divorce is not an option.

Online divorce is an easy, simple, and a fast way to split up in a friendly manner. It is a very affordable process as it does not require hiring an attorney for filing for divorce. When both parties are in agreement, there is no point of hiring external help to complicate the things way more than they already are. Mainly couples with lower incomes opt for this option as it lets them split up without a lawyer.

How Does an Online Divorce Work?

Most of the online divorce service providers request their clients to fill in interview-style questionnaires. These questionnaires ask for the details of the entire situation. Individuals filing for an uncontested divorce may also request custody of their children, financial support, and alimony. Clients are required to pay for the questionnaire and fill it. These questionnaires help the divorce service in preparing online divorce papers, with compliance with the state’s laws.

The paperwork and forms play an immensely crucial role in the legal processes of a divorce. The online service prepares authentic papers and forms that are completely in compliance with the state’s laws and guidelines. Often in cases of pro se, the paperwork or the forms presented are incorrect, but this does not happen when using online divorce service.

Preparing the divorce papers takes two days after submission of the questionnaire and are then forwarded on e-mail. These documents are ready for being signed, notarized, and filing. After filing, both parties may be asked to appear in front of the judge in the court, which is very rare. The particular couple will be asked to show up in the court only if the judge wants to get further details about their case and wishes to speak to each of the parties involved.

Cost of an Online Divorce

Filing an uncontested divorce online may cost up to $300, while for the same services, a divorce attorney may charge $2,200. Therefore, if both parties are in agreement, they can save a good amount of money. While for contested divorces, people must invest a great deal of time and money to reach a settlement that is acceptable to both.

How to Get an Online Divorce?

Step 1: Making a Choice

The first step to decide whether one is going to use the online document company or use the court’s website. The website of the state court is for people to prepare their forms on their computers, without any help or guidance.

Step 2: Reaching an Agreement

Online divorce lets people get divorced without an attorney only if their case is uncontested. Before one begins the process, the first thing to consider is whether the case is uncontested and have the agreement terms have been settled such as custody, spousal and child support, assets’ division, and debt division.

Step 3: Completion of Divorce papers

The next step is to add all the details of the case in the divorce paper, including all the essential details such as the names, addresses, marriage details, social security number, details of children, property, and whether it is a no-fault divorce or not! It is important to prepare everything in compliance with the laws of the state where both the parties are residing.

Step 4: Filing the Divorce Paperwork

The process of filing the divorce varies in every county. Therefore, get in contact with a county clerk or navigate to the website of the State’s court to know the procedure of filing the divorce. Submit the required fee. The two options for filing divorce papers include online filing and physically filing it at the courthouse.

Step 5: Serving Divorce papers to Spouse

If needed, an individual 18 years of age or older may be chosen to serve the paper to the spouse. In case there is no such individual, a professional process server is the option to choose. The person divorcing shall not serve the papers themselves.

Step 6: Preparing a Divorce Agreement

The most important step of the process is the preparation of a divorce agreement. It is an agreement both the parties have to agree upon and live by throughout their lifetime. For preparing the agreement without any flaws, it is best to hire the services of an attorney.

Step 7: Adding all Supplemental Forms

The final step is to add all the important supplemental divorce forms and papers. One may take the help of an attorney in this case.

Benefits of Getting an Online Divorce

There is no simpler way of getting an uncontested divorce than this. The key is to reach an agreement with the spouse that is acceptable to both. The agreement must contain the asset division, child custody, and financial support. Reaching an agreement is the toughest part, and once this is done, it becomes easier to avoid the intense situation at the court. Within six weeks, both the parties are free to flee! Here are the top benefits people can enjoy by getting divorced online!

Less Disruptive Procedure

Hiring an attorney is not the issue. The main problems lie in long meetings, phones calls, and taking frequent offs from work to handle the matters. With online divorce, one needs to navigate to the online divorce service provider’s website, make a profile, complete the interview-style questionnaire about the details of the case. When one fills out the details themselves, the chances of missing out on important information is not a problem. After completing the questionnaire, both parties must upload their documents and make the payment. The online divorce service will take care of the rest! All the processes are completed in comfort and peace of mind while sitting at home and without an attorney!

Cost-effective Way to Get Divorced

In a contested divorce, when the parties involved fail to reach an argument, the matter is taken to court. Before that, they have to sit in an attorney’s office for hours and argue about the division of the assets and custody of the children. These hours of discussion results in a huge bill of an attorney as a divorce attorney charges hourly rates. Reaching an agreement together, without the involvement of lawyers or attorneys helps in saving a good amount of costs. Also, the lawyer charges for completing the paperwork and procedures. With an online divorce service, it becomes easy to avoid all such costs.

Easy to Avoid Stressful Court Arguments

Divorce is something that makes people feel vulnerable, exposed, and emotionally unstable. It is a very complex process, and the sense of uncertainty adds to it. In reality, no one likes to feel that way. Not only is a divorce difficult for the couple, but it is hard for the families as well, especially the kids. The arguments in courts can make matters serious and may also ruin the reputation of both the parties involved. By reaching an agreement outside of the courtroom, helps in avoiding the intense court arguments. It helps in saving the family from the drama and keeps their reputation intact.

Online divorce is the best option for couples who want to avoid the long court visits, handle the matter with maturity, and respect each other’s feelings. For anyone going through an uncontested divorce, this is the most suitable way to settle things and end a relationship with a person they once loved on good terms. Moreover, it saves the kids from going through a depressed phase!

For people who are worried about whether the online procedure is legal, online divorce is just like filing the taxes online. As the online tax filing is a completely legal process, so is the online divorce.