How Do I File For Divorce Without an Attorney? 

If your spouse has not hired an attorney, you can proceed with the divorce process without involving an attorney. You and your spouse have agreed on most of the terms of the divorce. You have no children, do not own a lot of property together, and neither of you needs the other financially. 

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You don’t own a lot of property together 

If your divorce is uncontested and you don’t own a lot of property, you can choose to file for a divorce without an attorney. The filing process is a three-step process that takes 90 days to complete. The state you live in plays an important role in whether you can file for divorce without an attorney. 

You don’t have children together 

The first question that comes to your mind is “do I need an attorney?” In the event that you do not have children together, you will likely not have any legal representation. However, divorces without children are not entirely uncomplicated. Divorces without children still involve dividing property. This can include your home, retirement accounts, savings, and even a family pet. In addition, there may be financial disagreements between you and your partner about how to pay off debts. 

While divorce does not mean that you are sacrificing your financial security, it is a good idea to make multiple copies of your assets and debts. Moreover, you should still maintain health insurance. After all, you never know when an illness or accident might affect how your property is divided. 

You don’t need to depend on the other for financial support 

If you don’t need an attorney to file for divorce, you may not need to depend on your spouse financially. If you and your spouse don’t have any children together, it may be easier for you to handle the financial aspects. For example, if you own a home, you’ll have to pay for the mortgage, insurance, repairs, and utilities. In addition, you’ll still be responsible for any debts that your home has. However, payments that you make for home expenses and the value of the home you use will not be considered alimony. 

You fill out forms in the manner of a poor person 

When you cannot afford to hire an attorney for your divorce, you can request a fee waiver. You can do this by filling out a fee waiver request form and providing proof of your income and expenses. The court can then decide to waive your divorce costs if it finds that your situation warrants it. 

You must also fill out and sign a document before a notary public. You will then have a paper trail of your finances that may be relevant to your spousal support claim. As a result, you should not enter into a divorce without planning ahead. Even if it means moving in with relatives, you should have some emergency funds on hand.