Why Divorce.com?
Benefits of an online divorce
Divorce.com is a prompt and affordable service for getting uncontested divorce papers without paying thousands of dollars to expensive lawyers. This platform was built to help people with amicable divorces save money and time and get divorce documents online.
Divorce.com will equip you with a completed packet of legal forms for any circumstances. You can be sure that the papers will comply with your state standards and local court rules.
The process of getting the paperwork is elementary. You'll need to complete the following steps:
Pass the eligibility check and register an account
Answer our online questionnaire
Check the information and fix any mistakes or typos
Submit the answers for processing
Download and print the completed paperwork in a PDF format in just two days
Kansas
Divorce Forms
All the forms required
Divorce documents for starting the marriage dissolution process differ, depending on the complexity of each married couple's situation. The possible factors include the presence of minor children and significant property.
Spouses looking for divorce forms online will only find a few documents at the state's self-help resources. But the papers for more specific circumstances are usually not available or hard to find.
Below are some basic forms required in Kansas:
Civil Information Sheet
Additional Civil Party Information
Petition for Divorce
Poverty Affidavit
Voluntary Entry of Appearance (In State or Out of State)
Request and Service Instruction Form
Summons & Return of Service
Return of Service for Certified Mail
Affidavit of Service by Publication
Order Allowing Service by Publication
Publication Service Notice of Suit
Domestic Relations Affidavit (DRA)
Parenting Plan
Child Support Worksheet
Vital Statistics Worksheet
Kansas Payment Center Form
Notice of Hearing
Decree of Divorce
Couples without minor children don't need some of the forms from the list above. For example, the Parenting Plan, the Child Support Worksheet, and Kansas Payment Center Form don't apply to spouses without underage children.
Steps to consider
Filing Requirements
Residency Requirements
Kansas courts can grant a divorce to any couple who meets residency requirements. It is the only way judges can have jurisdiction to divide property or determine child custody. The residency requirements are as follows. A petitioner or a respondent must be a resident of Kansas for 60 days before they file a Petition for Divorce. If one spouse is a military member, they may also file for divorce in Kansas, if they have been stationed within the state limits for 60 days.
Grounds for Divorce
Spouses seeking a divorce in Kansas must include the legal reason in their Petition. For example, state laws provide both no-fault and fault-based grounds for divorce. Incompatibility (the couple must prove that their marriage is broken and there's no chance to repair it), Failure to perform a material (financial) duty or obligation, Incompatibility because of mental illness or incapacity. Incompatibility because of mental illness must be accompanied by confinement in an institution for two years and the testimony of three physicians.
Initial Filing
The petitioner must collect and submit the following papers to the district clerk's office: Petition for Divorce, Domestic Relations Affidavit, Civil Information Sheet. The petitioner may file a Voluntary Entry of Appearance, if the divorce is uncontested. Otherwise, they must submit the Request for Service Form. The filing party must take the original papers and two copies of each form to court in the county where they or the respondent lives.
Filing Fees
Every petitioner must cover the filing fee when submitting their divorce papers to the district court. Depending on the county, this payment ranges between $100 and $200. Hiring a sheriff to serve divorce papers on your spouse would cost an additional $15-$20. If a person can't afford to pay the fees, they can ask the court for a fee waiver by filing a Poverty Affidavit Form. The judge will review it and decide whether to grant the request.
Serving the Respondent
The next step of the filing process is notifying the respondent about the divorce case. The petitioner cannot give the respondent a copy of all papers in person. Kansas rules of civil procedure allow several methods: by sheriff, by a private process server, by certified mail, by publication. The other spouse may file a counterclaim, if the divorce is not amicable. Otherwise, the respondent may sign the Voluntary Entry of Appearance as the acknowledgment of service.
Waiting Period
Kansas law imposes a waiting period on all divorce cases. It means that the spouses must wait 60 days from the filing date until they can finalize their divorce. And, it doesn't matter if they part amicably or not. However, the court may shorten this waiting period in the case of an emergency. The spouses can use these two months to negotiate their divorce terms independently or by hiring a divorce mediator. They should also attend parenting classes, if the local court orders it.
Finalizing a Divorce Case
The last few stages are scheduling a hearing and attending it. First, the petitioner must contact the clerk and ask them to set a date for the hearing. Then, they must send the other spouse a copy of the Notice of Hearing. The spouses should complete and bring a Decree of Divorce with three copies and all other papers filed with the district clerk. After the judge signs the decree, the petitioner must file it and give a copy to the respondent.
Filing basics
Filing for Divorce
Kansas
How to get started
Divorce documents for starting the marriage dissolution process differ, depending on the complexity of each married couple's situation. The possible factors include the presence of minor children and significant property.
Spouses looking for divorce forms online will only find a few documents at the state's self-help resources. But the papers for more specific circumstances are usually not available or hard to find.
Below are some basic forms required in Kansas:
Civil Information Sheet
Additional Civil Party Information
Petition for Divorce
Poverty Affidavit
Voluntary Entry of Appearance (In State or Out of State)
Request and Service Instruction Form
Summons & Return of Service
Return of Service for Certified Mail
Affidavit of Service by Publication
Order Allowing Service by Publication
Publication Service Notice of Suit
Domestic Relations Affidavit (DRA)
Parenting Plan
Child Support Worksheet
Vital Statistics Worksheet
Kansas Payment Center Form
Notice of Hearing
Decree of Divorce
Couples without minor children don't need some of the forms from the list above. For example, the Parenting Plan, the Child Support Worksheet, and Kansas Payment Center Form don't apply to spouses without underage children.
Custody Basics
Couples with minor children may submit a joint parenting plan or proposed plans (if the issue is contested) for the court’s approval. In all cases, the judges will decide on child custody based on the child’s best interests.
The family law court will determine the decision-making rights (legal custody) and the future residency of a child. Legal custody can be of one of two types:
Joint legal custody - parents make collective decisions about the child’s education, health, religion, etc.
Sole legal custody - only one custodial parent decides what is best for the children.
The court will also determine the place where the child will live:
Divided residency (children live with each parent and have visitation time with another parent)
Non-parental residency (the children live with a third party temporarily or permanently, if the parents are unfit to raise them)
The court might require that the parents complete the parenting classes before the final hearing or resolve the child-related issues at the mediation sessions. Without a mutual agreement, the judges will decide these matters themselves.
Uncontested Divorce
Traditional litigation is not the only decision for all couples seeking a divorce in Kansas. Many opt for amicable conflict resolution and represent their cases in the courthouse without lawyers. This approach saves tens of thousands of dollars and simplifies the divorce process.
Uncontested divorces have several conditions. First, both spouses must negotiate and conclude a settlement agreement, which the court will include in the final judgment. This agreement must consist of the following parts:
property division: assets, debts, real estate, vehicles, etc.
child-related provisions: custody and support
alimony, insurance, etc.
The main stumbling stone to getting an uncontested divorce is the paperwork. The divorce expenses are usually exorbitant if a person hires a lawyer to draft it. However, there is another way.
Divorce.com can supply you with the complete packet of divorce forms in only two business days. Plus, it’s quick, cheap, and convenient since all the papers are completed online.
Support Basics
Child support is financial aid from parents to their underage children until they turn 18 or graduate from high school. In several cases, the court may extend the payments, e.g., if the child is disabled and cannot support themselves.
The support amount should cover basic expenses, such as clothing, transportation, schooling, etc. Kansas uses the Income Shares Model and child support schedules to determine these obligations. They are based on the child’s age, the parent’s gross income, and the number of kids.
Parents with equal parenting time can use a shared expense formula or adjust their parenting time. Also, if the parent’s income exceeds the highest amount, the court will use a specific formula to calculate the support obligation.
