Why Divorce.com?
Why Choose Divorce.com?
Our platform streamlines the divorce process, guiding you to a desired outcome with minimal stress. Contested divorces with many disputes cost $10,000 on average, but if your divorce is uncontested, you can save thousands of dollars by preparing all paperwork with Divorce.com.
Process Steps
Answer qualification questions
Complete online questionnaire
Receive completed documents in PDF within two business days
Print, notarize, and file with court
Child Custody Types Recognized
Joint legal custody
Sole legal custody
Joint physical custody
Sole physical custody
Child Support
Based on Income Shares Model; ends at age 21.
Washington D.C.
Divorce Forms
All the forms required
Filing for divorce in D.C. starts when a petitioner files court-required papers, such as the "Complaint for Divorce." The first step involves obtaining blank forms applicable to your circumstances.
Some documents are available online through official state resources, while others must be obtained from the district clerk's office.
Basic Forms Required:
Complaint for Absolute Divorce
Confidential Information Form
Cross Reference Intake Form
Uncontested Praecipe
Consent Answer to Complaint for Absolute Divorce
Affidavit of Service by Certified Mail
Affidavit of Service by Individual
Proof of Service Form
Motion to Serve by Publication or Posting
Notice and Acknowledgment of Service
Notice to Appear in Person
Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs
Divorce Attachment A (Marital Property and/or Marital Debt)
Motion for Temporary Custody and Access to Children
Attachment B (Child Custody)
Attachment C (Child Support)
Parenting Plan
Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing
Proposed Order
Joint Waiver of Appeal
Judgment of Absolute Divorce
Steps to consider
Filing Requirements
Filing basics
Filing for Divorce
Washington D.C.
How to get started
Filing for divorce in D.C. starts when a petitioner files court-required papers, such as the "Complaint for Divorce." The first step involves obtaining blank forms applicable to your circumstances.
Some documents are available online through official state resources, while others must be obtained from the district clerk's office.
Basic Forms Required:
Complaint for Absolute Divorce
Confidential Information Form
Cross Reference Intake Form
Uncontested Praecipe
Consent Answer to Complaint for Absolute Divorce
Affidavit of Service by Certified Mail
Affidavit of Service by Individual
Proof of Service Form
Motion to Serve by Publication or Posting
Notice and Acknowledgment of Service
Notice to Appear in Person
Application to Proceed Without Prepayment of Costs
Divorce Attachment A (Marital Property and/or Marital Debt)
Motion for Temporary Custody and Access to Children
Attachment B (Child Custody)
Attachment C (Child Support)
Parenting Plan
Joint Request for Uncontested Divorce Hearing
Proposed Order
Joint Waiver of Appeal
Judgment of Absolute Divorce
Custody Basics
Any divorce involving minor children must include custody and child support orders. If spouses agree to all issues, they can develop a joint parenting plan and present it for court approval.
D.C. family law has the following types of child custody:
Joint legal custody (the preferable type) means that both parents have equal decision-making rights concerning the child’s education, healthcare, etc.
Sole legal custody is when the court allows a primary custodial parent to decide how to raise the child.
Joint physical custody means the child has frequent contact with each parent and may live in each home for an equal amount of time.
Sole physical custody allows only one parent to live permanently with a child.
If the spouses cannot agree on a joint parenting plan, they can opt for mediation, where a skilled divorce mediator will help them conclude an agreement. And if mediation was unsuccessful, D.C. judges determine child custody terms with attention to the following factors:
the child’s and the parent’s wishes
the child’s relationship with each parent, sibling, and others
each party’s physical and mental health
the history of domestic violence
the parent’s ability to communicate or share custody
each parent’s employment and financial capacity to support a child, etc.
Uncontested Divorce
If both parties agree to get divorced and don’t blame each other for the marriage breakdown, they can consider the possibility of making their divorce uncontested. They will also have to resolve minor disputes about child custody, property division, etc.
A divorce by mutual consent is usually less expensive and exhausting than traditional litigation with court trials. The couples also need fewer papers to initiate their divorce, which decreases time spent on paperwork and in a courthouse.
The primary document all divorcing spouses must complete and file is a Complaint for Divorce. If they decide to proceed amicably, they also need to attach a settlement agreement with the provisions on the:
child custody and visitation type and schedule
alimony and child support
property division (assets, cash, debts, real estate, etc.)
Support Basics
Child support means periodic payments that one parent pays to the other for the child’s needs, such as education, transportation expenses, healthcare, etc.
In Washington D.C., this payment amount is calculated based on the Income Shares Model. An obligor will pay the established percentage of their income for the child’s support.
D.C. has the Child Support Guidelines with detailed tables that the courts and parents can use to find the correct amount of child support. Besides the basic support obligation, the family court must also decide on extraordinary expenses and insurance.
Child support ends when a child reaches 21. However, the payments may terminate earlier if they get married, join the military, or become self-supporting.
