Why Divorce.com?
Benefits of an online divorce
Preparing for a divorce can exacerbate stress. Spouses need to filter through legal forms, find the ones that suit their situation, complete them according to state requirements, or hire an expensive lawyer to do it for them. However, in the latter case, the cost of divorce can skyrocket.
Divorce.com provides a different approach. It helps soon-to-be ex-spouses save their time, money, and nerves on divorce paperwork preparation and focus on what really matters.
The platform advantages include:
Simplicity. You need to complete the online questionnaire, and then, within 2 business days, you can download ready-to-file papers in a PDF format.
Affordability. Paperwork generation costs are low, and the platform offers additional services (divorce mediators, lawyers) for a reasonable fee.
Reliability. Divorce.com was created by experts who paved the way more than twenty years ago for online divorce.
By choosing Divorce.com, you choose quality and professionalism!
Washington
Divorce Forms
All the forms required
Paperwork may vary, depending on county requirements and the situation of the spouses. The basic packet of divorce documents may include the following forms:
FL Divorce 201 Petition for Divorce (Dissolution)
FL Divorce 200 Summons: Notice About a Marriage or Domestic Partnership
FL All Family 001 Confidential Information
DOH 422-027 Certificate of Dissolution, Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage, or Legal Separation
FL All Family 101 Proof of Personal Service
All Civil 006 Email Service Agreement
FL All Family 117 Service Accepted
FL All Family 119 Agreement to Join Petition (Joinder)
FL Divorce 211 Response to Petition about a Marriage
If spouses have minor children, they must also fill out additional paperwork, including:
FL All Family 002 Attachment to Confidential Information (Additional Parties or Children)
FL All Family 139 Information for Temporary Parenting Plan
FL All Family 140 Parenting Plan
FL All Family 130 Child Support Order
FL Divorce 243 Residential Time Summary Report
Washington State Child Support Schedule Worksheets
Spouses can download blank forms from the Washington Courts website or the Washington Law Help website.
Steps to consider
Filing Requirements
Residency Requirements
Residency requirements determine the period that spouses must live in the state before filing a petition. There are no such requirements in Washington. It's enough if one of the following is true on the date that the petition for dissolution of marriage is filed:
the petitioner is a resident of Washington or a member of the military and stationed in Washington
the respondent is a resident of Washington or a member of the military and stationed in Washington
Grounds for Divorce
Grounds for divorce are the legally accepted reasons for dissolving a marriage. These grounds can be fault-based (infidelity, abuse, desertion, etc.) and no-fault-based.
In Washington, only the latter option exists. In this state, it is enough for spouses to declare that their marriage is irretrievably broken and there is no chance for reconciliation. For the process to go faster, both spouses must agree with this statement.
Initial Filing
Spouses must prepare FL Divorce 201 Petition for Divorce (Dissolution) and other additional documents. The couple can also sign the petition together to show that they agree to the divorce.
Then the documents must be submitted to the clerk's office of the superior court in the county where either spouse lives or where they want their case to proceed. Some counties in Washington also accept e-filing.
Filing Fees
When applying for divorce, each couple must pay a filing fee of $250-$320. If the couple can't do it because of financial difficulties, they can request a court fee waiver by filing the Motion for Waiver and Financial Statement.
A person is eligible for a waiver if any of the following is true:
They get certain public benefits
Their income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines
Their regular basic living expenses don't allow them to pay the filing fee
Serving the Respondent
Spouses who sign the petition together don't need to serve documents. In all other cases, the petitioner must deliver papers to the respondent.
The respondent may agree to get the papers and sign the Service Accepted form (FL All Family 117). The petitioner can also hire a professional process server or a sheriff to deliver documents or ask any adult not a party to the divorce case to serve the other spouse. In some cases, the petitioner can serve the respondent by mail or publication.
Waiting Period
The mandatory waiting period in Washington is 90 days from filing the petition and serving the other party. During this period, the couple can reconsider their decision or, on the contrary, make sure it's necessary. A judge can't sign a divorce decree before this period expires.
Ninety days is the minimum mandatory waiting period. If the spouses can't reach an agreement and the case goes to trial, the divorce can take much longer.
Finalizing a Divorce Case
To finalize an uncontested divorce, spouses must complete and file additional paperwork. Once they do it, the judge will then schedule a final hearing.
If both spouses sign the papers, only the petitioner must appear in the court. The judge will review the documents, assess the spouses' circumstances, and sign a judgment of divorce.
Spouses with disputes to resolve will both have to attend multiple hearings.
Filing basics
Filing for Divorce
Washington
How to get started
Paperwork may vary, depending on county requirements and the situation of the spouses. The basic packet of divorce documents may include the following forms:
FL Divorce 201 Petition for Divorce (Dissolution)
FL Divorce 200 Summons: Notice About a Marriage or Domestic Partnership
FL All Family 001 Confidential Information
DOH 422-027 Certificate of Dissolution, Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage, or Legal Separation
FL All Family 101 Proof of Personal Service
All Civil 006 Email Service Agreement
FL All Family 117 Service Accepted
FL All Family 119 Agreement to Join Petition (Joinder)
FL Divorce 211 Response to Petition about a Marriage
If spouses have minor children, they must also fill out additional paperwork, including:
FL All Family 002 Attachment to Confidential Information (Additional Parties or Children)
FL All Family 139 Information for Temporary Parenting Plan
FL All Family 140 Parenting Plan
FL All Family 130 Child Support Order
FL Divorce 243 Residential Time Summary Report
Washington State Child Support Schedule Worksheets
Spouses can download blank forms from the Washington Courts website or the Washington Law Help website.
Custody Basics
Any married couple with children must prepare a parenting plan to obtain a divorce. In this document, parents should state their vision of custody.
In the traditional sense, custody can be physical (determining the parent with whom the child will live after divorce) and legal (determining which parent will make important decisions related to the child’s life). In Washington, the term “residential schedule” is used for physical custody and “decision-making authority” for legal custody.
If the proposed plan looks questionable or the spouses can’t agree on their own, the judge may ask for amendments to the document or even decide for the parents.
The judge will consider reasons to restrict one parent’s time with the child (domestic violence, abuse, refusal to take care of the kids, etc.) and other factors, including but not limited to the following:
The nature of the child’s relationship with each parent
Each parent’s potential to care for the child
The child’s emotional needs and the level of development
The child’s relationship with siblings
The child’s wishes if they are mature enough to express them
Each parent’s schedule
Uncontested Divorce
The term “uncontested divorce” means that the spouses have no issues they would like to contest. Spouses agree on no-fault grounds for divorce, property division, debts allocation, child custody, child support, alimony (also known as spousal maintenance or support), etc.
Such an agreement and willingness to cooperate gives spouses several advantages:
They can control their divorce instead of relying on the judge’s decisions
Divorce can go faster because spouses don’t have to go through lengthy court sessions to resolve their differences
Divorce expenses may be reduced since the spouses don’t need to hire a lawyer to protect their interests and rights in court
Moreover, spouses whose divorce is uncontested can prepare their documents using Divorce.com. This tool also provides affordable additional services (mediation and lawyer’s consultation) for those couples who have not yet reached a consensus on divorce-related issues.
Support Basics
Parents are required to support their children financially. Usually, the non-custodial parent pays a certain amount every month to the parent with custody in order to support the child’s needs.
The amount of support is determined by Washington State Child Support Schedule. It considers the child’s needs, both parents’ income, and other factors.
In an uncontested divorce, parents can resolve child support out of court. Otherwise, the judge will review the issue during the trial. However, it can delay the process and lead to unnecessary psychological trauma.
