- 1). Go to your local county courthouse and request the dissolution of marriage forms. Check with the court clerk to see what the fee is for the forms. Ask what the requirements are for fee waiver eligibility.
- 2). Fill out your divorce paperwork. Your dissolution packet will include a petition of marriage, summons, child custody and a family law certificate form. To ensure you fill out everything accurately, go to the the family law facilitator at the courthouse. The office specializes in helping do-it-yourself filers complete their paperwork. Remember to sign and date everything.
- 3). Make two copies of all your divorce forms. Take the original and copied forms to the courthouse clerk and file your case. Pay the filing fee.
- 4). Serve your soon-to-be ex-spouse. The papers must be served by someone other than yourself. The person must be 18 years of age. The courthouse also has a sheriffs department that will serve your forms for a fee. The person who served the paperwork must fill out a proof of service form and submit it back to the court. If you are unable to physically have your soon-to-be ex-spouse served, send the forms via certified mail.
- 5). Wait for a response. Once your papers are served, your spouse must respond to the court. Generally you both will have to appear in court by a given date. If there is no response from the other party and if he does not show up for the court date, you will be given a date when your divorce is final. If your spouse does respond and contests the divorce, you will be given a date to appear in court.
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