how to file for divorce without a lawyer in washington state

Filing for Divorce in Washington State Without a Lawyer

• Find and Fill Out Divorce Forms Required for Your Individual Case.
• File the Paperwork in Your Local Court and Pay the Filing Fee.
• Serve the Papers That Were Filed on Your Spouse.
• Ask the Spouse To Join or Respond to a Petition.
• File the Response With the Court.
• Wait for 90 Days Since the Initial Filing.
• Call the Court Clerk to Schedule a Hearing.

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Full Answer

How to file for a divorce in Washington State?

You can make use of an online divorce service to complete your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage for a divorce in Washington. The online service will prepare all your documents required to file for divorce as per your circumstances, in a format that will be accepted by the Washington court.

Can I get a divorce without a lawyer?

If your divorce is not complicated and is an uncontested one, then you have the option of a DIY divorce if you don’t want to employ the services of a divorce lawyer. By completing the process on your own, you can save both time and money.

Is Washington a no-fault divorce state?

Washington is completely a “ no-fault ” divorce state and the only “reason” or “ground” for divorce is that your marriage is “broken irretrievably”. Washington does not let couples to assign blame or get into the reasons why the marriage “broke down”.

How long do you have to live in Washington to divorce?

Either your spouse or you must be a resident of Washington to file for divorce in the state for any amount of time. There is no specific length of time for you to reside in the state.

Can you get a divorce without a lawyer in Washington State?

It certainly is possible in Washington State to divorce without a lawyer, although as a lawyer I need to clarify that I do not recommend it. I have had clients spend a lot of money trying to undo mistakes they made writing their own court orders (remember the old car care commercial “Pay me now, or pay me later”?).

How do I file for divorce myself in Washington State?

Steps for Initiating a DIY Divorce in Washington State Find and fill in the paperwork required for your specific case. File the Petition for Divorce along with other documents with the appropriate court. Serve forms on your spouse. Provide the Proof of Service to the court.

How much does it cost to file for a divorce in Washington State?

Just to file for divorce in Washington, costs roughly $350. (This includes fees for filing, a judicial surcharge, and court facilitator costs.) From there, you have to serve your spouse. If you hire a lawyer, they can handle that, likely for a fee, or you can use an outside process server.

How do I file for divorce for free in Washington State?

You can download the official Washington forms (for free), or you can often buy hard copies of the forms from your local county courthouse. Washington Law Help also provides an online DIY packet with instructions. The main form to start the divorce process is the petition for divorce (FL Divorce 201).

How long do you have to be separated before divorce in Washington State?

a 6 monthIf a legal separation is granted, there is then a 6 month waiting period before it can be potentially converted to a Decree of Dissolution, which can be done by filing a motion with the court.

What documents do I need to file for divorce in Washington State?

Forms you will need in this packet:Petition for Divorce - FL Divorce 201.Summons - FL Divorce 200.Confidential Information - Form FL All Family 001.Notice re Military Dependent - FL All Family 103.Proof of Personal Service - FL All Family 101.

How long does a divorce take in Washington State?

Technically, a divorce in Washington State can be finalized 90 days after the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is filed and is signed by both spouses (or is signed by one spouse and served to the other spouse). However, many divorces take longer than 90 days to finalize due to a number of different factors.

Does it matter who files for divorce first in Washington State?

If you are expecting a relatively simple and low-conflict divorce, it probably does not matter whether you or your spouse initially file for divorce. However, if you believe that your divorce may involve a contentious court case or custody battle, it could be slightly advantageous to file for divorce.

How much is an uncontested divorce in Washington State?

between $500 and $700How Much Does an Uncontested Divorce Cost in Washington State? Most uncontested divorces filed in Washington State cost between $500 and $700. You will also need to pay an additional court filing fee of around $300.

Can you file for divorce online in WA?

Washington Divorce Online allows you to complete your official Washington State Petition for Dissolution (Divorce) of Marriage online. This service prepares your Washington State divorce documents according to your circumstances and in a format accepted by Washington Courts.

Is Washington Divorce Online legit?

While you will still have to do your part to file for divorce, doing most of it online is allowed in the Washington and highly recommended for those who want a legitimate and painless divorce – as long as you and your spouse are in agreement on the divorce.

What is a wife entitled to in a divorce in Washington State?

Washington is a 50/50 divorce state. This means that almost all property, assets, and debts acquired during a marriage are subject to division in a divorce—regardless of who secured them. However, it does not mean that everything will be divided in half between spouses.

How to file for divorce in Washington state?

Divorce forms in Washington can either be found online or in a hard copy format at your local courthouse. At a minimum, you will need to file the following forms: 1 Petition for Divorce (Dissolution) – FL Divorce 201 2 Summons: Notice About a Marriage or Domestic Partnership – FL Divorce 200 3 Confidential Information – FL All Family 001 4 Attachment to Confidential Information (Additional Parties or Children) – FL All Family 002 5 Certificate of Dissolution, Declaration of Invalidity of Marriage or Legal Separation – DOH 422-027 6 Proof of Personal Service (after your spouse is served with divorce papers) – FL All Family 101 7 Agreement to Join Petition (Joinder) – FL All Family 119 8 Service Accepted – FL All Family 117

What is the name of the person who files for divorce in Washington?

If you are the one initiating the divorce process, you will be known as the petitioner . If your spouse is the one who files the initial papers, then you will be known as the respondent. Divorce forms in Washington can either be found online or in a hard copy format at your local courthouse.

How to prepare for divorce?

There are many complicated issues in divorce that you will need to be prepared for. Getting organized early on and having the documents you need at your fingertips will make the entire process a little bit less daunting . It will also save you time and money, while helping to expedite the divorce process.

What happens after you file a court order?

After you file your forms with the court, you must also provide your spouse with those forms so that they can have a chance to respond. A judge will not move forward with your case until you can provide proof that the other party has received copies of your court papers.

What are the residency requirements for divorce in Washington?

What are the residency requirements to file for a divorce in Washington? To file for divorce you or your spouse must be a resident of Washington. There are no specific requirements regarding the length of time. All you must do is provide proof that you are a resident and that you maintain a permanent home in the state.

What is divorce online?

The state’s online system is called Washington Divorce Online and can be used when spouses are able to reach agreement on all details of their divorce, including how to divide assets and debts, child visitation, custody and support and any other issues that may be pertinent to a particular divorce.

How to serve your spouse in Washington?

In Washington, you can serve your spouse in three possible ways: Personal service. Someone who is 18 or older must hand-deliver papers to the other person or to someone who is an adult living at the other party’s residence. You can have a friend do this or you can pay a server to complete the task.

How to file for divorce in Washington state?

When trying to understand how to file for divorce in Washington state, couples usually receive advice to visit a lawyer. It is definitely the best course of action for a contested divorce, where you will ask a judge to make divorce-related decisions for you and your spouse. In such a case, a lawyer will advocate for you during a trial and help you get the best outcome out of your marriage dissolution. However, if you are planning to have an uncontested marriage dissolution and have already come to an agreement with your spouse regarding it, hiring a lawyer is not a necessity. Therefore, you can save an incredible amount of money by getting help with your paperwork online.

How to get divorce papers in WA?

You can get divorce papers filled out by a lawyer, an online divorce company, or download and fill them out yourself. The second step is filling the paperwork with the court. According to WA state laws, there are no specific residency requirements that you should meet to file with a certain court.

How much does an uncontested divorce cost?

Even if you decide to get a lawyer, you will likely have to pay them about $4,000-$5,000, which is around $10,000 less than in a contested case.

What is the third step in divorce in Washington?

However, you need to make sure it has jurisdiction over your property or children if any. The third step is serving your spouse. If you file for an uncontested divorce in Washington, your ex-husband or wife will need to sign an Acceptance of Service form acknowledging that he or she has received the paperwork.

How much does a divorce attorney cost in Washington?

In Washington state, the cost of a divorce lawyer is between $250 and $285 per hour. Average divorce attorney prices are $10,500 to $12,000 for the whole marriage dissolution, but the mutual divorce cost will be significantly lower, averaging at around $5,000. The main thing you should take into account when calculating the cost of legal services is that the more issues have to be resolved by an attorney and the judge, the more expensive the divorce will be. Reaching an agreement together with your spouse will help you to significantly lower the costs.

How long does it take to get divorced after a contested case?

The last step is signing and filing the final divorce paperwork. Once the 90-day waiting period is over, you will be able to arrange a hearing date and visit the court to finalize your case.

How much does it cost to get divorced in Washington?

Legal Fees. Unlike in other states, where the fees can reach almost $500, the Washington state divorce filing fees are just $280 . However, you might have to cover some extra costs like a delivery service or photocopying.

What Are the Residency Requirements for Divorce in Washington State?

There are no specific residency requirements for divorce in Washington. However, according to state divorce laws, at least one spouse should live in the state for either of spouses to file their case there.

What Are the Grounds for Divorce in Washington?

Washington is a no-fault divorce state. In this regard, courts recognize only one ground for divorce, which is “ irretrievable breakdown of marriage .” This means that WA laws allow a marriage dissolution without proving that one of the spouses committed some wrongdoing.

Additional Resources About Divorce in Washington

If you feel like you need more information about divorce in WA state, we recommend you to look through the following legal resources:

Types of Divorces Recognized by WA State Divorce Laws

Contested divorces are for couples who can’t agree on key divorce issues and have to take their case to court. The judge makes decisions in their stead after multiple court hearings. This type of divorce is also expensive, as the average cost is $15,000. If the couple has any marital children, the number can get up to $20,000.

Which Papers Do You Need for an Uncontested Divorce in Washington State?

Preparing the necessary paperwork can be demanding and time-consuming when you’re doing it on your own. We’ve prepared a guide on Washington divorce papers to help you out—consult the table below for details:

How To Get an Uncontested Divorce in Washington State

Once you meet the residential requirements, you should follow the next steps to file for divorce:

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