Petition
The Petition for Dissolution states grounds, residency facts, and the relief requested; it initiates the court action and names the parties and claims for division or support.
Accurate, complete forms help the court process your case, protect legal rights, and create enforceable orders for custody, support, and property division. Clear paperwork reduces contested issues, shortens processing time, and helps avoid default rulings or later challenges.
Parties, attorneys, and court clerks use these forms to start and resolve a dissolution action; each has distinct responsibilities during filing and service.
Each participant must ensure supporting exhibits, signatures, and required disclosures are present before submission to avoid processing delays or rejection.
The Petition for Dissolution states grounds, residency facts, and the relief requested; it initiates the court action and names the parties and claims for division or support.
Official notice to the responding spouse that a dissolution has been filed; it sets the time to respond and is required for proper service.
Detailed income, expense, asset, and debt disclosures required for calculations of support, division, and temporary orders; courts rely on accuracy for equitable rulings.
When minor children are involved, a proposed parenting plan addresses custody, visitation schedules, decision-making authority, and responsibility allocation.
A negotiated contract resolving property division, support, and other terms; when approved by the court, it is incorporated into the final decree.
The judge’s final written order that legally ends the marriage and records custody, support, and property-division findings and commands enforceable obligations.
Case begins when petition is filed and case number is issued by the clerk.
File proof of service promptly to avoid default or jurisdiction issues.
Temporary relief hearings can be set within days to weeks after filing.
Local rules set deadlines for disclosures, often within 30–60 days of filing.
Final hearing or uncontested decree entry timing varies by docket, commonly months after filing.
Use a platform that supports court-acceptable PDF output, strong audit trails, and secure storage when preparing electronic versions of divorce documents.
| Document Type | Divorce Petition | Marital Settlement |
|---|---|---|
| Court Filing Required | often incorporated | |
| Negotiated Terms | ||
| Enforceable by Court | yes when ordered | yes when incorporated |
| Notarization Typical | affidavits yes | signatures commonly notarized |
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial, no credit card | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
| Bulk Send | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA Compliant | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies | Varies | Varies |
The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers.
I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security.