Divorce Documents

The two core divorce documents are the original petition (sometimes "complaint") and final orders. The petition sets forth the jurisdictional requirements of the court, identifies the parties, and contains requests for relief. The final order contains the requirements of the court and resolves legal issues plead in the petition. In the simplest terms, the petition asks for a divorce and the final orders set for the court's terms for divorce. Many other divorce documents are also required.

Typical divorce documents filed with the clerk of the court

Filing a petition with court begins a lawsuit. All documents filed thereafter are subject to review and compliance with rules of civil procedure established by the state. Common divorce documents that must be filed with the clerk and served upon all interested parties may include:

• Summons
• Motion for Substituted Service
• Order of Substituted Service
• Petition
• Forma Pauperis Notice
• Affidavit for Out of State Service
• Waiver of Service
• Return of Service or Acceptance of Service
• Notice of pro se appearance
• Non-military Affidavit
• Confidential Information Notice
• Motion for Temporary Orders
• Brief in Support of Motion for Temporary Orders
• Notice of Temporary Order Hearing
• Response to Motion for Temporary Orders
• Proposed Orders for Temporary Support
• Proposed Orders For Temporary Custody
• Proposed Orders for Temporary Spousal Support
• Motion for Leave to Amend Pleadings
• Order Allowing Amendment of Pleadings
• Motion for Scheduling Order
• Scheduling Order
• Motion for Hearing
• Notice of Hearing
• Order of the Court (Hearing Orders)
• Parenting Plans and Child Support Plans
• Financial Disclosures
• Interrogatories
• Response to interrogatories
• Request for Admissions
• Response to Request for Admissions
• Request for Production of Documents and Things
• Response to Request for Documents and Things
• Objection to Request for Discovery
• Notice of Hearing Objection
• Proposed Order for Hearing On Objection
• Notice of Deposition
• Objection to Notice of Deposition
• Designation of Experts
• Request for Mediation
• Notice of Mediation
• Objection to Mediation
• Hearing on Request for Mediation
• Order of Mediation
• Mediation Report
• Motion for Contempt
• Objection to Motion For Contempt
• Notice of Hearing On Motion For Contempt
• Order of Contempt
• Motion for Sanctions
• Objection to Motion For Sanctions
• Notice of Hearing On Motion For Sanctions
• Order of Sanctions
• Notice of Trial
• Trial Scheduling Order
• Summons (Witness)
• Proposed Jury Instructions
• Proposed Final Orders
• Objections to Proposed Final Orders
• Legal Brief in Support of Final Orders
• Final Orders For Dissolution of Marriage

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