Required at initial filing Joint Petition for Divorce form (CJD-101A) signed by both spouses or their lawyers. Record of Absolute Divorce (R-408) from the Registry of Vital Records. Affidavit of irretrievable breakdown signed by the spouses. If children are listed: Child Care or Custody Disclosure Affidavit.
Can I serve divorce papers myself? No. Only a non-party to the case who is over the age of 18 can serve divorce papers under Washington law.
Both parties must sign the agreement and it must be notarized (signed by a notary). There are different ways to reach an agreement. You can negotiate on your own or hire lawyers to help you. You may also decide to use a divorce mediator to help settle the issues.
Washington Divorce Online streamlines the process of completing your Petition of the Dissolution of Marriage, commonly known as divorce, directly from your computer.
Legal Process: If one spouse files for divorce, the process will continue regardless of the other's feelings. The unwilling spouse will have the opportunity to respond to the divorce petition, but they cannot prevent the divorce from occurring if the filing spouse persists.
It does not make any difference who files first. What matters, in a long term marriage such as yours, is making sure that your economic future is protected.
Filing for divorce first allows you to dictate, to a certain degree, the order in which the judge considers the issues and hears the evidence. When you file first, you are the plaintiff in the case and will get to speak first. Your spouse, the defendant, will have a chance to respond.
Generally, who files for divorce first doesn't make a significant difference in the outcome of a case in Massachusetts. While filing for divorce first doesn't grant any unique rights, it can afford more considerable control over the situation. By initiating the process, you can ensure you're prepared.