The Divorce Petition

Divorce officially begins when a divorce petition is filed. The divorce petition is a formal complaint, typically put together by one spouse with the help of a divorce lawyer. It's filed with the divorce court and then served on the other spouse. The divorce petition usually must be filed in the county of residence of the person filing for divorce, regardless of where the couple was married.

The spouse who files the divorce petition is known from that point forward as the petitioner, and the other spouse as the respondent. These roles don't change, even if the respondent later files a petition against the original petitioner to resolve an issue related to the marriage.

Elements of the Divorce Petition

The divorce petition asks the divorce court to grant a divorce or dissolution of marriage based on a particular reason. In no fault divorce, the reason stated is often "irreconcilable differences." The divorce petition must also identify both spouses, any children and the issues of the divorce. The petitioner states in the divorce petition his or her wishes regarding child custody, child support, alimony, property  division and other marital issues, asking the court for an order granting the requests.

Legal Service of the Divorce Petition

Legal service of the complaint is accomplished by a third party. Process service may be handled by the local sheriff's office or served by an independent process server. If both parties agree, in some cases service of the divorce petition may be handled by mail, if the respondent signs a receipt acknowledging service.Once the divorce petition has been served, the respondent usually has about 30 days to answer the divorce petition. Service of the divorce petition helps establish the date of separation and starts the divorce process. The date the divorce petition was served on also marks the start of any waiting periods in divorce requirements.

Speak With a Local Divorce Lawyer

If you are considering divorce or have been served with a divorce petition, speak with a local divorce lawyer to gain an understanding of the divorce laws in your state and how they may affect your case. Find a divorce lawyer near you by calling 877-349-1310 or filling out a divorce case review form.

The above summary of divorce petitions is by no means all-inclusive and is not intended to serve as legal advice. These laws may have changed since our last update and there may be additional laws that apply in your situation. For the latest information on these divorce laws, please contact a local divorce lawyer in your area.