The Petition

Once you have analyzed the six basic issues and still wish to be divorced, it is necessary to file a request for the court to act. That request is called a petition and it must set out what you are asking for specificially on all six issues.

If there are children, it is also necessary to file a proposed parenting plan. This lets your spouse figure out whether the matter needs to be contested (contested means there is no !@#$%^ way they will agree) or whether it is advisable to hire a lawyer to negotiate a settlement. Has my spouse filed already? Click the Case Tracker button on the Home page.