Which plan is right for you?

When it comes to the online divorce process, the first step is knowing how and where to file for divorce. You or your spouse must meet residency requirements for your state, and you (or your spouse) will file for divorce in the county where you meet the requirements. 

Typcially, the first step in filing for divorce is letting your state know you are starting a divorce. You will fill out a Petition, then file it with your state (and pay your filing fee). Once the court approves this divorce form, you will be able to "serve" it to your spouse, letting them know you've started the divorce process. 

Serving this divorce paperwork will start the your state's mandatory waiting period. If you work with Hello Divorce, we can review, file, and serve these documents for you.

Next, financial disclosures are generally required. As a Hello Divorce customer, our software will simplify and organize these documents for you.

The last step is working on an Agreement with your ex. It's ok to start the divorce process without an Agreement, but to have an uncontested divorce, you will need to work on a settlement. Hello Divorce has lots of services like lawyers, mediators, and divorce finance experts to help if you get stuck on this step.

There are two types of divorce: fault and no-fault. Fault divorces are the ones in which "grounds" for divorce matter. 

In a fault divorce, the filing spouse holds the other spouse responsible for the end of the marriage. 

Fault states for divorce are Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia. The District of Columbia also offers fault divorce.

Other no-fault divorce states are Wisconsin, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Nebraska, Montana, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Kentucky, Kansas, Iowa, Indiana, Hawaii, Florida, and Colorado.

While there isn't really a "fast track" option for divorce (everyone needs to go through the waiting period and paperwork assigned by their state), if you and your spouse communicate well, behave reasonably, and quickly come to an agreement, you could be finished with your divorce relatively close to the shortest timeframe your state allows. Using an online service like Hello Divorce with expert help can greatly reduce your timeline.

Keep in mind that if you use a lawyer, most divorces take an average of 50-100% more time to complete. 

Uncontested divorce is easy to do online

“Uncontested divorce” is a type of divorce that is relatively easy and straightforward to complete online. When both spouses agree or are working to agree on all the terms of the divorce, including things like property division, spousal support or alimony, child support, and child custody, the divorce is uncontested. As such, it can generally be completed online with minimal hassle.

One of the biggest advantages of uncontested divorce is that it allows spouses to resolve any disputes they may have quickly and amicably. This can help minimize conflict during a stressful time. 

The pros of filing online with a service like Hello Divorce include lower divorce costs and greater convenience. Additionally, our software asks simple, straightforward questions so you can avoid the confusion of trying to understand court forms, minimizing the need for legal assistance or intervention, which saves time and money.

Contested divorce is not always easy to do online

Contested divorces involve major disputes between the two spouses and generally both spouses have hired lawyers. The disputes typically center on issues like child custody and the division of property. This type of divorce is more difficult to complete than an uncontested one, as it requires time and money, and in some cases, court time to reach a resolution. 

The average cost of divorce is $20,000 per person.  At Hello Divorce, we're proud that we've managed to lower the average cost of divorce for our users to just $1,500.

We've done that by speeding up the paperwork process through our Divorce Navigator software, which helps you complete all of your divorce paperwork online through a guided series of questions. Save your work as you go, and work at your own pace. When you're done, the click of a button lets you print your official divorce paperwork and file yourself, or have one of our account coordinators handle it all for you so you never have to deal with the court or the confusion of the divorce process.

You do not need to have a lawyer if you are in the military and are filing for divorce. However, there are some differences in the process.

In a civilian marriage, a spouse will file for divorce in the county where they live. However, military members must file for divorce where the service member is stationed or in the state where he or she is a resident. 

If you have made the decision to divorce, but don't know what to do next, it's helpful to understand the divorce process and take the journey one step at a time.

• First, use a Pre-Leaving Checklist to make sure you have your finances and other personal affairs in order.
• If you want to get your waiting period started, sign up to start a plan and file your Petition. The Petition doesn't decide anything in your divorce, it just lets your spouse and the court know that you are starting the process.
• Work with your spouse on an Agreement when you're ready. You don't have to have this when you start the process. If you need help, use mediators and divorce finance experts to help you.
• You may find working with a divorce coach helpful to be by your side and help you through the process.

The waiting period for divorce varies from state to state (ranging from no waiting period to 6 months) and starts once you serve the Petition to your spouse, which usually can happen within 1-2 weeks after starting your paperwork.

At least one of you must meet the residency requirements in your state.  So, if you want to divorce quickly, avoid moving before filing.