| GENERAL INFORMATION |
| How does DivorceWriter work? |
| First, complete the basic pre-purchase portion of the online interview. Then, set up your... more |
| What happens after I receive my DivorceWriter documents? |
| Just follow the step-by-step instructions included with your DivorceWriter package, which ... more |
| How do I make changes to my documents after receiving my self-prepared DivorceWriter package? |
| If you want to make changes to any of your documents after receiving them in the mail, you... more |
| Will DivorceWriter documents work in my state and/or in my situation? |
| DivorceWriter's goal is to provide self-help divorce documents. However, DivorceWriter is ... more |
| Can I use DivorceWriter in my state? |
| DivorceWriter offers documents for most U.S. states and the District of Columbia. To see ... more |
| I finished the online interview. How long will it take to receive my documents? |
| DivorceWriter promptly ships your document package to you via Priority Mail the next busin... more |
| I want to use DivorceWriter to prepare my own divorce documents. What do I do next? |
| To get started, click on "Start the Process" above. You will be taken to our online inter... more |
| What is the online interview? |
| In as little as 10-15 minutes, the online interview allows you to enter the information ne... more |
| What if I need additional documents that were not included in my DivorceWriter package? |
| Contact customer service at info@divorcewriter.com with the name or form number of the the... more |
| Can you overnight my documents to me so that I can have them right away? |
| All DivorceWriter document packages are shipped via Priority Mail. However, as soon as yo... more |
| How do I change my password? |
| To change your password you must first log back into your account using the login section ... more |
| How do I make changes to my existing DivorceWriter account? |
| If you already have a DivorceWriter account and need to make changes to your online interv... more |
| Does DivorceWriter provide documents for annulments? |
| No. DivorceWriter does not currently provide documents for annulments. |
| How much does DivorceWriter cost? |
| The DivorceWriter fee is just $149. (Note: This does not include the divorce filing fee ch... more |
| Will my documents be completed or will I have to fill them out myself when I receive them? |
| For the most part, your DivorceWriter documents arrive completed with the information that... more |
| Do we need to notify the court of any address changes during the divorce? |
| Any questions concerning the requirements for notifying the court about changes of address... more |
| I didn't list any property or debts in the online interview. Why do some of my documents ask the court to divide property and debts? |
| Asking the Court for to divide property and debts fairly is standard language in the Divor... more |
| I need a form that is not available online or in the DivorceWriter's supplemental forms database. How can I find a sample form elsewhere? |
| Divorce documents are public record, so it is usually possible to obtain a copy of one or ... more |
| Can I use my account for another divorce?
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| DivorceWriter accounts are for one divorce only. You may not reuse the account to complete... more |
| We were married in a foreign country. Can we divorce in the U.S.?
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| As long as you meet the residency requirements for filing for divorce in the state where y... more |
| I didn't list any property or debts in the online interview. Why do some of my documents ask the court to divide our property and/or debts? |
| The Divorce Petitions/Divorce Complaints in most states contain language asking the Court ... more |
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| STATE PROCEDURES |
| How much is the filing fee in Illinois? |
| The filing fee charged by the Court is NOT included in the DivorceWriter price. The filing... more |
| How long does it usually take to get a divorce in Illinois? |
| While you can file your divorce at any time, Illinois law requires that the spouses live s... more |
| Will either of us be required to attend a court hearing? |
| In a standard Illinois divorce, the Petitioner, which is the spouse that filed for divorce... more |
| What are the grounds for filing for divorce in Illinois? |
| The no-fault ground for divorce in Illinois requires that the parties have been separated ... more |
| How do I serve my spouse with the divorce papers in Illinois? |
| In a standard Illinois divorce, the spouse who files for divorce takes care of getting cop... more |
| Do we qualify for a simplified Illinois divorce? |
| Requirements for simplified divorce: At least once spouse must have resided in Illinois f... more |
| What is a simplified Illinois divorce? |
| Spouses who meet certain requirements may be eligible to obtain a simplified divorce. The... more |
| What are the basic steps to getting a standard (non-simplified) divorce in Illinois? |
| 1. Both spouses review and sign their self-prepared DivorceWriter documents. The procedure... more |
| Do we meet the requirements for filing for divorce in Illinois? |
| The spouse that files for divorce is the Petitioner. The other spouse automatically becom... more |
| Do any documents require notarization? |
| The filing instructions included with your DivorceWriter package will provide additional i... more |
| What documents are included in the standard (non-Cook County) Illinois DivorceWriter package? |
| Divorce Filing Procedures Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (3 copies) Entry of Appear... more |
| What are the basic steps to getting a simplified divorce in Illinois? |
| 1. Both spouses review and sign all self-prepared DivorceWriter documents. 2. Both spouse... more |
| In which county can the divorce be filed? |
| The divorce can be filed in a county where either spouse lives at the time the divorce is ... more |
| What are the signature requirements for the documents I will receive? |
| The state-specific filing procedures included in the DivorceWriter package indicate which ... more |
| What if my spouse and I don't live in the same state? |
| As long as one spouse meets the residency requirements for the state where the divorce wil... more |
| What documents are included in the standard Cook County DivorceWriter package? |
| Divorce Filing Procedures Domestic Relations Cover Sheet (1 copy) Appearance (3 copies) P... more |
| Do we have to be separated to get a divorce in Illinois? |
| A separation date is required in Illinois. Spouses must live separate for at least six mo... more |
| What documents are included in the simplified Illinois DivorceWriter package? |
| Divorce Filing Procedures Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage (3 copies... more |
| Do I have to divorce in the state where I was married? |
| No. You can divorce in any state where you or your spouse meet the divorce residency requi... more |
| What is considered to be the date of separation in Illinois? |
| A separation date is required in Illinois. Spouses must live separate for at least six mo... more |
| Where can I find additional information on simplified divorce in Illinois? |
| Additional information on simplified divorce is available at: www.ilga.gov/legislation |
| Can the wife change her name back during the divorce? |
| Yes, the wife may restore her name to the name she had before the marriage took place. If ... more |
| Where do I file the divorce documents in Illinois? |
| Divorces are filed at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in the county of filing. |
| Can my spouse have documents notarized in a different state? |
| Yes. If your spouse is unable to have documents notarized by a Notary Public in the state... more |
| There was an error on one or more of the documents that I filed with the Clerk. Now that I have fixed the error(s) on the document(s), is there anything else I have to do to it before I file the corrected version with the Clerk? |
| Generally, if an error has been made in a document that was filed with the Clerk, the corr... more |
| My documents ask for the "Cause Number" instead of a "Case Number." Is this correct? |
| Yes. In a number of U.S. states, the Courts use the term "Cause Number" instead of "Case ... more |
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| CUSTODY, VISITATION, SUPPORT |
| What is the difference between "joint custody" and "sole custody?" |
| In Illinois, the term “joint custody” refers to both parents having rights in decision-mak... more |
| How is child support calculated in Illinois? |
| Based on the information provided by the customer when completing this online interview, t... more |
| Does choosing "joint custody" mean that everything involving our children must be exactly equal? |
| According to Illinois statute, "[n]othing...shall imply or presume that joint custody shal... more |
| What are acceptable factors for setting child support at an amount that is different from the guideline amount? |
| According to the Illinois Compiled Statutes: "The guidelines shall be applied in each cas... more |
| What is "residential/physical custody?" |
| The terms “residential custody” or “physical custody” are generally both used to describe ... more |
| What is the difference between child support and spousal support? |
| Spousal support is paid to one spouse by the other for the support and care of the receivi... more |
| We have agreed that one spouse will pay spousal support to the other. What are some options? |
| Two common ways for one spouse to receive spousal support payments from the other are (1) ... more |
| Can we specify how we will claim our child(ren) for income tax purposes? |
| The DivorceWriter online interview allows you to designate which spouse will claim your mi... more |
| We have received our documents, but have decided that we do not want any parenting time schedule. Is this possible? |
| The DivorceWriter online interview, which you completed previously, was designed to accomm... more |
| We have children. Can I still use DivorceWriter? |
| Yes, you can use DivorceWriter to create your divorce forms even if you have children. Th... more |
| Do I have to pay income tax on spousal support payments that I receive? |
| For federal income tax purposes, spousal support is commonly considered taxable income for... more |
| Where can I find more information about child support in Illinois? |
| Additional information on the calculation of child support can be found at: www.ilga.gov/l... more |
| What if I need more information on custody in Illinois? |
| More information on custody in Illinois is available at: www.ilga.gov/legislation. Addi... more |
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| PROPERTY AND DEBTS |
| Can I receive a portion of my spouse's retirement plan even though his/her retirement is several years away? |
| The most common way for one spouse to secure the right to a portion of the other spouse's ... more |
| Do we have to list the debts we have agreed to divide? |
| About 30% of DivorceWriter customers list debts. The debts listed will appear on the sett... more |
| We want to transfer real estate into only one spouse's name. Do we need a Quit Claim Deed? |
| Generally, if you want to transfer jointly held real estate into the name of only one spou... more |
| Can we customize our documents to fit our plans for our real estate? |
| The DivorceWriter online interview allows customers to list not only the street address, c... more |
| Can we divide/list as many items of personal property as we want? |
| Choose to list all, some, or no property. The customer decides which property, if any, to ... more |
| Do I need to list the legal description of my real estate? |
| It is generally sufficient to just list the physical address of the property (street, city... more |
| What is the "legal description" of a piece of real estate? |
| The legal description is usually a one to two paragraph description of land that includes ... more |
| Why do my DivorceWriter documents say that we do not have life insurance or other property that we actually do have? |
| Some states require divorcing spouses to provide information on several different types of... more |
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| SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES |
| I received my DivorceWriter package today, but I'm not sure I want to file for divorce right away. How how long are these papers good for? |
| Unsigned divorce documents do not have an expiration date per se. Applicable time periods... more |
| I live in Cook County. Where do I file? |
| Cook County filers may choose whichever location is most convenient for filing their docum... more |
| I can't find my spouse. Can I still use DivorceWriter? |
| DivorceWriter is designed for couples who have reached an agreement on all issues and who ... more |
| I am not sure my marriage was legal. Do I even need a divorce? |
| DivorceWriter is for people who want to end their marriages. If you have any questions reg... more |
| What if one spouse is living in a foreign country? |
| If your spouse is able to receive documents in the mail and is willing to sign and return ... more |
| What if I have an out of state driver’s license or no license at all? |
| If the spouse who files for divorce does not have a valid in-state driver’s license it may... more |
| My spouse is currently incarcerated. Can we still use DivorceWriter? |
| DivorceWriter documents must be signed by both husband and wife. As long as your spouse is... more |
| What if one spouse is in the military? |
| If both parties are willing to sign the papers, ending your marriage when a spouse is in t... more |
| How do we get documents notarized in a foreign country? |
| The meaning of the term "notary" varies widely from country to country. To find a Notary ... more |
| My spouse is currently incarcerated. What address do I use? |
| You may use the address at the facility where your spouse is currently incarcerated. Divo... more |
| Does DivorceWriter provide gender-neutral documents for divorce in states where same-sex marriage is not specifically legalized, but is recognized when performed in another state? |
| DivorceWriter's current policy is to gender-neutralize our online interview and documents ... more |
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| ADDITIONAL RESOURCES |
| Where can I find additional help? |
| Additional help is available at: www.findlegalhelp.org |
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