| GENERAL INFORMATION |
| How does DivorceWriter work? |
| First, complete the basic pre-purchase portion of the online interview. Then, set up your... 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 |
| 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 |
| Can I use DivorceWriter in my state? |
| DivorceWriter offers documents for the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Calif... 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 |
| 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 |
| What is the online interview? |
| In as little as 10-15 minutes, the online interview allows you to enter the information ne... 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 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 |
| 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 |
| How much does DivorceWriter cost? |
| The DivorceWriter fee is just $149. |
| Does DivorceWriter provide documents for annulments? |
| No. DivorceWriter does not currently provide documents for annulments. |
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| STATE PROCEDURES |
| How long does it usually take to finalize a divorce in New York? |
| The waiting period depends on the grounds selected. 1. Cruel and Inhuman Treatment-No wa... more |
| How much is the filing fee in New York? |
| The fees charged by the Court when filing for divorce in New York are NOT included in the ... more |
| What are the grounds for filing for divorce in New York? |
| New York is NOT a no-fault divorce state. There are six different grounds for obtaining ... more |
| What are the basic steps to getting a divorce in New York? |
| Step One: Buy an Index Number from the clerk's office and file your Complaint and Summons.... more |
| Which spouse can file for divorce? |
| Unless you and your spouse have been following the terms of a Separation Decree/Separation... more |
| What constitutes cruel and inhuman treatment in New York for divorce purposes? |
| Common examples of cruel and inhuman treatment are: Physical abuse Calling offensive and i... more |
| How do I serve my spouse with the divorce papers in New York? |
| The filing spouse/Plaintiff must find a person who is over 18 and not personally involved ... more |
| What constitutes abandonment? |
| Abandonment refers to the offending (non-filing) spouse committing one of the three follow... more |
| What is considered to be the date of separation in New York? |
| The term "separation date" sometimes refers to the date when the spouses stopped living at... more |
| Is it difficult to prove adultery if I choose that as the grounds for my divorce? |
| Adultery is difficult to prove. You are required to submit the sworn affidavit of a third... more |
| What are the most common grounds? |
| Listed below is an approximate breakdown of the grounds selected by previous DivorceWriter... more |
| Will either of us be required to attend a court hearing? |
| No hearing is required for any grounds except adultery. If adultery is the grounds alle... more |
| Do any documents require notarization? |
| The filing instructions included with your DivorceWriter package will provide additional i... more |
| Is no-fault divorce available in New York? |
| On August 13, 2010, Governor Paterson signed no-fault divorce into law for New York. Unde... more |
| What documents are included in the self-prepared New York DivorceWriter package? |
| All customers will receive the following documents: Summons Verified Complaint Affida... more |
| What are the New York residency requirements for filing for divorce? |
| To divorce in New York you must meet at least one of these residency requirements: Both... more |
| In which county can the divorce be filed? |
| In New York, the proper county for filing the divorce is the county of residence of either... 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 |
| Will we have to go to court? |
| Generally, no hearing is required. However, if you select Adultery as the ground for your... 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 |
| 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 |
| Where do I file my divorce documents? |
| All divorces in New York are handled in the Supreme Court located in the county of filing. |
| Where do I file the divorce documents in New York? |
| Divorces are filed in the Supreme Court located in the county of filing. |
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| CUSTODY, VISITATION, SUPPORT |
| How is child support calculated in New York? |
| Based on the information provided by the customer when completing this online interview, a... more |
| What if my spouse and I have agreed to a child support amount that is different from the standard amount? |
| Spouses who both want to use a child support amount that is different from the state calcu... 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 |
| How is child support calculated in New York? |
| Based on the information provided by the customer when completing the online interview, a ... 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 |
| When can child support be modified in New York? |
| Either parent can file a petition for modification of an existing child support order if t... 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 |
| 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 |
| Why am I being asked about children who are over 18 years of age? |
| In New York, the duty to support a child does not end until the child reaches the age of 2... 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 |
| Additional Child Support Information for New York City Filers |
| Additional information on child support for customers filing for divorce in New York City ... 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 |
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| SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES |
| What if one spouse is living in another state or in a foreign country? |
| The self-prepared DivorceWriter package contains instructions for choosing someone to hand... more |
| 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 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 |
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| ADDITIONAL RESOURCES |
| Where can I find additional help? |
| Additional help is available at: www.findlegalhelp.org |
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