Divorce has never been easy, but don’t you think it’s time for a change? Long, exhausting hours in court, sleepless nights filled with stress and anxiety, a pile of bills on the table are the things everyone tries to avoid when divorce petition.
There are several things you can do to save time, money, and your precious nerves.
Understand the legal process
Instead of going through legal chaos while getting a divorce, you can save yourself some frustration by educating yourself about the process. Once you understand all the factors that can influence the price of your divorce, you can easily find the cheapest solutions.
If you understand the process, you will have a fair choice about what you should and shouldn’t do. You won’t have to worry about mistakes that could lead to additional expense.
In North Carolina, like most states, you can find solutions like an uncontested divorce, a DIY divorce, divorce mediation (instead of an expensive lawyer), and other simple options. You can also find all the information you need in legal web resources, which will tell you what forms are needed for your case and what fees you have to pay.
And yet, if you don’t have a legal background, it can be difficult to understand these legal issues. This is where online assistance becomes a valuable option.
Go for an uncontested divorce
Usually, getting a divorce means that both spouses are pretty much on the same page on what they want. In this case, uncontested divorce is the best way to resolve your issues amicably and quickly. In an uncontested divorce, the spouses manage to resolve all issues related to the divorce before going to court. If you are planning to file for an uncontested divorce in North Carolina, you must file for a “no-fault” divorce. There’s no need to point fingers or prove that your spouse is the reason your marriage didn’t work out. And you won’t need a lot of legal help from third parties.
There are only 2 conditions to respect:
- You or your spouse must have lived in North Carolina for at least 6 months.
- Both spouses must occupy separate residences for at least one year.
Consider DIY Divorce
Do-it-yourself divorce is considered the cheapest option. Check your local court’s website for instructions and find the forms required for your case. The North Carolina website is here.
If your divorce is unchallenged, you can do it all on your own without the help of a lawyer. You can prepare and file all forms and documents yourself. When the administrative formalities are completed, the only remaining compulsory expenditure is the payment of legal costs.
If you can’t pay the filing fee, you can ask the North Carolina court to waive the fee. To do so, you will need to file a “Petition to Proceed as Indigent” and wait for approval. When your request is approved, it means you no longer have to pay.
However, if you want to get help in person, you can always go to court, where the clerks will help you find the necessary documents. Some courts even provide free divorce records, in person or online. If you need help representing yourself in court, you can find a family law facilitator.
Use online services
When you don’t have any legal training, you can find the divorce process quite confusing and complicated. The good news is that you don’t need training if you are using online support. Online divorce is the best way to free yourself from all the chaos of paper. You will not have to search for the forms applicable to your case. You only need to answer several questions and the online service will automatically provide you with the appropriate forms and instructions on next steps.
The main advantage of online services is that you don’t even have to leave your home to complete the paperwork. Everything can be done online and you get your divorce papers completed in 2 days. Plus, it won’t cost much, saving you a lot of money on lawyers and clerks.
Think about divorce mediation
Every divorce is different, but each cannot be resolved without any issues along the way. If you and your spouse cannot come to an agreement on some aspect of your divorce, you should consider divorce mediation.
Mediation is not free, but it is much more affordable than a lawyer. Mediation services in North Carolina can be used to establish a marriage settlement agreement that you will present to court. The best thing about mediation is that it can be done in a matter of hours online or in person.
Today, online services can help you in all aspects of your life, and divorce is no exception. Choose wisely, research wisely, and you will be successful in securing a marriage dissolution as soon as possible with the least amount of stress and expense.
Interesting related article: “What is a lawyer?” “