Step 1: Talk to your spouse about the possibility of divorce and whether an agreement can be reached on asset & debt allocation and co- parenting.
Step 2: A Lawyer drafts your financial settlement agreement called a Marital Dissolution Agreement, a Parenting Plan (with accompanying Child Support Worksheet), Final Decree (the actual document that the Judge signs that declares you divorced).
Step 3: You review the drafts and talk with your lawyer about changes or questions.
Step 4: Your spouse reviews the rough drafts and any agreed upon changes are made.
Step 5: You and your spouse sign the original documents and then your lawyer files them at the Courthouse.
Step 6: Once the papers are filed, your waiting period will begin. The waiting period is 60 days for those without children and 90 days for those with minor children.
At the end of the waiting period, the filing party (Plaintiff) appears in Court for a short appearance (the other spouse does not have to be present) and the Judge signs the Final Decree, declaring you divorced. In some courts, this appearance in person is waived.
Step 7: Finally, you need to tie up any and all loose ends such as transferring property or car titles, exchanging personal property, and timely paying any amounts owed or due under the Marital Dissolution Agreement and Parenting Plan.
There is a lot at stake with a divorce, don’t make the mistake of trying to handle it on your own. Schedule a free initial telephone consultation with a uncontested divorce lawyer in Knoxville, TN at Easter & DeVore, Attorneys at Law, to discuss your situation and your options.