How to Respond to Divorce Papers
- 1). Remain calmly and do not lose your temper. Any show of temper on your behalf can damage your standing in the case. Do not contact the other party until you are sure that you can be civil and polite when you speak to them.
- 2). Examine the papers to determine the timeframe in which the court expects your response. If you do not respond in a prompt manner, the court can determine that you are in default (this means that the judge will not hear your side of the story).
- 3). Hire an attorney to advise you about the divorce proceedings. If you cannot afford a lawyer, visit the website for your state courthouse to determine how the divorce will proceed without the aid of a lawyer (make sure it is your state's website, since divorce law varies from state to state). You can also arrive at the county clerk's office and ask for information about how to proceed without a lawyer.
- 4). Speak with your soon-to-be ex-spouse to determine if there is any chance of reconciliation. It's never too late to try to salvage your marriage. If your soon-to-be ex-spouse does not want to reconcile the differences between you, do not force the issue.
- 5). Visit your local courthouse to procure the proper response forms for your divorce papers. If you have hired an attorney, he should retrieve these forms for you. Consult your lawyer or an employee at the county courthouse on how you should fill out the reply forms.
- 6). Submit the forms to your county courthouse before the cutoff time on the divorce forms. Don't wait---the sooner you submit the forms, the better.
- 7). Speak with your spouse in a civil manner to determine who will receive what property in your relationship (with your lawyers overseeing the proceedings to ensure that the negotiations are lawful and in your best interests). You always want to come out on top after a divorce, but it is also important to make compromises in order to keep the peace.
- 8). Attend all your scheduled court dates to ensure that you get your fair say in the proceedings. If you refuse to show up in court, chances are you will receive the short end of the stick in the divorce proceedings.