Divorce 1 – Instructions 	
File for Divorce 
You completed a Washington Forms Online interview on June 5, 2022.  Check that you have downloaded and printed these forms: 
Checklist	Download File Name	Court Form Number	Court Form Name	
	Divorce 2 -
Cover Sheet	Cover Sheet	Cover Sheet – Family Cases	
	Divorce 3 -
Certificate	DOH 422-027 	Certificate of Dissolution...	
	Divorce 4 - 
Confidential Info	FL All Family 001	Confidential Information	
	Divorce 5 - 
Summons	FL Divorce 200	Summons: Notice About a Marriage or Domestic Partnership	
	Divorce 6 - 
Petition	FL Divorce 201	Petition for Divorce (Dissolution)	
	Divorce 7 - 
Proof of Service	FL All Family 101	Proof of Personal Service	
Each form has a cover sheet with quick instructions.  Remove the cover sheets before copying, serving or filing your forms.
	Fee Waiver
The court filing fee for a divorce is between $250 - $320.  If you have a very low income and cannot pay the filing fee, you can ask the court to waive it (allow you not to pay).  Complete the Fee Waiver interview on WashingtonLawHelp.org to fill out the forms you need.	
•		Review your forms
•	Make sure your forms say what you want to say.  If something is wrong or missing, you can: 
•	Change the forms by hand or on a word processor (like Word or Google Docs) 
or
•	Change your answers in the online interview and re-create your forms. Then your online answers will be the same as the forms.  (*Better choice if you may do other interviews later in your case.)  
If you are still logged in to LHI, click “Edit Your Answers” to go back into the interview. If not, log in to LawHelpInteractive.org and go to Saved Answers.	
	Next Steps
Next, follow the steps below, in order. Use the checklist as you go through your case. Make sure you are doing what you should at the right times.	
 1.		Follow the quick instructions on each form about signing and making copies.  Make two copies of every form you filled out so there is one set of originals and two sets of copies (one for you and one for Amielia).
Exception!  Do not make a copy of the Confidential Information form for Amielia.  That form is only for you and the court.  	
 2.		Bring your originals and copies to the county Superior Court Clerk’s Office. 
•	Tell the clerk you want to file a new case. 
•	Ask the court clerk if they have special rules or forms. 
•	Give the clerk your set of originals. 
•	Pay the filing fee, or present your signed order waiving it.	
 3.		Ask the clerk to stamp your copies to show the date you filed the originals. The clerk will give you a case number. 
•	Ask the clerk to stamp the case number on your copies, OR put the case number on each of your copies yourself. 
•	Take the stamped copies back from the clerk. The clerk keeps the originals.	
 4.		Have the papers served on Amielia.
Carefully follow the rules when having Amielia personally served. Do not serve the documents on Amielia yourself. Find someone age 18 or older to do it for you. 
Think about hiring a professional process server. If you can afford it, you should pay a professional process server or the sheriff to serve your divorce papers for you. Using a professional process server is usually best. The sheriff often will only try once to serve Amielia. You can find process servers on the web.
Ask an adult friend to be your server. If you cannot afford to pay a professional server, an adult friend (who is age 18 or older and competent) may serve the papers for you. Your friend must understand how important it is to serve the papers and fill out the Proof of Personal Service correctly. If you do not serve Amielia properly, the court could set aside (cancel) your divorce orders later.
If possible, your server should hand the papers directly to Amielia. Your server may hand the papers to Amielia at home, work, or anywhere else they can be found.
If Amielia is not home, your server may do Abode Service. The server may give the papers to any adult (who is not mentally disabled) at Amielia’s home who lives there with Amielia. Your server should ask the person they leave the papers with for their name and age. They should also ask if Amielia lives at that address and if the person they are leaving the papers with also lives there. The server cannot leave the papers with someone who is just visiting Amielia’s home.
Serve by other means. If you cannot personally serve Amielia and they will not accept service, use our Service by Certified Mail or Publication packet at WashingtonLawHelp.org.  It has forms and instructions to do this	
 5.		File Your Proof of Personal Service. 
•	Gather your original proof of service. Make sure it has been completed and signed by whoever served Amielia.
•	Make one copy. 
•	Take the original and copy to the court clerk’s office where you filed for divorce. 
•	Give the clerk the original. 
•	Ask the clerk to stamp the date you filed the original on your copy. 
•	Keep the copy in a safe place.	
 6.		Ask for temporary or immediate orders, if you want. For help deciding whether to do this, read Divorce and Other Options for Ending Your Marriage without Children in Washington State.
If you want the judge to make some decisions before your case is finalized, these packets have forms and instructions: 
•	Ask for Temporary Family Law Orders: Divorce Cases | Printable Packet
•	For emergencies: Ask for Immediate Restraining Orders: Divorce Cases | Printable Packet
Get these at WashingtonLawHelp.org.
In general, you should file a motion for immediate restraining orders only if you have an emergency and need a court order right away. (Examples: your spouse is harassing you, or might take all the money out of your bank accounts.)	
 7.		Take part in locally required conferences, classes, or mediations. Ask the Superior Court Clerk’s office about out the procedures in your county. If your county has a case schedule, follow the deadlines and instructions in the schedule.	
 8.		Finalize your divorce. You must wait at least 90 days (three months) after the divorce papers were filed and served on the responding spouse to enter final orders. This is true even if Amielia agrees or does not respond to the petition. You may need to wait longer than 90 days if you served Amielia by publication or certified mail. If you are not sure, talk to a lawyer. 
A divorce case can be finalized by default, agreement, or trial.  
•	Default – If Amielia does not respond by the deadline, ask the court to find them in default. Complete the Washington Forms Online interview: Default the Other Party If They Do Not Respond for forms and instructions.
•	Agreement – If you and Amielia can agree on all the issues in your divorce, you can finalize by agreement. A Washington Forms Online interview to Finalize a Divorce is coming soon. Until then, use one of these packets for forms and instructions:
o	Finalize Your Divorce (without Children or Restraining Orders) by Agreement | Printable Packet
o	Finalize a Divorce without Children by Agreement (includes Restraining Orders)
You must wait at least 90 days after being served before the judge will sign agreed orders.
•	Trial – If you and Amielia cannot agree, a judge will decide after hearing evidence at a trial. In some counties, you will have a case schedule that gives you a trial date and other important deadlines. In other counties, you must file a local form to ask the court to set your case for trial. Ask the Superior Court Clerk’s office about the process in your county.
Our self-help packets on WashingtonLawHelp.org can help you prepare for a hearing or trial.	
	Where do I file my court forms?
File them with the Wahkiakum County Superior Court Clerk. You can file in-person or by mail. 
Location: 	64 Main St
Cathlamet, WA 98612-0116
Mailing address: 	PO Box 157
Cathlamet, WA 98612-0116
Phone:	360-795-3558
Website:	co.wahkiakum.wa.us/312/Superior-Court-Clerks-Office	
	What if I have more questions? 
•	Talk with a lawyer who knows family law before you file anything with the court.
•	For other Washington Forms Online interviews and legal information, go to WashingtonLawHelp.org.
•	Some counties have family law facilitators who can help fill out forms or free legal clinics where you may get legal advice about your case. 
•	If you have low income and do not live in King County, call the CLEAR Legal Hotline at 1-888-201-1014. 	
	Military spouse or dependent?
Special rules protect members of the military on active duty (and their dependents) when they are served with lawsuits (like divorce). They may ask the court to delay the case or give them a lawyer. If Amielia is active duty military and does not respond to your case, talk to a lawyer for advice on how to proceed.	

Disclaimer:  Washington Forms Online is a free web-based program to help people without lawyers select and complete forms needed for a family law case. The program is designed to follow current statutes, mandatory forms, and court rules. It does not apply legal principles and judgment to anyone's specific circumstances. Washington Forms Online strongly encourages you to review the forms created through this program with a licensed lawyer or Limited Licensed Legal Technician. 
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