While there can be some variations to the divorce process depending on circumstances, a divorce process typically includes:

• Petition – The filing of documents to formally initiate divorce proceedings.
• Summons & Response – Formal notice to your spouse of your intent to pursue court action to obtain a legal divorce. The response is your spouse’s acknowledgement the divorce procedure has begun.
• Motions – A formal request to the court to order some type of action prior to trial. For example, in domestic abuse cases a motion for a protective or restraining order to be filed is a motion.
• Discovery – This step of the process allows each side to gather information to support their legal arguments. This is a critical step in contested divorces or if you believe your spouse is hiding assets. This step includes depositions, interviews, and interrogatories.
• Hearings & Temporary Orders – In some cases there are situations that need to be temporarily resolved before the final divorce agreement is ordered by the court. These temporary orders are decided by the judge and generally remain in effect until the final decision is made at the end of the divorce process. For example, a couple cannot agree about where their children should live during the divorce process. A judge would make this determination. The most common temporary orders involve child support, alimony (maintenance) and attorney’s fees.
• Trial – This is a critical court appearance in front of the judge where the case will be decided. The trial may include witnesses, friends, financial experts, psychologists, as well as other type of evidence secured during the discovery step, including financial records.
• Judgment – The final decision of a divorce proceeding is a judgment. It is NOT a verdict in the sense of assigning blame. Rather, it is a legal statement of the court’s ruling on all issues pertaining to the trial, such as child custody and visitation, spousal support, and property division.