DIVORCE PROCESS

Divorce can be a difficult time in your life.    Some divorces are simple and will be completed within 60-90 days.  Others can be difficult and may take as long as 6 months.  In general, the process looks like this:

1)Information gathering: meet with your attorney to provide all necessary information for the initial divorce paperwork. 

2)Document preparation:  Your attorney will prepare the petition, domestic relations affidavit, motion for temporary orders, child support worksheets and other documents necessary for filing an initial divorce petition. 

3)Signing and Notarizing: Before your divorce can be filed you must review and sign many of the documents. 

4)Service of Summons and Petition:  Your spouse must be personally served with a copy of the divorce documents. 

5)Answer and Counter-Petition:  After your spouse is served, he or she has 20 business days to respond with an answer or counter-petition. 

6)Waiting Period:  Kansas law requires a waiting period of 60 days between the time of service and the final hearing on divorce.  During this time, the two parties (through their attorneys) will attempt to negotiate a final settlement.  If there is no agreement of the parties, the case may be scheduled for a trial at a later date.

7)Final Divorce: After agreement or trial, the divorce will be finalized in court by the judge.