So You Have Received A Single Divorce Petition, What Now?

Here the general steps you may need to take when you receive a single divorce petition:-

1. Review the Petition – carefully read the divorce petition to understand the grounds for divorce, requests made by the Petitioner (the person filing for divorce), and any supporting documents attached;
2. Consult a Lawyer – it is highly advisable to consult with an lawyer who specializes in family law. They can provide you with legal advice, assess your rights and responsibilities, and help you understand your options;
3. Determine your response – you typically have a specific period, often 21 days depending on your jurisdiction, to respond to the divorce petition. You can choose to:
   1. Contest the Divorce – if you disagree with the grounds or the terms proposed by the Petitioner, you can contest the divorce and outline your objections in your response; and
   2. Non-Contest the Divorce – if you agree with the divorce and its terms, you may choose not to contest it. In this case, you can respond accordingly, acknowledging the divorce and your agreement to the terms.
4. Prepare your response – if you decide to contest the divorce or need to respond in any way, your lawyer will help you draft a response that complies with legal requirements of your jurisdiction.
5. File your response – submit your response to the Court within the specified timeframe. Ensure that you follow all filing procedures and pay any required fees.
6. Serve the other party – if you are the Respondent, your must serve a copy of your response to the Petitioner according to your jurisdiction’s legal requirements. This is typically done through a process server or certified mail.
7. Discovery and Negotiation – after both parties have responded, there may be a period of discovery where both sides gather information and evidence related to the divorce. Negotiations and settlements may also take place during this time.
8. Court Hearings – if an agreement cannot be reached through negotiation, the divorce case may proceed to Court. You may need to attend court hearings and present your case before a judge.
9. Finalize the Divorce – if the Court approves the divorce terms or issues its own judgment, the divorce will be finalized, and a divorce decree will be issued.

If you have any questions or require any additional information, please contact our lawyer that you usually deal with.

This article is written by 

Amy Lo Mei Chin
Partner, Lo & Partners