When initiating a divorce matter, four documents will typically be filed with the Court: The Summons, Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, Confidential Information Form, and Certificate of Representation and Parties. The Summons is a document that tells the other party that a divorce matter has been initiated, contains some restraining provisions and provides a deadline for responding. The Petition is a document including the required facts of your case and what you will ask the Judge to order in the event the matter goes to trial. The Confidential Information Form lists the parties’ and children’s (if the parties share minor children) dates of birth and social security numbers. This is filed confidentially with the Court and is only accessible by the parties or their attorney of record once it is accepted for filing. Finally, the Certificate of Representation and Parties lists the parties and the attorneys that represent them, or if they do not have an attorney, their contact information.
This is a quick summary of what could be the first legal documents of a divorce you see. If you have been served these pleadings you should be aware of the timeline you have to answer, thirty days from the date you receive them. If you have received these documents and want to review them, or if you are interested in learning how to start your divorce, reach out to us to schedule a consultation.