DIY Divorce in Utah | Things You Need to Know

If you are currently dealing with marriage termination, you already know it can cost you an arm and a leg. However, today many soon-to-be ex-couples choose a DIY divorce to reduce its cost and avoid possible stress or anxiety related to the process. This option works best for spouses seeking an uncontested divorce.

In this article, you will get the answers to the most common questions regarding a DIY divorce in Utah. Keep up!

What is an uncontested divorce?

An uncontested divorce is a relatively fast and inexpensive option for those seeking a quick dissolution of marriage.

To get such a divorce in Utah, you and your spouse must agree on all divorce-related issues, such as property division, allocation of debts, spousal support (also known as alimony), child custody, and child support.

Basically, you can reach a settlement agreement with your spouse without an attorney or mediator. However, if you experience any complications and cannot reach a consensus, you may want a specialist to help you negotiate.

How to prepare and file your divorce forms without an attorney?

Having reached a settlement agreement, you can start preparing your divorce forms.

Divorce paperwork preparation can be done without legal assistance if your divorce is uncontested. Considered a DIY divorce in Utah, you can fill out all the paperwork yourself or use online services to generate suitable forms.

If you want to handle everything yourself, you can find all the necessary divorce forms for your case on Utah legal online resources. But remember that you need to sort out your paperwork before filing. If there are any mistakes, you will have to file again, which will increase the overall length of the divorce process.

One of the benefits of online divorce companies assisting with your papers is that you will get completed divorce forms in several business days. Typically, you just need to complete a questionnaire to share details about the agreements you reached with your future ex-spouse.

Another advantage of such tools is that you can prepare your application for divorce from the comfort of your own home and without wasting money on legal fees, reducing the total cost of your divorce.

However, remember that the commonly used term “internet divorce” refers just to online divorce paperwork preparation. You can’t complete your divorce online as only the court can grant you a dissolution of marriage.

What are the filing requirements in Utah?

When filing for a divorce in Utah, several requirements must be fulfilled.

Once you have your forms sorted out, you must file them to the appropriate county court. According to Utah law, you must do your filing for divorce in a county where either you or your spouse have resided for at least three months before filing.

In addition, you will have to pay the filing fees, which may vary depending on the county. In some cases, the judge may waive them if you file a request and qualify.

How to serve divorce documents?

When the filing stage is over, your next step is to serve your spouse with copies of all your divorce papers.

According to Utah law, you have 120 days to serve your spouse after filing your divorce complaint.

As in many other states, Utah doesn’t allow a petitioner (spouse initiating a divorce) to serve the other spouse themselves. Thus you can’t hand over the documents to your soon-to-be ex-spouse in person.

However, you can use one of the existing options. For example, you may hire a private process server or a sheriff.

Conclusion

Going through a divorce doesn’t need to be complicated, even if you plan on getting a divorce without a lawyer. Utah local laws allow couples to proceed with a DIY divorce if the case is uncontested. In addition, spouses can choose whether they will handle their divorce paperwork themselves or use an online divorce service to complete their application for divorce over the internet. The latter option is considered a fast and affordable way to deal with legal papers.