Now that divorce has lost its scandalous reputation, it has become easier to obtain in all US states. In many aspects, it is up to the spouses what kind of divorce they will get: lengthy, expensive, complicated, or simple, relatively fast, and affordable.
The state of Nevada is rather favorable to divorcing couples. With DIY solutions and no waiting period, Nevada allows the dissolution of marriage to be painless and end quickly.
Types of Divorce in Nevada
Nevada recognizes that couples can approach divorce from different standpoints, so they need different procedures according to their situations.
- Situation 1. Spouses agree on all the divorce-related issues. They file a joint petition, including a Service Waiver (which means that there’s no need to arrange process service from one spouse to the other).
- Situation 2. Spouses agreed to end their marriage but are still figuring out how to resolve their issues. The petitioner (the filing spouse) submits a Complaint about Divorce and then hires a sheriff or a process server to deliver the divorce papers to the respondent.
- Situation 3. Spouses agree on all the issues and want it all to end a.s.a.p. In such a case, they can get a summary default divorce by affidavit. Along with the standard divorce forms, a summary divorce requires spouses to file a settlement agreement and an affidavit. Summary divorces cannot be appealed.
These are all instances of uncontested divorce where neither party wants to take their case to trial and prove to the court that the other spouse is to blame for ending their union. In Nevada, both uncontested divorce and contested divorce have incompatibility and a one-year separation as the grounds for divorce.
DIY Divorce in Nevada
It is common for each spouse to hire a lawyer to handle the paperwork. The state provides an opportunity to seek divorce without an attorney to help residents keep their divorce costs down. In a Do-It-Yourself divorce, spouses complete and file the forms at the court on their own.
To see their divorce through, spouses must follow the court guidance and meet all the requirements.
- Residency. Six weeks is the least amount of time either spouse could have lived in the state prior to filing for divorce.
- County. Divorce can be filed either (1) at the county where the petitioner lives now, or (2) the county where the respondent lives, or (3) the county where they both used to live when they were married.
- Grounds for divorce. Couples choose among two no-fault grounds for divorce: (1) incompatibility or (2) living separate and apart at least for one year.
For a DIY divorce, spouses should resolve all their issues and draw up a divorce settlement agreement. What exactly should be sorted out?
- Child custody. Couples with minor children share legal and physical custody. Parents decide where the children will live and go to school, which parent makes important decisions, and establish a visitation schedule.
- Child support. When custody is split unevenly, the non-custodial parent pays child support. In the case of shared custody, the higher-earning parent is expected to pay more in child support.
- Property division. Spouses need to decide how to divide the family home, marital assets, and debts.
- Spousal support. In short-term divorces, alimony is usually not paid.
Internet Divorce Services
Nevada’s self-help centers provide thorough information on the divorce process. However, wrapping your mind around all the intricacies of the court proceedings is challenging for people who have little or no experience with family law and the court system. On the one hand, litigants want to save their money on legal fees, while on the other hand, they do not qualify for legal aid.
For those litigants who just want to ensure the correctness of their divorce documents, web divorce companies provide document preparation services. First, an online divorce company will ask qualifying questions to check their clients’ eligibility for an uncontested divorce in Nevada.
Then, the clients will answer questions about their family situation, terms of their breakup, their financial decisions, etc. The forms will be completed automatically according to Nevada court standards. The completed forms are forwarded to clients to be signed and filed with the court.
Completing your application for divorce online is helpful and inexpensive. Add court filing fees, and you will know the preliminary cost of divorce for you and your spouse unless you opt to consult experts on financial and parental issues, which will increase your divorce price tag.
What to Do Next?
In Nevada, getting a divorce can be relatively easy and quick. For some, completing the paperwork is the most time-consuming and uncertain part of the process. Getting help doing what you have little idea about reduces stress and uncertainty.
Spouses take the completed forms to the court clerk’s office. The clerk stamps the paperwork then assigns it a case number and files it. That’s it. The divorce has started and will be finalized rather quickly. If the paperwork is done correctly, the judge will sign a divorce decree. However, it’s not the final step yet.
In Nevada, both parties must show the court that they received the copies of the divorce decree. The court clerk receives certificates of mailing from each spouse and files them with the court. Now, the divorce is official.
Nevada Divorce is Simple
Basically, the hardest thing is for spouses to settle their disagreements. Once that’s done, recruiting help for completing the divorce paperwork makes the entire process much easier on all the parties. If you are in Nevada and your marriage has ended, apply for a divorce now.