Like any legal process, a divorce requires a lot of paperwork. You have to collect existing paperwork, from tax and financial documents to identification papers, all on top of completing various forms throughout the divorce.
One such form you must complete at the beginning of a divorce is the Complaint for Absolute Divorce. This is only one of the pieces of paperwork you need to actually file for divorce in North Carolina, but what does it entail?
What does the “complaint” include?
While the term “complaint” is in the title of this form, it is not necessarily a complaint. It helps to think of it as a basic step for verification – and a starting point. Put simply, the complaint form is a lot like a preliminary checklist that also informs the court about your request to end the marriage.
For example, some of the information you must provide in this form includes:
- Listing where you live, and for how long
- Providing basic information about your marriage
- Confirming completion of the separation period
- Indicating if you have minor children
Completing this form – and the paperwork you must file at the same time – is one of the many reasons you should have your own documents organized and ready before you begin the process of ending your marriage. Preparing your documents ahead of time can simplify this aspect of the process.
Paperwork might seem tedious amid the emotional stress of a divorce, but it is a critical part. It is also essential to make sure you complete these forms correctly. Whether managing paperwork or negotiations, it can often help to seek professional help to make the process more efficient.