Preparation
Questions help organize facts and may populate selected official forms. Check included documents, unmapped fields and required manual review.
What does an online divorce service actually do?
“Online divorce” can describe several different services. Ask which work the website performs, which court steps remain yours, and what the price covers for your actual state and procedure.
Source record reviewed: 2026-11-05 · Page updated: 2026-11-06 · Not attorney-certified legal advice
PREPARATION GUIDE
Separate the product into three jobs.
Electronic filing
An official or approved portal receives documents for a permitted court and case type. Portal availability, account rules and fees vary.
Case completion
A court’s acceptance, orders and judgment determine the actual case status. A completed interview or downloaded packet is not that decision.
PREPARATION GUIDE
Read the included-work list before entering a long interview.
Look for an exact state and route list, not only a map of states with general information. A service can publish useful guides nationwide while preparing selected PDFs in a smaller set of states. Ask whether the product includes opening papers, a response, financial disclosures, settlement attachments or final-judgment work.
Divorce Filing Path provides guides for all 50 states and DC and selected PDFs across 50 states and Washington, DC. Existing eligible preparation routes and new eligible opening-petition routes use the $39 case purchase; jurisdictions offering only a cover sheet, summons, report or companion document provide those selected PDFs free. New caption-first forms transfer reviewed facts only; complete legal choices and other original blanks in the downloaded PDF. Check the current coverage list, county limits and remaining work.
PREPARATION GUIDE
Compare the service price with the court costs.
The current web purchase for Divorce Filing Path is $39 for one saved case. A different case has a separate purchase. Court fees, service costs and legal representation are additional; a court fee-waiver application is also separate from paying a preparation website.
Official free preparation resources may be available. Florida’s E-Filing Authority publishes DIY Florida resources, and South Dakota describes Guide and File for self-represented users. Those official programs have their own supported interviews and filing instructions. Read them before deciding which assistance you want.
PREPARATION GUIDE
Use this purchase checklist.
- The product names my actual state, procedure and case role
- I can see exactly which documents are included and which work remains
- The total service price, separate court charges and refund terms are clear
- I understand whether the product files anything or only prepares drafts
- I can save, review and retrieve my work without starting over
- Privacy explanations distinguish ordinary answers and confidential form entries
- Claims about acceptance or timing are not presented as guarantees
- I know where to obtain legal help for disputed rights or urgent issues
BEFORE A PURCHASE
Ask who performs each part of the work
Before buying a preparation service, complete this short scope record for your actual county and procedure. It is more informative than an “all states” badge.
Which exact documents will I receive?
Write the form identifiers and whether each is an opening pleading, summons, cover, financial paper or proposed final document. On this site, check the current coverage list and each document card.
Which answers remain mine to complete?
List unmapped original questions, legal requests, attachments and signatures. Some selected forms have reviewed workspace questions; other forms require remaining completion in the downloaded interactive original.
Who submits and tracks acceptance?
Divorce Filing Path does not submit the filing. Identify the official permitted channel and keep the actual court response. Website payment and a draft download do not establish acceptance.
Which charges remain outside the price?
Record the service purchase separately from court fees, delivery or service, copies and any professional help. An official fee-assistance request has its own requirements and decision.
Example comparison: a free summons-only download and a paid eligible opening-draft route solve different document tasks. Neither label establishes a complete settlement or final-judgment packet. Compare the missing work before choosing between them.
Open the exact document coverage · Read purchase scope and terms · Check official e-filing options
SOURCE-TO-CLAIM CHECK
What was checked for these examples
Public source check: . These are preparation examples written for this page, not court-approved answers or an independent attorney review. The links support the particular point described; other rules and local exceptions still need their own check.
- Florida Courts E-Filing Authority — DIY Florida ↗
The authority describes selected interview preparation within its portal; court and convenience charges may still apply.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Verify with the official source
Rules, forms, fees and local procedures can change. These links are the controlling starting points; the explanations on this site are preparation guidance, not a substitute for the current source.
- Florida Courts E-Filing Authority — DIY Florida ↗Official source
- South Dakota UJS — Self-represented electronic filing ↗Official source
- California Courts — File divorce papers ↗Official source