Doing Your Own Divorce

Table of Contents Introduction to Doing Your Own Divorce.........................................................................2 Checklist of Steps to Doing Your Own Divorce………………………………………….................4 Documents You May Need……… …………………………………………………….................... 5 Tips for Preparing Your Documents……… ……………………………………………………........ 8 Step 1: Prepare your Petition for Divorce..........................................................…………..9 Step 2: File your Petition.........................................................................................…14 Step 3: Arrange for Service of the Divorce Petition and Attachments on Your Spouse............18 Step 4: Prepare the Trial Record...................................................................................27 Step 5: File the Trial Record ……………………………………………………….......................36 Step 6: Get your Divorce Judgment.............................................................................. 37 Step 7: Ask for your Certificate of Divorce......................................................................39 Appendices.............................................................................................................. 41 Appendix 1: Petitions and Affidavit...........................………………..........................42 Appendix 2: Documents You Need to Prepare for the Trial Record (Court Hearing)......... 66 Appendix 3: Breakdown of the Marriage.................................................................69 Appendix 4: Getting a Copy of Your Marriage Certificate............................................72 Appendix 5: Judicial Districts in New Brunswick......................................................74 Appendix 6: Changing Your Mind or Correcting an Error …...……….............................75 Appendix 7: Preparing and Completing Forms and Documents..………………………...... 77 Appendix 8: Getting Ready for a Court Hearing ………………………............................81 Appendix 9: Useful Family Law Publications............................................................82