In this guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know about the 10 best online divorce services – the good, the bad, and the ugly.
They all make the same promises – easy to use, court approval guaranteed, top-notch customer service, and the list goes on.
But how many of them actually deliver? And which one is right for you?
After spending dozens of hours doing in-depth research and testing, that’s exactly what I’m going to share with you today.
Let’s get started.
- What You Need to Know Before Filing for Online Divorce
- Review and Comparison of the Best Online Divorce Services
- Best Overall Online Divorce Service
- Online Divorce FAQs
Best Online Divorce Services
Here is the list of the best online divorce services we’re reviewing in this guide:
- 3 Step Divorce
- CompleteCase
- It’s Over Easy
- Hello Divorce
- DivorceWriter
- GetDivorcePapers
- LegalZoom
- OnlineDivorce.com
- MyDivorcePapers
- One Stop Divorce
What You Need to Know Before Filing for an Online Divorce
There are two fundamental questions I set out to answer with this review:
- Is online divorce right for you?
- What is the best online divorce service?
So, before we get into the nitty-gritty of the different online divorce companies, I thought it might be a good idea to take a second here to explain a little about how online divorce works so you can decide whether it’s right for you.
After all, it doesn’t do any good to help you choose the best online divorce service if you’re not a good candidate for online divorce.
Can I file for divorce online?
Yes! The reputable online divorce services guarantee that their divorce forms will be approved by the court in all 50 states. In most states, it is possible to file your divorce papers online. Some states may require you to go to the courthouse to file your divorce papers.
How does online divorce work?
While every service is different, most reputable online divorce services follow a similar 3-step process:
Step 1: Determine eligibility. This is where you select your state and enter basic information to ensure that you qualify for an online divorce.
Step 2: Complete an online interview. You’ll answer questions about your marriage, children, assets and debts, etc. The best online divorce services will walk you through the process with helpful explanations. It should only take about an hour.
Step 3: Obtain the completed forms and file your divorce papers. You’ll receive access to the completed divorce forms, along with instructions for how to file your paperwork with the court. Some of the premium services will take care of filing your divorce papers for you.
What are the advantages of online divorce?
The primary advantages of online divorce include:
- Save time
- Save money (avoid a costly legal battle and expensive attorney fees)
- Greater control and flexibility
- Reduced conflict and stress
What are the disadvantages of online divorce?
The reputable online divorce services do a good job of helping you fill out the complicated forms and give you step-by-step instructions for filing them with the court.
So, what are the disadvantages?
Simple: You don’t know what you don’t know.
As a result, you may be making decisions without being fully informed. And you don’t have anyone to help you and your spouse reach an agreement if you hit an impasse.
That’s why I often recommend a hybrid approach if you need additional support or advice. But more on that below…
Who should use online divorce?
Online divorce isn’t right for everyone.
First and foremost, online divorce only works if you have an uncontested divorce. That means that you and your spouse are able to reach an agreement on all issues. (This doesn’t mean you have to be in agreement before starting the process. Some services like 3 Step Divorce offer free negotiation tools to help you and your spouse resolve disputes.)
Online divorce tends to work best for simple situations. You’re an ideal candidate for online divorce if you have:
- A short-term marriage
- No young children
- Simple financial situation
If you don’t fit this description, that doesn’t necessarily mean online divorce won’t work for you. It just means you have more to lose so you want to be sure you’re informed.
There are two deal-breakers that would preclude you from doing an online divorce:
- If you can’t locate your spouse
- If you have a contested divorce (you need court intervention to help you reach agreements on asset division, custody, or support)
How We Chose the Best Online Divorce Services
My objective in this review is to help you select the best online divorce service.
So I decided to put myself in your shoes and ask one simple question:
What features of an online divorce service are most important to you?
If you’re considering using an online divorce service, chances are you want to get a quick and easy divorce without breaking the bank. You understand that divorce is a complicated legal process with tons of paperwork and are just looking for a service to help get you from A to Z.
So, I evaluated each of the online divorce services based on the following core criteria:
- Cost
- Ease of use
- Customer support
- Services offered
- Customer reviews
- Security
- Availability of completed forms (available immediately or delayed)
- Bells and whistles (additional tools and resources)
Reviews of the Best Online Divorce Services
Now that you understand how online divorce works, let’s dive into our reviews of the top 10 online divorce companies.
I won’t sugarcoat it. Some of these companies are absolutely terrible. I’ve included the more popular of these so you won’t make the same mistake others have.
While there are some services that you should steer clear of at all costs, there are others that can help you have a cheap, quick divorce that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.
Let’s dive in.
1. 3StepDivorce – Editor’s Choice (#1 Overall)
There’s a lot to like about 3StepDivorce. In fact, I believe 3StepDivorce is the best online divorce service.
3StepDivorce is an easy and affordable service that helps you prepare your divorce papers in as little as one hour.
Simply follow the step-by-step instructions, answer the questions and voila! Your completed forms are available instantly to review, edit, and download/print. If you don’t have a printer, you can have your documents mailed to you at no additional charge.
It’s very easy to use and makes an overwhelming process painless.
Unlike many other online divorce services, 3StepDivorce is private and secure. You’re able to complete your documents without sharing your personal information with anyone.
One of my favorite free resources is the online negotiation tool.
You see, where most online divorce services fail is that they only work if you and your spouse are able to reach a full agreement. You can use the negotiation tool to help you and your spouse work through any sticking points.
How much does 3 Step Divorce cost?
3 Step Divorce is very reasonably priced at only $299 (flat fee). They’re one of the only companies to offer flexible monthly payments options:
- 4 monthly payments of $84
- 3 monthly payments of $109
- 2 monthly payments of $157
Plus, you can get a $50 cash rebate if you file your divorce papers within one business day of signing up. The best part is there are no hidden fees – like monthly subscription charges, shipping fees, or costs for revisions. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for many of their competitors.
While there are cheaper options available, you get what you pay for. Those cheaper services leave a lot to be desired and consistently receive terrible user reviews. I’d steer clear.
Is 3 Step Divorce legitimate?
Absolutely. Their parent company, Divorce Source, has an A rating with the BBB. 3 Step Divorce has been in business for nearly 25 years and over 750,000 people have used their service to finalize their divorce. They’ve been featured in Forbes, USA Today, CNN, and NPR – and have thousands of verified positive customer reviews on third-party sites like Trustpilot.
3 Step Divorce Reviews
It’s easy to see why 3 Step Divorce is my top pick for the best online divorce service.
But don’t just take my word for it. 3 Step Divorce has the highest customer reviews in the industry. One of the things that stand out is just how few people had a poor experience with 3StepDivorce. 92% of users gave 3SStepDivorce 4- or 5-stars, while only 4% gave it 1- or 2-stars.
Quick Facts
- Complete your divorce forms within 1 hour
- Instantly review, edit, and print your completed documents (free delivery by mail is also available)
- 100% guarantee of court approval or your money back
- Unlimited live customer support by phone and email
- Over 750,000 customers since the company started in 1997
- Easy to use with simple instructions and helpful explanations
- Tons of great free resources like the online divorce organizer and 40+ self-help divorce ebooks
- Online negotiation tools (to help you and your spouse reach agreements)
- Best customer reviews (4.6 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot)
- Private and secure (Verisign encryption and McAfee Secure)
- A+ rating with the BBB
- Works if you or your spouse is in the military
- Access to family law attorneys to get your legal questions answered at a significant discount (through their partnership with JustAnswer)
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Check out 3StepDivorce now
Keep reading for more details, or click your state below to get started with 3 Step Divorce.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Washington DC
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
2. CompleteCase (#3 Overall)
If you’ve been looking at online divorce options, you’ve likely come across CompleteCase.
They’re one of the original online divorce services and has assisted more than 700,000 customers over the past 20 years.
The service is available in all 50 states and throughout Canada. Every set of forms that are generated are guaranteed to be accurate and accepted by local courts.
CompleteCase has one of the more user-friendly interfaces in the space.
In fact, the site is so easy to use that some customers may be able to complete the three-step process in as little as 30 minutes. That’s because CompleteCase’s instructions are thorough, well vetted, and easy to follow.
Users can also stop at any time without losing their place and return at any time to continue the process. You can make minor changes and reprint forms as necessary without any added costs.
Completed forms can be accessed and printed immediately or they can be mailed to you. In either case, you are provided with detailed instructions on where and how to file based on where you live.
If you need a legal question answered, the site’s Live Lawyer feature can connect you to a lawyer licensed in your state for an additional small fee.
Complete Case Reviews
CompleteCase has an A- rating from the Better Business Bureau and has been accredited since 2013.
The customer reviews with the BBB are not so stellar with a score of 2.86 out of 5 stars.
CompleteCase has 4.1 out of 5-star reviews on Trustpilot based on 272 reviews. While the overall score is pretty good, the number of 1-star reviews is concerning. That’s reinforced by the number of complaints filed with the BBB.
Quick Facts
- $299 cost (plus $24.99 per month after 30 days)
- Unlimited phone and email support
- Over 700,000 customers over the past 20 years
- Instant access to completed documents
- Easy to use with helpful explanations
- Secure site
- 100% guarantee of court approval or your money back
- A- rating with the BBB
- 4.1 out of 5-star reviews on Trustpilot
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Bottom Line: CompleteCase is a solid option overall. The only thing holding me back from recommending CompleteCase is the additional fees for using the service after the initial 30 days. Those monthly subscription fees can start to really add up if your divorce takes longer than expected.
Read our full review on CompleteCase here.
3. It’s Over Easy (Honorable Mention)
With It’s Over Easy, you can generate divorce forms, negotiate a settlement agreement, and file your uncontested divorce in court.
It’s Over Easy bills itself as the leading brand in premium online divorce. They certainly have the most “white glove” service of the online divorce companies.
There are two levels:
- Pro is the standard plan for $950. With the Pro plan, you’ll be able to easily prepare the required court forms and get instructions on how to complete your divorce. It’s Over Easy will take care of serving your spouse, but you’ll be responsible for filing your papers with the court and paying the court filing fees.
- Premium is their white glove service, which is only available in California and New York currently.
The table below summarizes the differences between the Pro and Premium packages.
PRO | PREMIUM | |
Cost | $950 | $2000 |
Prepare all required forms | ✔ | ✔ |
Download completed forms | ✔ | ✔ |
Serve divorce papers on your spouse | ✔ | ✔ |
IOE files your court forms | ✔ | |
Includes court filing fees for you and your spouse | ✔ | |
Electronically sign your completed forms | ✔ | |
Upload your assets and debts to allocate who gets what and how to split | ✔ | |
Create a custom co-parenting plan that breaks out your child’s schedule into time spent with you and your spouse (including holidays) | ✔ | |
Spousal and child support calculators | ✔ |
How to file for divorce online with It’s Over Easy
Getting started is easy. Here’s a rundown on the process:
Step 1: Create an account. Just answer a few basic questions about your marriage to create your account.
Step 2: Complete the online questionnaire. You’ll provide information on your assets and debts, income, expenses and child custody. This information will be used to generate your completed Family Law forms.
Step 3: Invite your spouse. Keep in mind that online divorce only works if your divorce is uncontested. That means you and your spouse will need to work together amicably to resolve any disagreements.
Step 4: Negotiate your divorce agreement. Use their support calculators and negotiation tools to reach a complete agreement on all issues including child support, alimony, property division, and child custody.
Step 5: Serve your spouse. It’s Over Easy will take care of serving your spouse with the divorce papers. This is one area that differentiates It’s Over Easy from most of the other online divorce services. With most other companies, you’ll have to do this yourself. Fortunately, it’s not hard to do.
Step 6: Submit and file your forms. Once you’ve finalized your deal, just submit the forms on It’s Over Easy and they’ll take care of the rest. Their platform will take all of the deal points and create an enforceable settlement agreement and judgment and file it with the court.
It’s Over Easy Reviews
It’s Over Easy is fairly new to the online divorce arena so there aren’t a ton of reviews available. They earned an average of 3.4 stars out of 5 stars with only 11 reviews.
Digging deeper, you can see that all the reviews are either 5-star or 1-star reviews. Based on my research, the Pro plan overpromises and under-delivers. At $950, it’s overpriced compared to other alternatives.
Quick Facts
- Founded by celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser
- Available in all 50 states and 5 Canadian provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and Ontario)
- Negotiation tools to help you reach a full agreement with your spouse on asset division, alimony, child support and custody
- Child support calculator
- Serve your spouse by mail
- 95% success rate in getting divorce papers accepted by the court
- Premium support (specialists are available by phone and email to answer any questions you may have)
- Access to an extensive directory of divorce professionals including attorneys, Certified Divorce Financial Analysts, and therapists
- You can purchase the “Next Chapter” course which is a video series featuring experts from different professions to help you transition to your post-divorce life. (Shameless self-promotion: I happen to be the financial expert discussing post-divorce financial planning tips.)
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Bottom Line: If cost isn’t a major factor and you’re looking for white-glove service, then It’s Over Easy is a great choice. If it were me, I’d go with 3 Step Divorce and use the money you saved to consult with a divorce attorney. It’s the best of both worlds.
Read our It’s Over Easy review here.
4. Hello Divorce (#2 Overall)
Hello Divorce is different from the other online divorce services.
Before getting into the details, you need to know that Hello Divorce is currently only available in the following states:
- California
- Colorado
They have plans to expand to other states but that doesn’t do you much good if you’re going through divorce now. You can skip to the next service if you’re in a different state.
Hello Divorce was founded by Erin Levine, a Certified Family Law Specialist who has 18 years of family law experience and is also currently the Managing Partner of Levine Family Law Group in California.
One of Hello Divorce’s unique key tools is The Divorce Navigator. It is the only DIY web application that allows users to navigate the entire divorce process from start to finish. With the Divorce Navigator, you get an interactive guide, access to legal help, and instantly downloadable forms.
The site provides services a bit differently than other vendors. Users pay a flat fee or monthly fee and in return, they receive access to the all-in-one web application (the Divorce Navigator) and top-notch legal assistance.
There are different levels of service that users can choose from. They include:
DIY Divorce – For $99/month, you can use the Divorce Navigator to easily complete all of your divorce forms and handle your own divorce – from start to finish. This plan is best if you have a simple Divorce and are willing to file and serve the forms yourself.
DIY Pro – This $199/mo plan includes everything in DIY Divorce offers, plus Hello Divorce will handle all the procedural aspects (serving and filing) as well.
“Quickie Divorce” – This is available in California only and is an option if you have been married less than 5 years, have no children, or large amounts of assets.
Divorce Plus – If your divorce is leaving you emotional, exhausted or overwhelmed, this option turns everything over to a legal document assistant who will handle the entire divorce for you and your spouse from start to finish.
Divorce with Benefits – If you and your spouse are committed to staying out of court but still need to negotiate an agreement on the substantive matters such as a parenting plan, property and debt division, retirement accounts, and/or support, this plan is a great option. Hello Divorce partners with experienced divorce lawyers who can help negotiate, strategize, and understand your rights or review and revise your paperwork.
The Hello Divorce Process
Here’s how the Hello Divorce process works:
- Step 1: Access free resources. Create a free account and you’ll get members-only free access to essential resources and worksheets.
- Step 2: Schedule a 15-minute strategy call: You’ll speak with an experienced team member to help you develop a divorce plan to get you from start to finish.
- Step 3: Choose your level of assistance: There’s a range of different affordable plans to choose from and access to a la carte legal coaching. You decide the level of help you need – and only pay lawyers if you have legal concerns or need advice.
- Step 4: Complete your divorce: use the Hello Divorce platform with help from divorce experts to complete your forms and financial disclosures and file your papers with the court.
Here’s a table from Hello Divorce that shows how they stack up to the competition:
Quick Facts
- Only pay for a lawyer when and if you need one
- 92% of paid users get through their divorce start to finish without having to go to court (as an industry veteran, I can tell you that that’s a high success rate)
- The average cost is $1,500 – huge savings compared to the national average of $20,000
- Founded by experienced family law attorney Erin Levine
- Reduces conflict and streamlines process
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The Bottom Line: There’s a reason I selected Hello Divorce as #2 best overall. If it was available in all states, it would be in the running for my top pick overall. If you’re in California or Colorado, I highly recommend checking out Hello Divorce if you are looking for a premium option with additional support. Use the code SURVIVE100 to save $100.
Read our Hello Divorce review here.
5. DivorceWriter Review
This is similar to many other services, with an easy-to-use interface and an intuitive interview that you complete to start your divorce paperwork.
In as little as a half-hour, you can complete the online interview with the information needed for DivorceWriter to complete your forms. After completing the interview, your forms are ready to download, print and file with the court.
If you need additional documents that were not included in your DivorceWriter package, you can contact customer service with the name or form number of the document(s) you need. If available, they can be emailed to you for immediate printing.
The site also provides assistance for:
- Settlement Agreement
- Spousal Support
- Name Change
- Child Support
- Parenting Plan
DivorceWriter is a service of Pro Se Planning, Inc. which also owns TotalLegal.com. This sister site helps manage a wide variety of family and business legal needs, giving you access to custom legal documents and offering free and discounted services from attorneys.
The site’s phone support is available 8 am to 4 pm PDT M-F. You can also send emails 24/7.
Like the other online divorce services, DivorceWriter does not act as your attorney and does not provide legal advice.
DivorceWriter Reviews on TrustPilot and BBB
DivorceWriter has been accredited with the BBB since 2003 and has an A+ rating.
DivorceWriter has great reviews overall with an average score of 4.4 out of 5-stars on TrustPilot. Of all the online divorce services, only 3StepDivorce has better ratings with 4.6 stars. 9% of all DivorceWriter reviews are 1-star, whereas only 2% of 3StepDivorce reviews are 1-star.
Quick Facts
- Only $137
- Good customer reviews (4.4 out of 5-stars on TrustPilot)
- Easy to use
- A+ rating on the Better Business Bureau
- Money-back guarantee if your forms are not accepted by the court
- Court filing fees are not included
- Works in nearly every state (except Missouri) and Washington DC
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The Bottom Line: DivorceWriter is the cheapest DIY divorce service that I’ve come across. The reviews are generally positive. If you’re extremely budget-conscious, this isn’t a bad choice. However, DivorceWriter falls short of our top pick 3 Step Divorcedue to the limited customer support and lack of additional resources.
Read our full DivorceWriter review here.
6. GetDivorcePapers
Launched in 2005, GetDivorcePapers is used and published in more than 60 different countries and has served more than 600,000 customers.
It is another value-conscious provider of online divorce services. It competes for being the lowest-priced provider with a base price of $139.
The process is simple and streamlined. The entire process can usually be completed in an hour or less. Assistance is also available for calculating child support, developing a parenting plan, and putting an alimony agreement in place.
After you complete your interview, you can print your forms and be ready to file with your local court. If you find any errors after the fact, you can make changes, and print the documents out again at no additional cost.
The site has partnered with a live lawyer service you can access if you need help. The Live Lawyer service puts you into direct contact with an attorney in your state so that you can have your specific legal questions answered for a small additional fee.
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The Bottom Line: An F rating from the BBB and 62% of all reviews are 1-star. Enough said. Don’t waste your time or money with GetDivorcePapers.
Read our GetDivorcePapers review here.
7. LegalZoom Online Divorce
Unlike the other online divorce services, LegalZoom offers a wide range of legal documents and is primarily targeted to small businesses. Here’s a short list of the services that LegalZoom provides:
- Business formation such as LLCs and corporations
- Intellectual property – trademarks, patents, copyrights
- Wills and trusts
- Divorce
Unfortunately, LegalZoom’s online divorce service feels like a bit of an afterthought. They’ve leveraged their established brand and name recognition to expand their offering into divorce – but at $499 they’re simply not priced competitively.
LegalZoom only gives you 30 days to make changes to your documents, then you have to pay additional fees if you need further updates. This feels like a bait-and-switch. The reality is 30 days is simply not a realistic window.
On the plus side, LegalZoom does provide access to legal advice through prepaid legal plans that connect you with an attorney in your state.
This sounds great in theory. Now let me share some practical experience.The family law attorneys affiliated with LegalZoom that I’ve come across were some of the most incompetent lawyers I’ve seen. Ask yourself this: If you are a competent divorce attorney, why would you need to offer your services at discounted rates? Answer: You wouldn’t.
LegalZoom Reviews on Trustpilot and BBB
LegalZoom has been accredited with the BBB since 2001 and has an A+ rating. That’s impressive. Their reviews, on the other hand, are not nearly as impressive.
Their customer reviews on the BBB are 2.66 out of 5 stars with 576 total reviews.
LegalZoom has an average of 3.4 out of 5 stars with 254 reviews on Trustpilot. What’s worse, 51% of the reviews are 1-star reviews. Keep in mind these reviews may not all be related to their divorce services.
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The Bottom Line: LegalZoom may be a good choice if you’re starting a business, but there are better DIY divorce options. At $499, LegalZoom is simply too expensive to recommend. I can’t justify the premium price tag compared to more cost-effective alternatives like 3StepDivorce.
Read our review on LegalZoom divorce here.
8. OnlineDivorce.com
OnlineDivorce.com has been in business for 21 years and over 500,000 customers have used their tools to finalize their divorce. It currently provides services for customers in all 50 states and throughout much of Canada.
OnlineDivorce aims to be a low-cost provider at $139. It appears there are additional fees you can incur for add-on services, such as accessing your documents beyond an initial 30-day period.
In fact, according to their site, OnlineDivorce may automatically charge you at the end of the one month usage period (and each month thereafter) unless you notify them that you want to cancel your access. By canceling a storage subscription, you give Online Divorce permission to delete all your data from their storage.
The site references a Pricing section that provides additional details about their fees. After scouring their site, I wasn’t able to find a Pricing section. I’ve seen references to a $299 VIP plan but I can’t locate any details. The lack of transparency is concerning.
Looking at the reviews on their site, there are over 10,000 reviews with an average of 5-stars. Pretty good, right?
Interestingly, the reviews on third-party sites tell a very different story.
Digging into their customer reviews online, you start to notice a recurring theme:
- Terrible customer service with long wait times and unhelpful responses
- Expect long delays in receiving your completed paperwork
- Misleading pricing. Online Divorce makes it seem like the cost is a $139 flat fee. As it turns out, there are also monthly fees of $24.95 after the initial $139 charge until you cancel. I guess that explains the reason for the long delays. It certainly sounds like they are trying to milk you for every last red cent. Maybe that explains why 34% of the TrustPilot reviews are 1-star reviews.
Just take a look at this review that sums up the kind of experience you can expect.
In case you need more convincing, let’s take a look at Online Divorce on the Better Business Bureau. Online Divorce has a D- rating with the BBB. To make matters worse, there have been 152 complaints in the last 3 years and 85 complaints in the last 12 months.
In July 2018, BBB contacted OnlineDivorce.com about misleading advertising claims on their website such as “100% satisfaction guarantee”, “best price guaranteed” and “100% guarantee of court approval.”
So, how did Online Divorce respond to address the issues raised by the BBB? They didn’t.
If OnlineDivorce.com won’t respond to the BBB in a timely fashion, what kind of customer service do you think you can expect?
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The Bottom Line: Steer clear. The “bait and switch” pricing, poor customer service, and long delays will only add to the stress of your divorce.
Read our OnlineDivorce.com review here.
9. MyDivorcePapers.com
MyDivorcePapers was started in 2002 and has over 1.2 million customers.
You can complete the questions and paperwork in about an hour. Forms are delivered to you online, or you can have them mailed to you. You are also provided with detailed instructions on how to have papers served on your spouse and how to file at your courthouse.
You also have the option of filing paperwork for a legal separation or an annulment, if they are permitted in your state.
The site offers several optional services for an additional cost. Those services include:
- Serve divorce paperwork on your spouse
- File Forms at the courthouse
- Attempt to obtain a court cost Fee Waiver
- Complete Pet Custody Agreement
- Revocation of any Power of Attorneys
- Revocation of an existing Healthcare Directive
- Living Will / Advanced Healthcare Directive
- Quitclaim Deed to change title to your house or other real properties
- Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO)
Sounds good so far, right?
Not so fast. Let’s look under the hood at customer reviews.
MyDivorcePapers Reviews
As you can see, MyDivorcePapers has an F rating with the BBB. Not off to a good start.
MyDivorcePapers.com has 2.6 out of 5-stars on TrustPilot based on nearly 1,700 reviews. 14% of those are 1-star reviews. Digging into the reviews, it seems the majority of unhappy customers blame poor customer service and additional fees.
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The Bottom Line: With an F rating by the BBB and only 2.6 stars on TrustPilot, do yourself a favor and steer clear of GetDivorcePapers.com.
Read our review on MyDivorcePapers here.
10. One Stop Divorce
One Stop Divorce is a relative newcomer compared to other online divorce services.
The site offers access for 30 days to prepare your divorce papers. Many times forms are available immediately, but typically no longer than two working days.
One Stop Divorce has also partnered with Justanswer.com, a nationwide network of family law attorneys who can assist couples with divorce and many other family law issues. There is an additional charge for access.
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The Bottom Line: There’s a lot to like about One Stop Divorce. The two things holding me back at this point are the limited customer reviews and additional fees for ongoing access after 30 days.
Read our One Stop Divorce review here.
The Best Overall Online Divorce Service
In my opinion, the best overall online divorce service would have to be 3StepDivorce.
At $299, 3StepDivorce provides incredible value for the money.
To put things in perspective, my rate as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst is $435 per hour. In other words, it’s possible to complete your entire divorce for less than it would cost to have a one-hour consultation with me.
If you have a degree of complexity to your situation, consider consulting with an attorney or divorce financial strategist to get personalized advice. This can be a great approach to getting a cheap, quick divorce that doesn’t come back to bite you down the road.
Get started with 3StepDivorce now for $84 >>
Answers to Common Questions about Online Divorce
Here are answers to frequently asked questions about online divorce in case you’re still on the fence.
Are cheap online divorces legal?
Yes! Online divorces are every bit as legal as any other type of divorce process. Many states allow you to file at least some of your divorce forms online and you can access free divorce papers from the family law court website for your county.
Even if you can’t file your divorce papers online in your state, you can still use an online divorce service to help you prepare your forms.
If you have a contested divorce (meaning you and your spouse can’t reach agreements), then online divorce is not a good fit.
Are online divorce services legit and reliable?
Online divorces are just as legitimate as filing for divorce with a lawyer. The forms and process are exactly the same for an uncontested divorce.
As for the reliability of online divorce services, that really depends on which service you choose. While several are riddled with complaints and poor reviews, the best online divorce services like 3 Step Divorce can help guide you through the process and save thousands of dollars.
How long does it take for an online divorce?
The short answer is that it’s possible to complete all the paperwork in a day. That said, the average uncontested divorce takes 3 to 6 months. Most states have a waiting period before you can finalize your divorce.
For instance, the waiting period in California is 6 months. You could submit all your paperwork before then, but you wouldn’t actually be divorced until 6 months and a day from when the petition is served.
What is the cheapest way of getting a divorce?
The cheapest way of getting a divorce is to do it yourself. Unfortunately, the legal process is confusing and mistakes can be costly. Using an online divorce service can be a great way to streamline the process. A select few of these services provide helpful explanations so you can make informed decisions.
What other costs do I need to consider?
In addition to the cost of using an online divorce service, you will also need to pay the court filing fees which are typically between $100 and $450.
Should I use an online divorce service with or without my spouse being included?
Some services will tell you upfront that their service works best only when one spouse is involved. Others actively encourage both spouses to participate to eliminate conflicts and disagreements at the beginning of the process.
What if my spouse and I can’t agree on how to answer a question?
Online divorce does require cooperation. If you can’t reach an agreement on a particular issue, you may need to get help from a mediator or consult with an attorney.
What if I start an online divorce, but things turn ugly with my spouse?
Online divorce works best for an uncontested divorce. If you reach an impasse, consider working with a mediator and/or consulting lawyer to help you and your spouse get “unstuck.” If that’s not enough, you may need to retain an attorney and proceed with divorce litigation.
Is it possible to save on court costs?
If you qualify, a court may waive your filing fees. Check with your local jurisdiction to see what is required if you have financial limitations.
Will online divorce services work for same-sex marriages?
Yes. Check with your local courts to see if there are any special circ*mstances you need to know about.
Will online divorce services work if my spouse is incarcerated?
Yes. Paperwork can be served on inmates in prisons. How the paperwork is prepared should have no bearing on where it is served.
Will online divorce services work if one or both spouses are in the military?
Yes. Meeting residency requirements is the key here.
We were married in a foreign country. Can we divorce in the U.S. using an online divorce service?
As long as you meet residency requirements for the state where you want to get divorced, it doesn’t matter where you got married, even if it is outside the United States.
What if I can’t find my spouse after generating my online forms?
Courts have various remedies for spouses who can’t be found or who won’t cooperate with serving papers. Most jurisdictions allow service by publication. This involves running a legal notice in a local paper to make public notification of your intent to divorce a spouse.
What if I’m not sure what state to file in?
Check with an attorney or the county clerk where you currently live. Some states have no residency requirements, but most require you to live in the state and/or the county where you file for three months to one year.
How do I know where to file my paperwork?
Paperwork is generally filed at the county courthouse where either you or your spouse live. Some states allow you to file online. The online divorce services provide step-by-step instructions for how to file divorce your divorce papers with the court.
What other options do I have if online divorce is not right for me?
Online divorce is the easiest and fastest way to get a divorce. But if this is not an option for you, then consider mediation, collaboration or a contested divorce that could result in a trial.
Final Thoughts
So, there you have it – our list of the best online divorce services out there right now.
With the average cost of divorce so high, it’s not surprising that so many people are turning to online divorce to get a fast, cheap divorce.
While it’s not right for everyone, a DIY online divorce can be a great option to help you save time and money under the right circ*mstances.
If you have a degree of complexity or are having trouble reaching agreements with your spouse, consider a hybrid approach where you use an online divorce service like 3StepDivorce to handle all the paperwork and work with an attorney or mediator for extra support.
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