Step One: Notice to Defend, Complaint, and Verification (Form 1)
The divorce process begins with the filing of a Complaint, which must include the following attachments:
- Notice to Defend and Claim Rights – placed at the top of the Complaint.
- Verification – placed at the bottom.
The Complaint is submitted to the office that handles legal pleadings. A filing fee is required unless the individual has been granted permission to proceed In Forma Pauperis (a waiver of court fees due to financial hardship), which is filed alongside the Complaint.
The caption on the Complaint must include:
- The name of the county,
- The names of both spouses,
- The docket number assigned by the office handling legal pleadings.
This caption must be consistent on all documents filed throughout the case.