Therefore, one might wish to contact the Family Court of the county in which one resides and inquire whether there is a local requirement that one have a lawyer. If not, telephone your local Bar Association and ask whether it has a form book for the various stages of a divorce, in order to determine what steps are necessary to proceed with a divorce action. The telephone numbers for these organizations can be found in the blue pages of your local telephone book. Some states continue to require that the plaintiff prove that the defendant has done something that entitles the plaintiff to a divorce. Examples of some types of conduct that would entitle a plaintiff to a divorce are adultery, desertion and cruel and barbarous treatment.
Most states currently have provisions for no-fault divorces.
In those states the plaintiff does not have to prove that the defendant did something wrong, but simply that the defendant consents to the divorce or that the parties have been separated for the legally required amount of time. Issues of spousal support, child support and child custody and the division of marital assets will arise if and when you and your spouse separate. It is beneficial if you and your spouse can come to a voluntary understanding about these issues before you separate. Note that in your state you may lose rights to marital assets if a claim is not made prior to the entry of a divorce decree. If you and your spouse can reach an agreement, a lawyer can draft a document which can then be enforced by the court.