Once you are ready to file, you must complete the divorce petition. The petition itself can be a court form that is fairly brief and not very detailed. It provides information about the marriage, such as names of spouses and date of marriage, as well as the reason for divorce, which is very vague. Accompanied with the petition must also be a filing fee, which varies by courthouse. Often times, the court will require special divorce classes for families with children, which may also require a fee. Once your divorce petition is filed, your former spouse will receive a copy and may be permitted to file an answer, though no answer is required.In addition, if a party requests it, a court date may be set to discuss preliminary matters and enter temporary orders such as a temporary child support order.