Your lawyer is your representative in court and can represent you during a divorce without you being present. In a divorce without court, this is common when presenting final documents to the judge.
If a divorce was filed locally, not by mail, you need to request the court to review the final documents in order to make the divorce official. This is done in the ex-parte courtroom. In Washington, your attorney will ask you to sign a Formal Proof Declaration. This document gives your attorney permission to ask the judge to sign the divorce decree on your behalf.
Whether you’re busy with work, unable to find childcare, or live out of state, your attorney will be able to finalize the case with your permission.