The succeeding step in asking for divorce is to actually file the forms with the court clerk. Present all the forms (originals and copies) to the court clerk where he/she will re-examine them. The clerk will make sure there are no errors in the forms and if all is done suitably, then your copies will be given back with a stamped ‘Filed’ on them and the clerk will keep the originals.

Any temporary orders that you will be requesting the judge to make, such as domestic violence protection, child support orders, bill payments etc, ought to be in the forms you’ve filed with the clerk. It is proper to get in contact with a family lawyer to get all the pertinent facts about your case.

This ‘first appearance’ refers to your registering of the first forms in your divorce case. Petitions have filing fees and you can ask the clerk what the fee will be. If you cannot afford to pay the fee you can ask that it be waived.