The divorce process begins when one spouse legally “petitions” requesting a divorce through the courts. Once this request is submitted, the courts will schedule a court date based on the petition hold an initial hearing. Both spouses will be summons to appear in court for the hearing.
Next, a judge with listen to both parties during the initial hearing, where the judge reviews documents and complaints from each spouse, and even interview each spouse to determine how to move forward in the pending divorce proceedings.
Once the initial hearing is completed, the waiting period goes into effect (which differs in each state) before the finalization of divorce can be completed. During the waiting period, the couple is to determine arrangements of joint finances and property division and if children are involved, how the custody will be awarded. Family law attorneys have a hand in aiding in these difficult decisions among both parties.