Divorce: The Myth and the Reality
The myth:
Getting an uncontested divorce means simply filling out some papers and sending them to court.
Websites advertising easy divorces have sprouted like weeds all over the internet, most of them implying that if some forms are filled out and sent to court, the divorce is practically done.
As a result, thousands of people have found out too late that getting the first documents done is the easy part.
What happens, to cite just one example, if your spouse won't accept voluntary service of process, or, worse yet, can't be found to be served involuntarily? The court won't help, and neither will the people who just sold you the paperwork.
The reality:
Divorce, even an uncontested one, is a four-step court process involving both you and your spouse. This is true regardless of the reason for the divorce (grounds, or, in New Jersey, cause of action), the property and financial issues, or the arrangements needed for the support of children.
If you think about it a minute, this makes perfect sense. You couldn't have married your spouse by yourself, without his or her cooperation; and so, you can't end that marriage by simply filing some paperwork with the court, without involving your spouse.