Divorce Kits
(Why you don't want one.)
Definition:
A divorce kit is a set of instructions and sample forms created to help you take a divorce through the court process.
Not enough:
If you pay a tax service to prepare your Form 1040 and accompanying schedules, you expect and get completed forms, not a how-to book or do-it-yourself software. Similarly, unless you're a lawyer or paralegal, you'll probably need a lot more than a divorce kit to deal with unexpected developments and counter the bureaucratic maze of today's civil court system.
Not specific:
You can obtain from the court, in some counties, a free-for-the-asking "pro se" divorce kit booklet (typically running 80-plus pages). Commercial stores and many internet sites also sell kits similar in concept; however, either they're not specific to New Jersey or they don't stay up-to-date with changing court rules.
Confusing and combative:
A divorce kit will confuse you whether obtained commercially or from a courthouse. The instructions don't explain alternative and often simpler processing options. If you complete and submit every divorce kit form whether you need it or not, you will waste time, expend extra effort, incur additional expense, and sometimes risk privacy loss and identity theft if private details become public record.
No personal assistance:
Kit providers can lead you to assume that your divorce is as good as done once you file a set of documents with the court. Soon you learn that you must prove to the court that you've notified your spouse with a court summons and then complete two more steps, including a court appearance for which you're expected to prepare the document for the judge to sign. The kit provider won't be available to help you continue beyond the initial filing step.
Conclusion:
Divorce is a procedure, not a set of stand-alone documents. Potential problems range from an unexpectedly uncooperative spouse to puzzling communications from the court bureaucracy. If you want to forego lawyer-induced confrontation and your goal is to part company from your spouse amicably, you need a step-by-step document preparation and procedural assistance service, not merely a divorce kit.