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Papers in hand. Now what?

I just got served

Someone handed you a stack of documents, or a sheriff knocked. You have a clock running and questions stacked sideways. Start here — these are the first five articles to read, in order.

  1. Just got served? Here's what happens next.The first 30 days after being served — what the paperwork is, what deadlines you're now on, and what to do this week.4-minute read
  2. You’ve been served — now what?The respondent's playbook. What goes in your response, when to counter-petition, what default judgment looks like, and how to ask for more time.5-minute read
  3. Temporary orders: the rules that hold while the case runsCourt orders that govern custody, support, the house, and bills while the divorce is pending — what you can ask for, how to ask, and what they don’t decide.5-minute read
  4. When should you actually hire an attorney?Honest answer — most no-fault uncontested divorces don't need one. Here are the specific situations where you absolutely should.4-minute read
  5. Divorce glossary: the words that trip people upNo-fault, contested, ex parte, decree — what the ten most-misunderstood divorce words actually mean, in plain English.5-minute read

Why these articlesThese five focus on the next 30 days: what the documents mean, the response deadline, what 'temporary orders' covers, whether to bring in counsel, and the vocabulary you'll keep hearing.