Article: Every state has its own laws regarding the dissolution of marriage. Once you have decided what method of divorce is best for your situation, you should educate yourself on the requirements for divorce in your state. You can locate state-specific divorce laws at: http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/divorce-in-your-state-31013.html. Some questions that you should consider when preparing for divorce are:  On what grounds can I file for divorce? Some states have “no fault” divorce, which means that you do not have to prove that either spouse did something wrong. Some spouses may seek a divorce based on fault, which can include cruelty, adultery, desertion or confinement to prison.  How will my property be divided? Depending on the state in which you live, your property may be divided as community property/separate property or through equitable division. In community property states, all property accumulated during the marriage is considered marital property and is divided evenly. If you owned property before the marriage that property is considered separate property and it is not subject to division. If you live in an equitable division state, a judge will try to decide what is fair and may not divide the property evenly.  How is child custody and child support handled. The guiding principle in all states regarding custody is a determination of what is in the best interest of the child. Most states have resources for parents to help them develop a custody agreement and parenting plan. Links to these resource can be found at: http://family.findlaw.com/child-custody/child-custody-and-visitation-information-by-state.html A large part of a divorce proceeding deals with the division or marital property. When preparing to file for divorce, you should gather the following financial documents:  Federal and State income taxes for the previous five years. Paystubs and/or payroll statements. Documents concerning your retirement accounts, such as 401(k) plans, annuities, IRAs or other pension or retirement information. All insurance policies, including life, auto, health, and home. Deeds for property or contracts for leases. Any documents showing debt, including mortgage statements, student loan debt, loans, or credit card statements. Documents showing all bank accounts, including check books and bank statements. Documents showing household expenses, such as rent, utilities, food and clothing Household budget information. If you own a business, you should also gather all business documents detailing profit and loss. Most states have downloadable forms on their state court websites to simplify the divorce process. You can locate divorce forms for your state in the following ways:  Conduct an internet search with the name of your state and “divorce forms.” Search state court websites for divorce forms. You can visit individual state-specific court websites by locating your state on the following website http://www.ncsc.org/Information-and-Resources/Browse-by-State/State-Court-Websites.aspx, and clicking on the link for your state. Once you are on the state website, use the search window to search for “divorce forms.” Call the court clerk. If you are unable to locate the forms online, contact the court clerk and ask them where you can find the specific forms. You can find the contact information for state-specific courts using the link above. Even if you choose to handle the majority of the divorce yourself, it is highly recommended that you at least hire an attorney to review any agreements pertaining to the divorce. As discussed above, you can locate an experienced family law attorney by a personal recommendation or by using state bar association’s attorney referral resources.

What is a summary?
Research the divorce laws in your state. Gather financial documents. Locate divorce forms for your state. Retain an attorney for specific tasks.