THE CAIRNS METHOD OF DIVORCE IS CHEAPER, FASTER, AND EASIER THAN EVER!
We do things differently than other law firms, because we want your experience to be as hassle-free and as painless as possible. Our process and documents are tailored to your divorce, saving you time and money. We provide proactive updates during your divorce so you know where your case stands all along the way. Plus, we are constantly improving The Cairns Method to provide excellent, hassle-free service to our clients. Here's a brief overview of our process (more detailed instructions will be sent to you during the process- but don't worry, we always keep things simple for you). Read our client testimonials and AVVO reviews to see what our past clients have to say.
THE PROCESS:
- Once you have completed THE DIVORCE WIZARD and made payment, we will start on your uncontested divorce case within one business day-usually the same day. During your entire case, make sure to check your email at least as often as you would check your regular "snail mail"- we stay in contact with you via email and will send you important documents and updates regarding your divorce case.
- Next, we will email you a Divorce Complaint for a section 3301(c) divorce or a section 3301(d) divorce. Both section 3301(c) and 3301(d) divorces are simple, no-fault, uncontested Pennsylvania divorces. An attorney will make sure to prepare and email you the correct Divorce Complaint for your specific case based on the information you provided in THE DIVORCE WIZARD. If you have ordered additional services, such as a Marital Settlement Agreement, Retaking a Maiden or Prior Name, or Removal of a Spouse's Name on a Pennsylvania Property Deed, we will email you separate instructions for each service at the same time.
- Once you get the email, open and review the attached Complaint. You must then confirm that the information in the Complaint is correct and make any necessary payment by clicking on the button provided in the email.
- Upon receiving your confirmation and any necessary payment, we will print your Divorce Complaint. Your attorney will then sign it and put it in the mail along with another document, called a Notice To Defend And Claim Rights, and both will be filed with the court. This will happen within one business day.
- The court will typically file and return the Divorce Complaint and Notice to us within 2-3 weeks. Then we will prepare very specific, customized instructions and documents, and send them to you along with the Divorce Complaint and Notice that was filed and returned by the court. Then depending on which divorce service you have chosen, either you or Cairns Law Offices will "serve" your spouse the divorce paperwork and instructions for signing.
- READ THE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY. You must "snail mail" us only ORIGINAL SIGNEDdocuments. The court will not accept scanned or photocopied documents, and your case will be delayed and you will be charged more if you do not follow the instructions exactly. After reading the instructions at least 3 times, you can contact us if you have any questions. The instructions are very clear, and 99% of all questions we get are typically already answered in the instructions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR DIVORCE PROCESS
How do I know if I have a section 3301(c) divorce or a 3301(d) divorce?
If you have been separated less than 1 year, you have a 3301(c) divorce. If you have been separated for 1 year or more, you have a 3301(d) divorce. Don't worry, we will prepare the correct documents for your specific case automatically. Click here to see how long it will take before your uncontested divorce is final.
What does it mean to "serve" my spouse?
It means to deliver the Compliant and Notice to Defend And Claim Rights to your spouse, and to make sure that your spouse signs a document called an Acceptance of Service to prove that your spouse was served.
You also have the option to have us serve your spouse via regular, certified or restricted delivery mail for a small additional fee. You may also decide to save money and serve your spouse yourself. In that case, then does not matter how you deliver the documents to your spouse, just that you actually do serve them a "true and correct copy". We will prepare all of the documents that you need in order to serve your spouse, along with instructions.
IF I HAVE A SECTION 3301(C) DIVORCE, THERE IS A 90 DAY WAITING PERIOD. HOW DOES THAT WORK?
Once your spouse has signed the Acceptance of Service, count 91 full days. Do NOT count the day that your spouse signed the Acceptance of Service as a full day (so it would be day "0", and the next day would be day "1" for counting purposes). Circle the 91 st day in red ink on your calendar. That is the day you and your spouse will be able to sign the rest of the divorce paperwork and "snail mail" all of the documents back to us so we can complete your divorce.
CAN I EMAIL YOU THE DIVORCE PAPERWORK?
No. All documents that will be filed with the court must be originals, so they must be mailed to us. (The only emailed documents that you can email us are the Settlement Agreement Questionnaireand a copy of your PA property deed, if you have are having us prepare a Marital Settlement Agreement or if we are preparing Removal of a Spouse's Name from a Pennsylvania Property Deed.)
DOES THE PAPERWORK NEED TO BE NOTARIZED?
Yes. The instructions that we send you will tell you which documents need to be notarized. This protects against forgeries and is required by the divorce court. If you or your spouse is out of the country, then the equivalent of a notary may be used. You do not have to go to the same notary. You can go to any notary in any state, or the equivalent of a notary if you are in another country.
