Getting Started Guide

Step 1: Create Your Account

2 minutes

1. Go to divorce-portal.com/register.
2. Enter your email and choose a password (at least 8 characters).
3. Select "Going through a divorce".
4. Choose whether you're filing (petitioner) or responding (respondent).
5. Click "Get Started" — your 7-day free trial begins immediately.

Step 2: Create Your First Case

5–10 minutes

The case creation wizard collects everything the court needs in 8 guided steps. You can save and return anytime — your progress is saved automatically.

1. Click "New Case" on your dashboard (or press Cmd+K and type "New Case").
2. Case Type & Jurisdiction — Select your case type and state. If you have existing court filings, upload the PDF and the AI will read and fill your case automatically.
3. Court Information — Enter court name, county, filing date, separation date, and marriage date.
4. Petitioner & Defendant — Enter both parties' names, addresses, employers, and income.
5. Children — Add each child with name, date of birth, school, and special needs.
6. Financial Overview — Total property value, debts, health insurance, and childcare costs.
7. Property & Debts — Real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement, investments, and business interests.
8. Review & Submit — Review your information and click "Create Case".

Step 3: Explore Your Case Workspace

Your command center

Once your case is created, you'll land in the case workspace. Here's what you'll find:

• • Getting Started card — Personalized next steps based on whether you're filing or responding.
• • Status tracker — Visual progress bar showing where you are: Active → Pending → Filed → Served → Discovery → Trial → Done.
• • Filing Readiness Score — A live 0–100% score showing how prepared you are to file, with a checklist of what's done and what's left.
• • Deadlines panel — Auto-calculated deadlines color-coded by urgency (green = time, red = act now).

Step 4: Prepare Your Documents

Documents tab, Express mode, or Messages tab

You have three ways to generate your documents:

1. Documents tab — Click the "Documents" tab in your case workspace. Hit "Generate All Documents" to create every applicable document from your case data in one click. Preview each document in-browser before downloading.
2. Express mode — Go to /express and fill out a 7-step questionnaire. All your documents are generated at the end — perfect for uncontested divorces. Takes about 30 minutes.
3. AI chat — Click the "Messages" tab and type what you need — e.g., "Draft my Complaint for Divorce". The AI drafts the document with your case details and state-specific statute citations. Iterate until you're satisfied.

All documents can be previewed in-browser as PDF before downloading. Export as PDF or DOCX at any time.

Step 5: Run the Calculators

Built into the chat

Three calculators follow your state's exact formulas and feed results directly into your documents.

• • Child Support Calculator — Uses state-compliant formulas based on both parents' income, number of children, healthcare, and childcare costs.
• • Spousal Support Calculator — Advisory calculation based on income disparity, marriage length, and state guidelines.
• • Custodial Days Calculator — Counts overnights from your custody schedule, including holiday overrides and school calendar integration.

Ask the AI: "Calculate child support" or "How many custodial days does each parent have?"

Step 6: Use the Planning Tools

Workspace tabs

• Calendar — Co-parenting calendar with holiday overrides and school integration. Export as .ics for Google Calendar or Outlook.
• Scenarios — Asset division scenario planner. Create multiple what-if splits and compare them side by side to see the financial impact.
• Compare — Document comparison tool. See exactly what changed between document versions.
• Attachments — Upload and manage all case-related files (court filings, financial records, correspondence).
• History — Full audit trail of every change, message, and action on your case.

Step 7: Check Your Forms

Forms Library

1. Go to Forms Library from the user menu or press Cmd+K and type "Forms".
2. Forms are organized by your state and case type, grouped by category (Initial Filing, Response, Financial, Custody, etc.).
3. The "Recommended for You" section shows forms relevant to your current journey step.
4. Track your progress with the checklist — mark forms as downloaded or completed.
5. See the total filing fees for required forms at a glance.

Step 8: Find an Attorney (Optional)

Attorney Marketplace

When you're ready for professional review, find a state-licensed attorney directly on the platform.

1. Go to Attorney Marketplace from the user menu.
2. Search by state, specialty, and rating.
3. View attorney profiles with reviews, licenses, and specialties.
4. Click "Request Review" to engage an attorney for your case.
5. Track the engagement status in your case workspace (Requested → Accepted → In Review → Completed).
6. Schedule meetings directly through the platform's calendar.

Tips for Success

• • Fill in as much case detail as possible — The more the AI knows about your situation, the better your documents will be.
• • Upload existing filings — If you've been served papers, upload the PDF. The AI reads it and fills your case automatically.
• • Check your Filing Readiness Score — It tells you exactly what's missing before you can file.
• • Use Cmd+K — Jump to any page instantly. Type "Dashboard", "Forms", "Marketplace", or "New Case".
• • Export early, export often — Download your documents as PDF or DOCX at any stage. You can always revise and re-export.
• • Have an attorney review before filing — Our documents are a strong starting point, but a licensed attorney should review before you file with the court.