What is a Original Petition For Divorce?

The divorce petition is a legal document filed in court by a spouse who seeks a divorce. Also called the "complaint" in some states, the petition informs the court of the filing spouse's (called the "petitioner") desire to end the marriage, and its filing with the court signifies the initiation of the divorce process. Once the divorce petition has been "served" on the petitioner's spouse, it also notifies them that the divorce process has begun.

What Does an Original Divorce Petition Contain?

Contents of the Divorce Petition: Information and Requests

While specific requirements and formats vary from state to state, the divorce petition typically contains the following information:

• Identification of the spouses by name and address;
• Date and place of marriage;
• Identification of children of the marriage;
• Acknowledgment that the petitioner and/or his or her spouse have lived in the state or county
• for a certain amount of time prior to filing the petition;
• Grounds for divorce;
• Declaration or request as to how the petitioner would like to settle finances, property division,
• child custody, visitation, and other issues related to divorce.

Sources: https://family.findlaw.com/divorce/filing-and-serving-the-divorce-dissolution-petition.html