How do you start a divorce?

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Kantrowitz, Goldhamer, Graifman, Perlmutter & Carballo, P.C.

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Written/Reviewed By:

Barry S. Kantrowitz, Esq.

Last Updated: Mar 23, 2026

Read Time: 1 mins

A divorce is started by preparing what’s known as a summons, which calls the other person to court, and a complaint explaining what relief you are seeking. That document, both in New York and New Jersey, has to be filed. When you sign that document, after your lawyer has prepared it, and you file it, that commences the action for divorce. Subsequently, the document itself must be handed to the person from whom you seek to have a divorce, and that starts the ball rolling.

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