I won’t sugarcoat it. Divorce is expensive. In fact, the average cost for a divorce is over $11k per person.
And it’s easy for costs to escalate further if you find yourself in a knock-down-drag-out legal battle. To put this in perspective, I’ve had plenty of clients spend 6 and 7 figures in legal fees on their divorce.
The plus side is it doesn’t have to be that way. If you and your spouse can reach an amicable agreement on how to divide assets and share parenting time, you can save yourself a ton of time and money with an online divorce service. There’s plenty of options to choose from.
OnlineDivorce.com is one of those options. With a C- Better Business Bureau rating and a ton of 1-star reviews, fortunately, OnlineDivorce.com is not the only option.
In this guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know about OnlineDivorce.com – including who I recommend instead.
Table of Contents:
How OnlineDivorce.com Works
OnlineDivorce.com offers many of the same services, processes, and guarantees as other online divorce document preparation services.
It has a relatively long track record, making it one of the original service providers in this niche. There is a large body of satisfied customers who can attest to OnlineDivorce’s quality of services.
Like many others, with Online Divorce, you start the process by answering a series of questions ranging from where you live, is your divorce uncontested, do you have children, and so forth.
Necessary forms for clients are completed based on their answers in this simple, guided online interview. Customers do not need to read through the legal jargon and try to figure out how to fill out those forms on their own.
From these answers, the appropriate forms will be completed and filled in from the comfort of your own home. Depending on your situation, this could take less than an hour. Also, especially if your divorce is uncontested, you won’t need to incur the time and costs associated with retaining an attorney.
However, if you have critical unresolved issues, such as alimony, child custody, a division of assets, or other critical variables, you should strongly consider protecting yourself by seeking legal counsel.
One thing worth noting about Online Divorce is that not only does it provide legal divorce documentation for all 50 states, but it offers the same services throughout much of Canada as well.
OnlineDivorce is all-inclusive and offers a 100% guarantee that your forms will be current and accepted by courts in the jurisdiction where they are filed.
Aside from avoiding increased costs, which can easily run into the thousands of dollars, using OnlineDivorce expedites the process. In an uncontested divorce, both sides can avoid legal fees and work together to complete the OnlineDivorce.com forms. Collaboration also reduces divorce stress and anxiety, which is even more important when children are involved.
If you need assistance, OnlineDivorce also boasts of award-winning customer service and technical support. Customers can reach out via phone, email, or live chat for assistance.
However, there are some critics in this area.
How Much Does OnlineDivorce Cost?
OnlineDivorce.com offers a base package of divorce document preparation services for a one-time fee of $139.
Although it’s not exactly clear on the site, there are additional fees you can incur for add-on services, such as accessing your documents beyond an initial 30-day period, although OnlineDivorce does have the following posted on their site:
Online Divorce Technology LLC may automatically charge you at the end of the one month usage period (and each month thereafter) unless you notify us that you want to cancel your access. After that Online Divorce Technology LLC may still automatically charge you each year thereafter for Storage subscription unless you notify us that you want to cancel this type of subscription as well. The Storage subscription means that Online Divorce Technology LLC will keep your documents and data in our storage for easy data recovery. Notice that by canceling Storage subscription you give Online Divorce Technology LLC permission to delete all your data from our storage. You may cancel or access discounts for extended month purchases.
It’s best to contact OnlineDivorce directly to discuss what additional services are available and what the current pricing is.
OnlineDivorce Reviews
OnlineDivorce has no shortage of people who have reviewed their services.
You can find close to 10,000 reviews on their website, most of them are of the glowing variety, although there are a fair number of “thumbs down” responses in the replies.
You can take a closer look at the reviews here.
But not every user is a fan of the service. In fact, the reviews were pretty terrible overall. The average rating was 3.1 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. To make matters worse, 32% of all reviews were only 1-star reviews. Yikes!
Pros and Cons of OnlineDivorce.com
Pros
- In business for 20 years. Has served more than 500,000 customers.
- The process is intuitively based on the answers you provide in an online interview.
- An excellent way to move forward and expedite your divorce if it is uncontested.
- Immediate access to your forms for both you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse.
- The site has an overview of laws and processes state-by-state to help you navigate the unique complexities of the regulations governing your divorce.
- Backed by a 100% guarantee that the court will accept your forms in your jurisdiction, or your money will be refunded.
- Saves time, money, and stress over more traditional ways to file for divorce.
- Several ways to access customer service.
Cons
- If you are going through a contested divorce, this service may not be optimal if you’re still working through issues.
- OnlineDivorce.com is not a law firm, and its services, website, and forms are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.
- The website and written instructions provide general information about the divorce process only, and OnlineDivorce cannot give any specific advice, opinions, or recommendations as to your selection or completion of forms or your particular legal rights, remedies, or options.
- OnlineDivorce.com does not sell blank forms. (Note: You may be able to download blank forms from a government website depending on your state and complete the forms on your own.)
- In rare cases, some local forms specific to a filing county can vary in color, paper material, size or scanning bar code so they may need to be obtained from the county clerk’s office directly.
- Communications between you and Online Divorce are governed by the site’s Privacy Policy but are not covered by the attorney-client or work product privileges.
- The fee does not include court filing costs, which may run an additional couple of hundred dollars, depending on where you live.
Who Should Use OnlineDivorce.com?
This service, and others like it, work best for people who are seeking an uncontested divorce. This means you and your spouse have agreed on most, if not all, issues about asset division, child support and alimony, and child custody.
The convenience of OnlineDivorce works best when the level of cooperation is high.
Do not avoid conflict and sacrifice your rights or what you’re entitled to if needed. Consulting with an experienced divorce attorney still makes sense for many people going through a divorce.
What is the Best Online Divorce Service?
So, which online divorce platform is my top pick? Enter: 3StepDivorce. Here’s why I recommend 3stepdivorce over all others.
- The questions are straightforward and easy to navigate
- The forms are easy to access and print and you can make changes at any time
- Great value and easy to use interface
- Helpful guide and resources
- FREE divorce negotiation platform to help you reach agreement with your spouse
Just check out their reviews on Trustpilot.
Perhaps most importantly, 92% of all reviews are 4-star or 5-star reviews. Add all these things together and it’s easy to see why I recommend 3StepDivorce.
Get started with 3StepDivorce now >>
OnlineDivorce FAQ
How long can I access my OnlineDivorce account?
When you create an account for your state’s divorce service, a one-time fee will be charged to your credit card, and you will have access to your account for 30 days. You can opt for more
Does it matter where we were married?
No. A divorce is generally filed where either you or your spouse reside. OnlineDivorce.com provides completed forms for all 50 states and several Canadian provinces.
Before filing, make sure you meet residency requirements, as they vary from state to state.
Can I use OnlineDivorce for a contested divorce?
OnlineDivorce.com cannot resolve contested cases. If you cannot come to an agreement and need to go through alternative ways of dispute resolution, up to and including a trial, you should contact an attorney.
Can I use OnlineDivorce.com if we have property, other assets, and/or debt?
Yes. OnlineDivorce.com provides the documents necessary to divide property and debt.
Can I use OnlineDivorce if we have children?
Yes. OnlineDivorce.com provides the documents necessary to address all child-related issues.
What if we have children and my spouse and I live in different states?
You can use OnlineDivorce if you have children, and you and your spouse live in different states. Most of the time, you will file in the state where the children reside. Again, state law may impact where you file, so check your local laws ahead of time.
How can I contact OnlineDivorce?
There are several ways to connect with OnlineDivorce:
Address:
Online Divorce Technology LLC
200 Continental Drive Suite 401 Newark, DE 19713
Phone: 1 866 927-1400
Mon-Fri 10 am to 8 pm EST
You can get to their social profiles here:
Final Verdict
If you and your spouse can agree on how to split up your assets and share co-parenting responsibilities, an online divorce might be a good fit. It can surely save you time and money by avoiding expensive legal bills.
At only $139, it might be tempting to go with OnlineDivorce.com. My advice: Don’t do it. Now is not the time to be pennywise and pound-foolish. There are plenty of better alternatives.
When it comes to online divorce platforms, 3StepDivorce stands out from the crowd for its ease of use. The extensive library of free negotiation tools is an added bonus that shouldn’t go unnoticed.
