Get the Final Divorce Judgment – Both Spouses
Important! The forms available through the N.D. Legal Self Help Center are only for divorces involving common and uncomplicated circumstances.
The following final divorce judgment forms won’t work for every divorce.
If the following forms don’t work for your situation, you need to create your own legal documents, or retain a lawyer to create the documents for you.
You may use the Center’s forms as templates to create your own legal documents. You may also find the Center’s General-Use forms useful as a starting point for creating your own legal documents.
Remember, North Dakota Legal Self Help Center forms aren’t official court forms and courts aren’t required to accept them. There’s no guarantee that all judges and courts will accept forms available through the Center. Use at your own risk.
Overview
This webpage includes information and forms for:
- Default Divorce Judgments; and
- Final Divorce Judgments after a trial.
Default Divorce Judgment
The Plaintiff spouse may ask for a Default Divorce Judgment if the Defendant spouse doesn’t answer the divorce Summons and Complaint within 21 days after the Defendant spouse was served.
The Plaintiff must ask the judge in writing in a Motion for a Default Divorce Judgment.
In order for the judge to grant a Default Divorce Judgment, the Plaintiff must prove the following:
- The Defendant was correctly served the Summons and Complaint for divorce;
- The deadline for the Defendant to answer the Summons and Complaint passed and the Defendant didn’t answer in writing;
- The North Dakota State District Court has jurisdiction (authority) to grant the Plaintiff a divorce; and
- The Plaintiff provided all other necessary information and proof for the judge to grant a Default Divorce Judgment.
Motion for Default Divorce Judgment Informational Guide – for Plaintiff
- A basic, step-by-step informational guide for making a motion for a Default Divorce Judgment
- Includes formatting examples of common motion for Default Divorce Judgment documents
Answer to Motion for Default Divorce Judgment Informational Guide – for Defendant
- A basic, step-by-step informational guide for answering a motion for a Default Divorce Judgment
- Includes formatting examples of common answer to motion for Default Divorce Judgment documents
Final Divorce Judgment After a Trial
After the divorce trial, the judge signs their Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order for Judgment. Once the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Order for Judgment is dated and signed, the Clerk of Court issues a Judgment, which officially ends the marriage.
The judge may require one or both spouses to provide proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order for Judgment for the judge to sign! The judge may also require one or both spouses to provide a proposed Judgment for the Clerk of Court to sign!
Most, but not all, trials are recorded. Spouses, as parties in the divorce case, can request an audio recording of the trial, if it was recorded. Parties get the audio recording free of charge.
Audio recordings are very useful when preparing proposed Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order for Judgment and proposed Judgments.
If the trial wasn’t recorded, you may request a transcript. You’re required to pay for transcripts.
Final Divorce Judgment Forms – With Children
- (Proposed) Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order for Judgment – With Children
- (Proposed) Judgment – With Children
- (Proposed) Exhibit A: Confidential Division of Property & Debt & Values
- (Proposed) Exhibit B: Parenting Plan
Final Divorce Judgment Forms – Without Children
- (Proposed) Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law and Order for Judgment – Without Children
- (Proposed) Judgment – Without Children
- (Proposed) Exhibit A: Confidential Division of Property & Debt & Values
Final Divorce Judgment Forms – With and Without Children
If you don’t understand any of this information, or if you have trouble filling out any of the forms located here, consult a lawyer.
The information provided on and obtained from this site doesn’t constitute the official record of the Court. This information is provided as a service to the general public. Any user of this information is hereby advised that it’s being provided "as is". The information provided may be subject to errors or omissions. Visitors to this site agree that the Court isn’t liable for errors or omissions of any of the information provided.
If you have a question relating to a case that is already filed, contact the clerk of court for the county.