These legal documents have been designed by the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program’s Family Law Representation Committee to help people without lawyers in D.C. Family Court. They can be used in court cases related to divorces, child custody, paternity, child support, or standby guardianships.
These free materials are intended for people who do not have lawyers. If you have a lawyer, your lawyer will draft the legal documents you need, tailored to your own specific case.
The information in this Web site is presented by the D.C. Bar as a service to its members and the public. Although the Bar attempts to keep this information current and accurate, it makes no warranty or guarantee that it is correct, complete, or up–to–date. Read the rest of the D.C. Bar’s disclaimer.
To access these pleadings, you must have Adobe Reader.
To download a free
copy, go to www.adobe.com.
- Annulment, Divorce, and Separation
- Custody
- Paternity and Child Support
- Affidavits
- Motions
- Request to Have Court Fees Waived
- Standby Guardianship Package
- Service of Process
Annulment, Divorce, and Separation
- Divorce
Complaint for Absolute Divorce
- Consent Answer (Absolute Divorce)
- Contested Answer and Counterclaim (Absolute Divorce)
- Reply to Counterclaim (Absolute Divorce)
- Joint Waiver of Appeal of Divorce Order/Judgment
- Legal Separation
- Complaint for Legal Separation
- Consent Answer (Legal Separation)
- Contested Answer and Counterclaim (Legal Separation)
- Annulment
- Complaint for Annulment of Marriage
- Consent Answer (Annulment)
- Contested Answer and Counterclaim
(Annulment)
- Attachments for Divorce, Legal Separation, and Annulment Pleadings
- Attachment A (Marital Property and Marital Debt)
- Attachment B (Child Custody)
- Attachment C (Child Support)
- Motion for Temporary Alimony
- Cross Reference Intake Form
- Motions
- Motion for Use in a Domestic Relations Case
- Opposition to Motion (Domestic Relations Case)
- Complaint for Custody and/or Visitation
- Consent Answer (Complaint for Custody and/or Access to Children)
- Contested Answer (Complaint for Custody and/or Visitation and Counterclaim)
- Reply to Counterclaim (Custody and/or Access to Children)
- Motion to Modify Custody and/or Visitation
- Motion for Temporary Custody and/or Access to Children
- Sample Parenting Plan
- Motion for Use in a Domestic Relations Case
- Opposition to Motion (Domestic Relations Case)
- Petition to Establish Paternity and/or for Child Support
- Answer to Petition to Establish Paternity and/or for Child Support
- Motion to Intervene in Child Support Case
- Motion to Modify Child Support Order
- Motion for Contempt (Child Support Order)
- Motion for Use in a Paternity or Child Support Case
- Opposition to Motion (Paternity or Child Support Case)
Affidavits
If the defendant in your case never answers your initial complaint, you can file
for default:
- If you are serving papers by certified mail:
Affidavit of Return of Service by Certified Mail
- Affidavit of Return of Service by Private Process Server
- Affidavit in Support of Default and Compliance With Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
- Motion for Contempt (Domestic Relations Order)
- Motion for Permission to Late File
- Motion for Review of Magistrate Judge’s Order
- Opposition to Motion for Review of Magistrate Judge’s Order
- Motion for Services
- Motion to Consolidate Cases
- Request for Continuance
Request to Have Court Fees Waived
- Application to Proceed Without Pre-payment of Costs
- How much it will cost to file papers in your case:
Table
of Fees, Domestic Relations Branch, D.C. Superior Court
- Petition for Appointment of Standby Guardian
(by Parent or Legal Custodian)
- Petition for Appointment of Standby Guardian
(by Standby Guardian Designate)
- Standby Guardian Designation Form
- If you cannot serve the papers because you cannot find the defendant:
Motion to Allow Service by Publication or Posting Including Absent Defendant
Locator Worksheet
- Sample Letters to Locate Someone Who May Be in the Military
