You usually get divorce papers either from your local court/justice authority or by generating them through a reputable online service, depending on your country and how simple your case is.

Quick Scoop

1. First big fork in the road

Ask yourself two things:

  • Where are you legally filing (country/canton/state)?
  • Is this an uncontested divorce (you both agree on everything) or a contested one?

Those two answers decide where you get the actual forms and whether a lawyer or mediator is strongly recommended.

2. Classic route: direct from the court

In most places, the safest, “official” way is:

  1. Go to the website of the court that handles family/divorce matters where you live.
    • In Switzerland, you file with the competent civil court in your canton of residence; they usually provide downloadable petition/application forms on their website.
  1. Search for terms like:
    • “Divorce petition”
    • “Divorce application”
    • “Uncontested divorce forms”
  2. Download and print the forms, or fill them in online if your jurisdiction allows digital filing.
  3. Submit them to the court (by post, online portal, or in person, depending on local rules).

If you live in Switzerland (you’re in Zürich), typical places to check are:

  • The Zurich cantonal justice/courts website (look for “Scheidung” / divorce forms).
  • Information pages from Swiss legal resources explaining that mutual-consent divorces use standardized applications submitted to the competent civil court.

3. Online services and printable kits

If your divorce is straightforward and your jurisdiction allows it, online services can generate the right forms for you based on a questionnaire. Common models include:

  • State-/canton-specific smart questionnaires that auto‑fill the correct divorce forms, which you then print and file with your court yourself.
  • Downloadable, court-approved, fillable divorce templates or “do-it-yourself divorce kits” that come with instructions on how to file.

Typical steps:

  1. Create an account with the service.
  2. Answer questions about your marriage, children, assets, and agreements.
  3. Download the completed forms and instructions, then file them with your local court.

Important cautions:

  • Always confirm the forms match your exact jurisdiction (e.g., your specific canton or state).
  • Be extra careful if you have children, real estate, a business, or significant pensions; neutral legal advice can save you long-term trouble.

4. Local offices that can point you in the right direction

Even if they don’t issue the papers themselves, some offices can tell you exactly where to get them:

  • Municipal civil registry/standesamt can often explain which court is competent and where to find forms, though they don’t process divorces themselves.
  • Legal information centers, bar associations, or consumer legal sites often link directly to the right forms for your area.

In Switzerland specifically, guidance often emphasizes going straight to the competent civil court or a family-law lawyer/mediator to ensure you use the correct petition and attach the right documents (divorce agreement, financial evidence, etc.).

5. If the divorce is already done and you just need a decree copy

If you are not starting a divorce but need proof of divorce:

  • You typically request a certified copy of your divorce decree from the court that granted the divorce.
  • If the divorce happened abroad and you are Swiss, Swiss authorities explain that you must order the decree from the foreign court and then submit it to your Swiss representation/civil status office for registration.

6. Micro‑story to make it concrete

Imagine someone in Zürich, married, both spouses agree it’s over and they want it simple:

  • They check the Zurich cantonal court website under “family law / Scheidung” and download the mutual-consent divorce application plus any annexes.
  • They use a neutral mediator or lawyer for a few hours to draft a balanced divorce agreement (custody, maintenance, pensions, property).
  • Once everything is agreed, they submit the completed application, agreement, and financial evidence to the competent civil court. After a short hearing, the court issues the divorce judgment.

7. Before you download anything…

Consider:

  • Talk to a lawyer or at least a mediator if:
    • You have children, significant assets, or pensions.
    • There is any history of abuse or major power imbalance.
  • Use only official court sites or well‑recognized legal platforms when downloading forms.
  • Double-check that the paperwork matches your exact jurisdiction and the type of divorce you’re pursuing.

TL;DR:

  • Official divorce papers usually come from your local family/divorce court’s website or clerk’s office.
  • For simple, uncontested cases, reputable online services can generate jurisdiction‑specific forms that you then file yourself.
  • If you only need proof of an existing divorce, you request a certified copy directly from the court that issued the decree.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.