Submit your default judgment to finish your divorce (after serving by publication or posting)
After you complete your judgment forms, you must submit them to the court with copies and an envelope.
The court will review your paperwork to make sure nothing is missing.
If everything is complete, the judge will sign your Judgment.
If something is missing or incorrect, the court will return your papers with instructions about what needs to be fixed.
How to submit your forms and envelope
Prepare an envelope
You need 1 large envelope with enough postage.
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The envelope must be large enough to hold copies of all your judgment papers.
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Address the envelope to yourself.
If the court approves your judgment, the clerk will mail you:
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A filed copy of the Judgment
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A filed copy of the Notice of Entry of Judgment
Some courts require a second smaller envelope for the Notice of Entry of Judgment.
💬 Check with the court clerk ↗️ or your court's self-help center ↗️ to see if your court requires this.
Make copies
Make 2 copies of all your papers.
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Give the original and 1 copy to the court clerk
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Keep the second copy for your records
Submit your forms and envelope
Take the following to the court clerk:
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Your original judgment papers
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1 copy of the papers
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The addressed envelope with postage
The clerk will process your paperwork and send it to a judge for review.
📅 This review can take a week or several months, depending on the court.
Ask the clerk about the usual processing time in your court.
Get your judgment forms back
If everything is correct, the judge will sign your judgment. The clerk will:
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Stamp the Judgment and Notice of Entry of Judgment as “filed”
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Mail the filed copies to you using the envelope you provided
If something is missing or incorrect, the court will return the papers to you without signing them and explain what needs to be fixed.
When your divorce is final
Your case is finished when you receive the Notice of Entry of Judgment stamped “filed.”
If you asked for a divorce, the notice will also list the date your marriage or domestic partnership officially ends.
Key takeaways
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You must submit your judgment papers, copies, and a stamped envelope to the court.
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The judge reviews the paperwork before signing the judgment.
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If approved, the court will mail you the filed judgment and Notice of Entry of Judgment.
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Your divorce is complete when you receive the filed Notice of Entry of Judgment.