Marriage And Separation Advice

Fake divorce papers are taken very seriously by the courts. But making a case for emotional distress is either impossible or very hard. Making a case against someone who created or obtained fake divorce papers and used them knowing they were fake is a lot easier.

If the papers were served on you by registered post, it should be easy to find out who sent them. Getting as much information as possible is very important.

Our lives are filled with all sorts of official forms. Some are very powerful. A passport and driving license mean we can travel and legally operate a motor vehicle. Then there are documents like a birth certificate and marriage certificate and yes, a divorce document. Our lives can be dominated by paper work.

But copies are everywhere. Bank notes are copied. Handbags and watches are copied. Passports are made illegally and so too are divorce papers. You can obtain fake divorce papers; quite easily as it happens.

And like so many other fake or counterfeit items, fake divorce papers are illegal and the courts do not look kindly on anyone creating or using such paperwork.

If you have received divorce papers which you believe are fake, contact your local court house. They will almost certainly require copies of these documents together with the name and address of your ex-spouse. Mind you if the papers are fake, your ex will almost certainly not be your ex but may well become an inmate of a local prison.

Documents Available

It's too easy to obtain a fake divorce certificate. The companies which offer this service go out of their way to say that (a) these are for fun and (b) that the document carries no weight in law.

So that of course makes it all right - not. What you need to be aware of is that some unscrupulous people will try to use the fake divorce document as a means of spiteful fun or to really trick their spouse. The first is just plain nasty while the second is quite probably illegal.

If you received a fake divorce certificate and used it in order to re-marry, you will have entered into a marriage when you are still legally married to your previous spouse. That is a serious matter. You should ensure that any documentation you receive regarding your divorce is a court-approved document.

Not sure? Take the document you think might be a forgery to your local court house. They can ascertain if it is a true document.

Of course there are fake divorce papers available from illegal sources which are specifically designed to break the law. These are genuine attempts to obtain advantage by deception and you are warned to have nothing whatsoever to do with such illegal items.

Other Disadvantages

Fake divorce papers can be used in a number of ways which disadvantage one spouse. Let's say a partner is a member of their spouse's health insurance at work. If the marriage ends, so does the health insurance for the spouse not employed via the union.

It has happened before and will again. The employed spouse uses a fake divorce certificate to have the partner cut from the health insurance program. This is both immoral and illegal and what's more, dangerous.

Of course court action can rectify the situation but the health cover was terminated on the basis of the fake divorce papers. It is not just a marriage which is supposedly ended but many other things can be chopped by using a forged document. Beware.

Divorce Side Effects

Every divorce is different and there are some strange and sad tales to report. One man failed to read the divorce decree, signed it and signed away all his assets. He re-married and endured trouble from his ex-wife harassing him and his new wife for money.

Surely a clear case for calling the police but instead the man produced fake divorce papers in which he gave all his current assets to wife number 2. It seems a stupid way to put off his first wife but there you have it. More recently the poor man thought his second wife would be able to keep his assets as he had signed the phony divorce papers.

It's just one example of how playing with fire does get you burnt. Avoid false divorce papers. Report any fake divorce papers if you come across them and use the law if you are entitled to do so.

Don't Get Too Smart

It is possible to obtain legal divorce papers from your local court house. You can complete these documents and then use them as a weapon against your spouse arguing that if things don't change, you will file the papers. Now the papers have no legal weight until they are signed and filed. Just having the papers carries no weight at all.

But be careful; once signed they could be delivered to the court and filed and then you are in a legal bind. Don't play with fire and don't use legal divorce papers as part of a tug of war with your spouse.

Divorce can create powerful emotions. People can become highly distressed if they face divorce. Playing a joke on your partner such as an April Fool's Day routine by using fake divorce papers is not recommended.

There are some subjects which are simply not funny. Divorce is one. You may cause unhappiness even though you simply intended to be funny. It's not worth it. Forget the fake divorce papers routine and find another topic if you must tease your partner.

And remember that the law sees absolutely no humor whatsoever in fake divorce papers. Anyone using a forgery to try and obtain a benefit is breaking the law and you are perfectly entitled to take action against that person.

You can ask a lawyer to assist you or if you prefer not to spend some or even any money, approach your local court house with any suspected documents.

Protect yourself and do the right thing.

Here are additional resources you might be interested in:

Free Divorce Papers and Downloads

Free Divorce Forms