3 Step Divorce stands out above the crowd as a quality divorce paper service, and customer reviews are outstanding.
With high online ratings, 100% money-back guarantee, and a $50 rebate, 3 Step Divorce is a quality choice for starting the divorce process. Start your divorce online now for $84 at 3StepDivorce.com >>
While we can’t provide legal advice, we can tell you that from the standpoint as journalists and very picky consumers why 3 Step Divorce our top pick, spending many hours vetting the brands we suggest based on the following:
- High ratings
- Established business
- Excellent customer service
- Price and value, relative to competitors
- Money-back or other customer-protecting guarantees
Our 3StepDivorce.com ratings:
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User interface
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Time to complete forms
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Value
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Customer service
Is 3 Step Divorce legit?
Yes, this is a legitimate divorce service business with an A rating from the Better Business Bureau. Founded in 1997, 3 Step Divorce was recently acquired in 2021 by Internet Brands, which owns Avvo and Nolo — other big names in the online divorce space.
3StepDivorce’s original parent company, Divorce Source, was founded in the late 1990s, making them one of the oldest divorce-help companies on the market.
3 Step Divorce claims companies together have reached over 10 million people online over the last two decades.
They’re also associated with 3StepLaw.com.
During their two-decade run processing more than 750,000 forms and helping former lovebirds move on, 3 Step Divorce has been featured by Forbes, CNN, USA Today and NPR.
Is 3Step Divorce secure?
3 Step Divorce says they take security seriously.
They use Verisign technology to encrypt personal data like payment info, your name, and your address.
Also, they test their site every day for vulnerability clearance with McAfee Virus Protection, and any info being transmitted is encrypted by Norton.
They also go to great lengths to detail security features in their actual physical location — like 24/7 surveillance, alarms, locked rooms and even reinforced floors.
More on 3StepDivorce.com:
- What is a 3 step divorce?
- How does 3 Step Divorce work?
- 3 Step Divorce reviews
- How much does 3 Step Divorce cost?
- How does 3 Step Divorce compare to a traditional divorce?
- Pros and cons of 3 Step Divorce
- Bottom line: Is 3 Step Divorce a good option?
What is a 3 step divorce?
There are three steps to a DIY divorce:
- See if you qualify
- Fill out a questionnaire online to fill out the divorce papers
- Print, sign and file the divorce papers in your court house
How does 3 Step Divorce work?
3 Step Divorce helps you get a divorce without a lawyer and puts you in control of your divorce, saving you potentially tens of thousands of dollars in attorney fees. Here’s how:
1. See if you are eligible to use 3StepDivorce.com.
This takes 20 seconds. Answer three questions to make sure that you qualify to file your own papers in your county.
Find your state’s Qualifying Form here:
“3StepDivorce is primarily targeted at users/couples who are anticipating an uncontested divorce,” says Arwin Ataee, Sr. Product Manager of Internet Brands’ legal division.
From 3StepDivorce.com, these are the requirements:
- Couple initiating divorce must be able to locate the spouse they are looking to get divorced from
- The couple should agree to the various terms of the divorce (asset split, kids, reasoning, etc), which is the underlying foundation of the ‘uncontested' format
- General ability to download forms and file as instructed by the site
2. Complete an online questionnaire.
This takes ~50 minutes. Answer a few non-legal questions about yourself, your spouse, property, debt, and children. Your answers are saved online securely, and you can change them and reprint them as many times as necessary for no additional cost.
All forms come with detailed filing instructions for your state.
Questions? 3StepDivorce's customer service is available 24/7 at 1-888-665-6782 or [email protected]
3. Create your account and pay.
Broke? 3 Step Divorce offers four payment plans:
- 1 payment of $299
- 2 monthly payments of $157
- 3 monthly payments of $109
- 4 monthly payments of $84
You get a $50 rebate if you file the same day you finish your papers.
4. Print your paperwork.
The completed divorce papers are then generated immediately (other services require you to wait a few days). Your paperwork will be mailed to you for free, or you can just print them out immediately when you’re done. Get a $50 rebate if you file the same day you finish your papers.
Broke? 3 Step Divorce offers payment plans.
100% money-back guarantee.
5. File with your local courthouse.
Before you file, it can make sense to run the papers by a divorce or family law attorney to make sure that the details of your financials, property division and custody and co-parenting are all buttoned up. Many local courts also offer free mediation and other help to make sure that the papers are properly filled out and filed.
3 Step Divorce reviews from real customers
Generally, customers give 3 Step Divorce positive reviews:
3 Step Divorce reviews on Reddit
3StepDivorce has some positive feedback from the harsh critics of Reddit:
3 Step Divorce reviews on Trustpilot
As of September 2022, more than 1,700 people reviewed 3StepDivorce on Trustpilot, giving the service an average of 4 out of 5 stars.
3 Step Divorce reviews BBB
3 Step Divorce doesn’t have a Better Business Bureau profile, but sister site Nolo does. They’re accredited and have an A+ rating with the BBB.
3 Step Divorce review from a divorce lawyer
Family law attorney Holly Davis, a founding partner of law firm Kirker Davis based in Austin, Texas, focuses on high-asset divorce, business and professional divorce, custody matters, and complex litigation. She was recognized as a Top 40 Under 40 attorney in 2018 by the National Trial Lawyers Association, among other prestigious designations. This is her review of 3 Step Divorce:
“People might assume that because I'm a divorce attorney, of course I'm going to argue that this is a bad idea because I'm better off if I get to charge couples a lot of money for my services,” Davis says. “The perceived benefit of this service is that it cuts through the red tape and hours that divorce lawyers charge. In reality, the thing that drives the costs of a divorce up is when the couple needlessly draws out a conflict, rather than doing most of the work of coming to equitable agreements on their own. When couples put their emotions aside and hammer out their own terms, they can save a lot of money.”
Davis said that DIY divorce papers are appropriate when the couple has no significant property to divide, no kids, you've been married less than a year, and you are in agreement on how to divide those items you do have. “It doesn't make sense to spend less than you would on a big trip to the grocery store or a fancy dinner out on something as important as a divorce,’ Davis says. Davis points out that investing in a divorce attorney can help ensure child support calculations are accurate, marital property divided equitably, and time-sharing maximized.
”Unless you talk to a lawyer, you might check a box and be missing 30% of the time you could have with your kids,” she says.
How much does 3 Step Divorce cost?
3StepDivorce's price is about the same as its competitors, but stands out for its payment plans, and 100% inclusive pricing — unlike CompleteCase, for example, there is no online storage fee. The price includes everything you need.
3StepDivorce prices:
- Pay upfront: $299
- Minimum to get started: $84
- 2 monthly payments of $157
- 3 monthly payments of $109
- 4 monthly payments of $84
State filing fees run $200-$500 depending on where you live.
3 Step Divorce offers a $50 cash rebate if you file your paperwork with your court within one business day of starting your account.
Also, 3 Step Divorce will refund you 100% if your documents aren’t accepted by your local court.
Check out 3 Step Divorce now >>
How does 3 Step Divorce compare to traditional divorce?
This goes without saying, but a regular divorce takes a way more than three steps.
You generally wind up getting a lawyer, investing in countless hours arguing about your assets, time-sharing, spousal support, and on and on.
That can be tough on your kids, your schedule, and your wallet. That’s especially true if your divorce is at all contested.
According to GOBankingRates, the.average cost of a contested divorce that goes to trial is $20,400 — and some are much higher.
Using a site like 3StepDivorce is way cheaper, and the vast majority of couples should pursue an amicable, uncontested divorce — or mediation.
How to start the divorce process
Who should use 3 Step Divorce?
If your divorce is uncontested — meaning you and your spouse agree to the main terms of the divorce — filing with 3 Step Divorce instead of through an attorney can help you save money and simplify the divorce process.
Molly Rosenblum, owner and founding attorney of The Rosenblum Allen Law Firm based in Las Vegas, says filling out forms through 3 Step Divorce is a quick and straightforward way to file if you:
- Don’t have children or shared assets
- You agree on how to divide assets and handle debts, alimony, and child custody
Can you use 3 Step Divorce if you have a child?
100% yes you can use 3StepDivorce if you have kids. 3Step Divorce offers free child support worksheets and other tools to set your family up for successful co-parenting.
More benefits of DIY divorce with 3 Step Divorce
Because of the network of websites associated with 3StepDivorce, you’ll have lots of reading material at your fingertips.
The site will link you to online resources and tools, including a rather exhaustive FAQ page covering topics like:
- Domestic violence
- Divorce prevention
- Grounds for divorce
- Child custody and support
- Property
- Debt
- Spousal support
- Separation agreements
- Alternative dispute resolution
- Military-specific divorce
- How taxes and bankruptcy factor into divorce
- Pensions and retirement accounts
3 Step Divorce also has specific info on each state’s divorce criteria.
Here are other resources you’ll have access to for free when you create an account:
- Once an account is created, all documents relating to divorce for the couple's local court house are provided, along with instructions.
- Online negotiation center to help you and your spouse settle issues.
- Child Support Calculation Worksheets & Guidelines
- Marital Settlement Agreement
- Custody and child support tracking tool that includes a calendar to help you manage custody, visitation and support, track events and log reports.
- “Personal divorce organizer” to document everything in a calendar and set reminders throughout your divorce process to help you stay on top of things — basically a go-to hub for easy reference.
- Encyclopedia of divorce terminology.
- Name-change kit if you’ve taken your spouse’s surname and want to make the process of changing your last name after the divorce a bit easier.
- Information and articles available on the site to cover topics related to an uncontested divorce, including finances, kids, and various other topics.
Pros of 3 Step Divorce
- Their DIY process is very fast, but you can go through the process at your own pace if you need to take some time.
- Print your divorce papers immediately
- Free copies for you and your spouse, mailed for free
- 3StepDivorce is less expensive. Similar services go for double the price tag, and it’s nothing compared to how much going through the traditional process would cost.
- Installments starting at $84.
- 100% money-back refund guarantee if your courthouse does not accept the papers
- 3StepDivorce lets you make changes to your documents whenever you need at no additional cost.
- 24/7 phone and email support.
- “This program is a quick, easy way to prepare your divorce documents if you have no assets and no children,” Rosenblum says. “The payment plans make it a good deal, and you can fill out the forms yourself.”
Cons of 3 Step Divorce
- As 3StepDivorce itself cautions — it is not a substitute for a lawyer.
- No attorney consult—but that is the point! This is actually a pro.
- The website could use a serious facelift. 3StepDivorce was born in the ’90s, and it looks like it never left.
- While the divorce papers are very thorough and there are no surprise fees or expenses, the package does not include name-change documents.
- “It assumes that the spouses have no disagreements,” says Todd Kotler, an attorney based in North Canton, Ohio, that focuses on family law. “The caveat is that where there are substantial assets, real property or children involved, there is seldom agreement on everything. This is where an attorney will be necessary. The potential for conflict goes up exponentially when two or more of the above factors are present.”
3StepDivorce vs. Other services
| BBB rating | Live attorney consultations? | Price | |
| 3 Step Divorce | Not rated, but sister site Nolo has an A+ rating. | No | $299 — plus a $50 cash rebate if you file the same day you create an account. Get started for $84. |
| CompleteCase | A- | No | $299 — plus $24.99/mo storage fee. |
| Rocket Lawyer | A+ | Members may ask questions, plus get free 30-min phone consultations | $39.99/ month after free 7-day trial, or per-document fee of $39.99 |
| Divorce Forms Filler | F | No | $139, with a money-back guarantee |
| Divorce Writer | A+ | No | $137, whether you have children or not, plus $12.95 for printing and shipping |
| GetDivorcePapers | F | No | $159 flat fee for the full divorce package |
| Hello Divorce | Not rated | Free 15-minute strategy call | $99 for DIY divorce; $300 per hour with an attorney or certified mediator by phone or Zoom. |
| It’s Over Easy | C+ | No | $750 for a basic package; $2,500 for premium |
| LegalZoom | A- | As low as $39.08/month billed annually at $469; 6 months at $43.16/month billed twise a year at $259 | $499 |
| LetsGetDivorced.com | Not rated | No | $99 flat fee |
| My Divorce Papers | F | No | $139 |
| One Stop Divorce | Not rated | No | $299 flat fee |
| OnlineDivorce.com | B | You’ll be connected with a licensed attorney in your area if your case becomes contested | Services start at $159 |
| Wevorce | D- | 3 hours of live consultation with trained divorce mediators each month | Services start at $3,450 |
| 123DivorceMe | A+ | No | $139, or two payments of $74 |
Bottom line: Is 3 Step Divorce a good option?
As you can see from the table above, there’s no shortage of options for services helping you get divorced.
Regarding 3 Step Divorce, the price point is attractive, and customer service reviews are high.
And, 3StepDivorce.com is available in all 50 states.
In this case, you’re talking about something that’s extremely pared down from the kind of service you’d get with a traditional lawyer, a mediated divorce or even some online competitors.
There’s no shortage of options for services helping you get divorced. Read: Our reviews of online divorce services
Related: What to consider if you are thinking about divorce — but are not sure
3 trustworthy places to get free or cheap divorce papers
Yes, this is a legitimate business with an A rating from the Better Business Bureau. Founded in 1997, 3 Step Divorce was recently acquired in 2021 by Internet Brands, which owns Avvo and Nolo — other big names in the online divorce space.
3 Step Divorce says they take security seriously. They use Verisign technology to encrypt personal data like payment info, your name, and your address.
3StepDivorce's price is about the same as its competitors, but stands out for its payment plans, and 100% inclusive pricing. Pay $299 upfront or get on a payment plan for a little more.
100% yes you can use 3StepDivorce if you have kids. 3Step Divorce offers free child support worksheets and other tools to set your family up for successful co-parenting.
Regarding 3 Step Divorce, the price point is attractive, and customer service reviews are high. And, 3StepDivorce.com is available in all 50 states.
100% yes you can use 3StepDivorce if you have kids. 3Step Divorce offers free child support worksheets and other tools to set your family up for successful co-parenting.
One Comment
Im currently overseas in Korea but my current wife is in Virginia…will I still be able to use the the 3stepdivorce