Respondent

In a divorce case, someone has to file first — and that person is called the petitioner. The other spouse, who receives the paperwork, is called the respondent. Being the respondent doesn't mean you did anything wrong or that you 'lost' — it simply means you weren't the one who initiated the filing.

As a respondent, you typically have a set number of days (often 20–30 days, depending on your state) to file a formal response with the court. In your response, you can agree with what the petitioner is asking for, disagree and state your own position, or file a counter-petition if you want to raise additional issues. Ignoring the petition doesn't make the divorce go away — the court can grant the divorce by default if you don't respond.

Being a respondent doesn't put you at a legal disadvantage. Both spouses have equal standing before the court. The respondent has just as much right to request property division, support, and custody arrangements as the petitioner does.

If you receive divorce papers, the most important thing to understand is that you have a deadline to respond. Missing that deadline can result in a default judgment — meaning the court grants exactly what the petitioner asked for, without any input from you.

Responding to the petition is your opportunity to tell the court your side and to raise issues that matter to you, like your share of marital property or your desired custody arrangement. Even in an uncontested divorce, filing a formal response protects your interests.