Question about Divorce and child custody

[Anonymous]

I am filling out the divorce papers and I am on the child custody section. My husband and I share our 3 year old. I am going to put down sole physical and legal custody as my husband hasnt seen or wanted to see our child in over a month and even missed his birthday. Hes got mental issues and he feels like it's best if he stays away from us. When he signs the papers and I file them, do we have to go to court after? Even if he agrees with everything I put down and doesnt fight it? Neither of us have the funds for a lawyer and I dont see the point if hes not fighting about anything. He already lives somewhere else and has his own car and we live in the apartment with our own car.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live? In DC, you can file an uncontested divorce alone in court.

[Anonymous]

Ahh... I'm from DC but I've been living in Hawaii for the past 2 years

[Anonymous]

You need to at minimum file it in court. You may or may not need a lawyer, but the clerk can answer your questions on that.

[Anonymous]

You don't necessarily need a lawyer if both agree to everything re: assets, custody, child support. You DO need to file it with the court and show up for the court date so the judge can dissolve the marriage. Will cost a couple hundred dollars to file at most.