There is at least one court appearance in a divorce case. This is the final hearing and the spouse who filed the divorce will have to go. If the respondent spouse filed a counter-petition, then the petitioner spouse will not have to appear at an uncontested final hearing. However, if a spouse wants to change his/her name, that spouse will have to attend the final hearing, regardless of whether he/she filed the case. There can be more court appearances, depending on how much litigation is involved.