How do you formally file for khula?

Does a religious leader need to be present?

I will implore you that in any instance, whether it is talaq or khula, please have witnesses there.

I have seen too many issues where if you are truthful in this being it, and this being final, and wanting to end it, have witnesses.

Because the people who are not, and they're using khula and talaq as a means to beat up on their partner emotionally, are the ones who don't want anybody else to know about it.

So if you've come to that decision, and it's final for you, then yes, have two witnesses present.

It can be verbal, but it must be witnessed. If it's not witnessed, then it needs to be written down. And if it's written down, then even having witnesses on that writing is important as well.

Does a religious leader need to be present? It does not need to be a religious leader. It simply has to be witnessed by two upright Muslim males, so this is one of the reasons why you should have a father or a brother as a witness.

Or two upstanding people from the community and it could be the imam, but it doesn't have to be the imam.