If you are considering divorce, you may want a general overview of how the process works. This article will summarize the basic steps, with information derived from the California Court’s.
You get a divorce by initiating a court case.
- You don’t have to have a reason for wanting to get divorced or prove that anyone is at fault. California is a no fault divorce state where you can base the divorce solely on irreconcilable differences.
- You can get a divorce even if the other person doesn’t want one.
- If you’ve been married less than five years and have no children, you may qualify for an easier process called a summary dissolution. More information can be found here:
California residency is required for a California divorce.
- You must have lived in California for the past 6 months.
- You must have lived in your current California county for the past 3 months.
Filing Fee.
- You will have to pay a filing fee to initiate the divorce.
- If you can’t afford to pay, you can apply for a fee waiver.
Service
- You have to inform your spouse that papers have been filed. The formal way to do this is by service of process.
Waiting period
- There is a six month waiting period for the divorce to be final.
Information Sharing
- You will have to share information with your spouse
Familial and Financial Issue Resolution
- You will either need to resolve child custody issues and financial issues with your spouse by agreement between the parties or through a decision by the court, which will be an order
CONTACT THE LAW OFFICE OF DAVID KNECHT FOR HELP WITH A CALIFORNIA DIVORCE
If you need help with a divorce in California, contact the Law Office of David Knecht. We have extensive experience with family law in California including divorce, child custody, modifications and more. Contact us at 707-451-4502 for more information.