How to Get a Divorce in California

When you want a divorce, the first thing you need to do is find the necessary divorce forms. Once you have these forms, you need to file a divorce petition. The petition should state that you want to end your marriage or domestic partnership. You will also need to notify your spouse of your intentions. This can be done by notifying them personally or by a neutral person, such as a county sheriff or a professional process server.

Mediation

If you want to have a peaceful divorce, then mediation is a great option for you. California has a law called community property, which means that each spouse gets 50% of the assets and 50% of the liabilities acquired during the marriage. The process of mediation involves reviewing the assets and determining what items are community property. The goal of mediation is to create a more personalized settlement for the divorcing couple.

Although mediation can be a less expensive alternative to litigation, it is not always the best option. If you have minor children, California courts may not be able to handle your case. A mediator will facilitate the process, improve communication, and make suggestions that will help you reach a resolution. However, a mediator will not make decisions for you or your ex, so you need to be aware of your own emotions. Divorce Lawyer San Jacinto

Filing for divorce without a lawyer

Filing for divorce without a lawyer in the state of California is possible. There are some guidelines to follow. First, you must serve the respondent with the formal notice of divorce. The spouse has 30 days to respond to the notice. This notice must include information about your rights and options. For instance, the court may prevent you from making changes to any insurance coverage you have with your spouse. The notice should also include details of your financial assets and debts.

The forms for a California divorce are uniform and mandatory. The first step in any divorce in California is the Petition (FL-100) or the Summons (FL-111). If you have minor children from a previous relationship, you must also file a Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, or DECUJEA.

Requirement to be a resident of California

When you’re thinking about getting a divorce, you might wonder about the residency requirement. However, if you live outside of California, you can still pursue a divorce through a temporary order. You can even get temporary custody and support orders. If you and your spouse have children, you can use these orders to protect the children and the relationship between you and your spouse.

While it may be tempting to file for divorce in any state, the state of California has residency requirements for a number of reasons. For example, a California resident must have lived in the state for at least six months in the county where the divorce will be filed. The state does not want people filing for divorce in another state because that could negatively affect the efficiency of the family court system. However, if your spouse lives in a different county, you can still file for a divorce in that county.

Fees involved

In California, there are several fees involved in getting a divorce. The initial filing fee is $435 and you’ll also need to pay the same amount for the respondent’s response. If you don’t have the money to pay the fees, you can submit a fee waiver form to the court and request a waiver. You’ll also need to serve your spouse with divorce papers. The process will then proceed as a default case or uncontested case.

If you’re filing on your own, you can use California’s family courts’ website. You can also check to see if your county court offers divorce forms online. Most county courts offer them free of charge, but you’ll still need to pay a filing fee. Otherwise, you can hire an attorney to help you fill out the forms. You can also use a divorce-filing service like DivorceNet to assist you in filing your documents.