Divorce

Los Angeles Divorce Lawyers and Family Law Attorneys

THE LAW OFFICES OF CATHLEEN E. NORTON

divorce in Los Angeles, Hire Divorce Lawyers and Family Law Attorneys

Divorce in Los Angeles, California

Grounds and Requirements for Getting Divorce in Los Angeles, California

California is a no-fault divorce state, which means the spouse that is filing for divorce does not have to prove any fault on the part of the other spouse. State laws may vary regarding divorce, in California, the residency requirements must be met for the court to accept the case. In California, for a married couple to file for divorce, either one of the spouses has to have been a resident of the State of California for 6 months and of the county in which the case is being filed for 3 months immediately before the petition is filed.

Contested and Uncontested Divorce in Los Angeles, California

There are two types of divorce in California. The contested divorce is the type in which the spouses cannot reach to an agreement on one or more key issues, for example, child custody, spousal support, property division, in order to conclusively terminate their marriage. When spouses cannot arrive at an agreement, they must approach a court to adjudicate their dispute even with the assistance of their lawyers. California has a six-month waiting period for divorces, but any divorce case will not necessarily be resolved within six months. For any question of a general nature about the divorce process, speak with our skilled Los Angeles family law attorneys at (310) 300-4021.

While a divorcing couple is in agreement on the terms of their divorce, they can typically pursue a much simpler divorce process, “uncontested divorce”. Uncontested divorce is called “summary dissolution” in California. To qualify for this simple divorce routine, a couple must meet the following requirements:

Be married five or fewer years.
Have no children born to them before or during the marriage.
The wife must not be pregnant.
The spouses may have no natural or adopted children.
Neither spouse may have an interest in real estate.
The community obligations are less than $5,000, not including car and car loans.
Their community property may not be worth more than $25,000, not including car and car loans.
The husband and wife have prepared a signed an agreement dealing the terms and conditions of the division of possessions and debts.
Both spouses have signed a Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution of Marriage.
Both spouses want to end the marriage because of serious and permanent differences.
Both spouses agree to use the summary dissolution rather than the regular dissolution.
Read the Summary Dissolution Booklet provided by the court clerk.

Although you can complete a summary dissolution on your own, it is also a good idea to check with a family law attorney to make sure you and your spouse meet the requirements for summary dissolution before filing for divorce. Consult our experienced Los Angeles divorce attorney at the Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton to review your settlement agreement to make sure it covers everything the court requires.

There are important issues may address in a divorce proceeding as following:

At the Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton, our focus is on alternative means of dispute resolution in all divorce and family law matters in Los Angeles, California. Contact Divorce Lawyers and Family Law Attorneys at (310) 300-4021.