I’m in CA (Los Angeles County) and need this divorce finalized. If anyone has advice or knows of affordable mediators or paralegal services that file all paperwork, please let me know. Here’s a rough timeline: I filed in Jan 2023 after my ex’s hidden addiction surfaced, creating issues around our child’s safety. He ignored the court for 10 months until responding in Oct. I stopped paying lawyers in March due to feeling unsupported, and since then, he’s been stalling in mediation. I have primary custody, but he hasn’t completed financial disclosures, and there’s no child support order, which I desperately need. I don’t have funds for more legal battles and just want this over with.
Layperson/not verified as legal professional. I went through seven different mediators over a ten-year divorce—it was brutal.
Layperson/not verified as legal professional. Here are some steps: (1) file a motion for temporary child support, (2) look up if CA has a form to request a trial date. Check with your local law librarian, (3) if you don’t care about his financial disclosure, it may speed things up, and (4) maybe skip mediation. Two years is a long time to wait!
Layperson/not verified as legal professional. Your lawyer should’ve filed a default judgment by mid-2023 if he hadn’t responded. Now that he has, it’s more complex. You can go to the courthouse and request help from a family law facilitator to file for temporary support, reimbursements, and any needed orders. It’s not easy, but self-representation could work in your case.
Layperson/not verified as legal professional. Child support: you don’t need a lawyer. Look for CA’s child support office for guidance. Also, review your attorney’s billing—if no work was done for 10 months, that’s questionable.
Layperson/not verified as legal professional. My lawyer only charged for actual work done, not a monthly fee. Maybe your lawyer’s billing setup was unusual.
Layperson/not verified as legal professional. Honestly, consider accepting that it won’t be finalized this year. Focus on your child, grieving, and self-care. Let your husband and the divorce sit on the back burner for now—just attend required sessions.
@Mia
If you’re on assistance, the state can go after the other parent for support, and fees might be waived in CA.
Cecilia said:
@Mia
If you’re on assistance, the state can go after the other parent for support, and fees might be waived in CA.
You definitely don’t need to be divorced to get child support.
Layperson/not verified as legal professional. You could look at recent divorce petitions on your county’s court website to get ideas on how to draft your own filing. Look specifically at temporary orders for support—might help you secure some relief without more mediation.
Layperson/not verified as legal professional. Is uncontested divorce an option? If most things are settled, maybe you can close it that way.
Layperson/not verified as legal professional. Don’t give up. I went through a slow divorce, too. Keep pushing forward and stay strong!