I’m considering filing for divorce in California and wondering about the first steps. Do I need a lawyer, or is it possible to do this on my own? Any tips on where to start?
I think you can start the process online. California has a lot of resources if you wanna go the DIY route.
Zyan said:
I think you can start the process online. California has a lot of resources if you wanna go the DIY route.
Really? That’d be helpful. Do you know if there’s a specific website I should go to?
@Lucas
Yeah, check out the California Courts website. They have a section for family law, and you can find forms and instructions there.
Zyan said:
@Lucas
Yeah, check out the California Courts website. They have a section for family law, and you can find forms and instructions there.
Nice, I’ll look it up. Thanks for the tip!
Just a heads up, if you have kids or a lot of assets, it might be better to hire a lawyer to make sure everything’s done right.
Natasha said:
Just a heads up, if you have kids or a lot of assets, it might be better to hire a lawyer to make sure everything’s done right.
Good point. Are there lawyers who help specifically with simpler cases? I’d prefer not to spend too much if I can avoid it.
@Lucas
Yep, there are family law attorneys who handle simpler cases, sometimes called limited-scope lawyers. They handle parts of the process without managing everything, which can keep costs down.
Natasha said:
@Lucas
Yep, there are family law attorneys who handle simpler cases, sometimes called limited-scope lawyers. They handle parts of the process without managing everything, which can keep costs down.
That sounds perfect. I’ll look into limited-scope lawyers.
If it’s a straightforward divorce, like no kids or complicated assets, you can file on your own. The paperwork is annoying, but it’s doable.
DonnaHernandez said:
If it’s a straightforward divorce, like no kids or complicated assets, you can file on your own. The paperwork is annoying, but it’s doable.
What kind of forms do you need? I’ve never dealt with anything like this before.
@Abigail
You start with the Petition for Dissolution, which is basically the main form for filing. California Courts has them all listed online!
DonnaHernandez said:
@Abigail
You start with the Petition for Dissolution, which is basically the main form for filing. California Courts has them all listed online!
Thanks! Sounds like a lot, but I’ll give it a shot.
Just to let you know, California has a mandatory six-month waiting period for divorce. So even if you file right away, it’s gonna take at least half a year to finalize.
Nico said:
Just to let you know, California has a mandatory six-month waiting period for divorce. So even if you file right away, it’s gonna take at least half a year to finalize.
Oh wow, I didn’t know that. Does it take that long even if there are no issues?
@Lucas
Yep, even if it’s uncontested. The six months is basically a cooling-off period.
Nico said:
@Lucas
Yep, even if it’s uncontested. The six months is basically a cooling-off period.
Good to know. I’ll make sure to plan around that.
Make sure to also check if you qualify for a fee waiver. Court fees can add up, but California offers waivers for low-income folks.
Kellen said:
Make sure to also check if you qualify for a fee waiver. Court fees can add up, but California offers waivers for low-income folks.
Oh, that’s a thing? I didn’t know you could get fees waived.
@Azar
Yeah, there’s an application for it. Just search ‘fee waiver’ on the California Courts site and they should have the form.