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THE PETITION:
One party files a petition with the court in the county where they live. The other party is served with a copy of that petition and responds to the petition. This paperwork can be done with or without an attorney thanks to services such as LegalZoom.com. You can also get forms at your local courthouse or online. Some court facilitators will assist you in the initial filing. You will need to ask your local courthouse about these services.
LEGAL GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE:
Ever since "No Fault Divorce" came about, a dissolution of the marriage or legal separation may be based on either of the following:
(a) Irreconcilable differences, which have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage (this is the most common reason); or
(b) Incurable insanity (only upon proof). [Based on California Family Code - Sections: 2310]
LEGAL SEPARATION:
Reason for legal separation are the same as the reasons for divorce, and the same residency requirements must be met. It is important to note that after a legal separation, the earnings (income) or accumulations (property/debt) of each party are separate property. [Based on California Family Code - Sections: 2310, 2320, 772]
MEDIATION OR COUNSELING REQUIREMENTS:
When issues are being contested, and there is a minor child involved whose welfare might be affected, the family court has jurisdiction to require mediation or counseling. [Based on California Family Code - Sections: 1830]
PROPERTY DISTRIBUTION:
California is a community property state. Except as otherwise provided by statute, all property, real or personal, wherever situated, acquired by a married person during the marriage while domiciled in this state is community property. Except upon the written agreement of the parties, or on oral stipulation of the parties in open court, or as otherwise provided in this division, in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or for legal separation of the parties, the court shall divide the community estate of the parties equally. Separate property is not included in the division of the community estate. Separate property of a married person includes all of the following: (1) All property owned by the person before marriage. (2) All property acquired by the person after marriage by gift, bequest, devise, or descent. (3) The rents, issues, and profits of the property described in this section. (b) A married person may, without the consent of the person's spouse, convey the person's separate property. After entry of a judgment of legal separation of the parties, the earnings or accumulations of each party are the separate property of the party acquiring the earnings or accumulations. [Based on California Family Code - Sections: 760, 770, 772, 2550]
ALIMONY/SPOUSAL SUPPORT:
The court shall consider all of the following circumstances where determining spousal support: (a) The ability to maintain the standard of living established during the marriage, taking into account all of the following: (1) The ability of the spouse seeking support to gain self-supporting employment (2) The extent to which that spouse's present or future earning capacity was impaired by periods of unemployment during the marriage to permit the supported party to devote time to domestic duties. (b) The extent to which the supported party contributed to the attainment of an education, training, a career position, or a license by the supporting party. (c) The ability of the supporting party to pay spousal support. (d) The needs of each party based on the standard of living established during the marriage. (e) The obligations and assets, including the separate property, of each party. (f) The duration of the marriage. (g) The ability of the supported party to be gainfully employed without unduly interfering with the interests of dependent children in the custody of the party. (h) The age and health of the parties. (i) Documented evidence of any history of domestic violence between the parties. (j) The immediate and specific tax consequences to each party. (k) The balance of the hardships to each party. (l) The goal that the supported party shall be self-supporting within a reasonable period of time. (m) Any other factors the court determines are just and equitable. [Based on California Family Code - Sections: 4320]
SPOUSE'S NAME:
In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or for and annulment, but not in a proceeding for legal separation of the parties, the court, upon the request of a party, shall restore the birth name or former name of that party, regardless of whether or not a request for restoration of the name was included in the petition. [Based on California Family Code - Sections: 2080]
CHILD CUSTODY:
Either parent may be awarded custody. There isn't any preference for or against joint legal custody, joint physical custody, or sole custody. This allows the court and the family the widest discretion to choose a parenting plan that is in the best interest of the child. In making a determination of the best interest of the child, the court considers all of the following:
- The health, safety, and welfare of the child.
- Any history of abuse by one parent or any other person seeking custody.
- The nature and amount of contact with both parents (Section 3046).
- Any habitual or continual illegal use of controlled substances or habitual or continual use of alcohol by either parent.
- Any other factors the court finds relevant.
[Based on California Family Code - Sections: 3010, 3011, 3040]
CHILD SUPPORT:
Both parents of a minor child have an equal responsibility to support their child in the manner suitable to the child's circumstances. The duty of support continues until the time the child completes the 12th grade or attains the age of 19 years, whichever occurs first. Both parents have an equal responsibility to maintain, to the extent of their ability, a child of whatever age who is incapacitated from earning a living and without sufficient means. The court shall adhere to the statewide uniform guideline and may depart from the guideline only in the special circumstances set forth in this article. [Based on California Family Code - Sections: 3900, 3901,3910, 4052]
PREMARITAL AGREEMENT:
To be valid, a premarital agreement shall be in writing and signed by both parties. It is enforceable without consideration. Parties to a premarital agreement may contract with respect to all of the following: (1) The rights and obligations of each of the parties in any of the property of either or both of them whenever and wherever acquired or located. (2) The right to buy, sell, use, transfer, exchange, abandon, lease, consume, expend, assign, create a security interest in, mortgage, encumber, dispose of, or otherwise manage and control property. (3) The disposition of property upon separation, marital dissolution, death, or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of any other event. (4) The making of a will, trust, or other arrangement to carry out the provisions of the agreement. (5) The ownership rights in and disposition of the death benefit from a life insurance policy. (6) The choice of law governing the construction of the agreement. (7) Any other matter, including their personal rights and obligations, not in violation of public policy or a statute imposing a criminal penalty. The right of a child to support may not be adversely affected by a premarital agreement. Any provision regarding spousal support, including but not limited to, a waiver of it, is not enforceable if the party against whom enforcement of the spousal support provision is sought was not represented by independent counsel at the time the agreement was signed, or if the provision regarding spousal support is unconscionable at the time of enforcement. [Based on California Family Code - Sections: 1611, 1612]
California Divorce Laws
CALIFORNIA DIVORCE LAWS (As of 2008)
By Cathy Meyer, About.com
California Divorce Laws
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS AND WHERE TO FILE:
In California, in order to file for a divorce one of the parties to the marriage has to have been a resident for six months and of the county in which the divorce is being filed, for three months.
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