Although California requires a six month grace period for divorces, simple divorce cases can in fact be completed in less time, and more challenging claims can take a number of years to drag through litigation.
Why the six month moratorium?
It’s because your status as a single person can only be reestablished by a judge after six months. Before that transpires, you are not allowed to remarry or file independent taxes and you’ll be considered by the State of California as married until you go through the entire divorce process summarized in this three part series covering your California divorce, including how to serve divorce papers in Los Angeles.
California Divorce Step 1– Choose What Sort of Divorce You Want
If you and your spouse are able to reach an arrangement on the stipulations of your divorce, have no children and have been wed for fewer than five years, you can arrange a summary dissolution, which is the easiest road to actualizing your California divorce.
In the occasion you don’t meet these qualifications, your subsequent likelihood is to opt for an uncontested case. You and your spouse would need to primarily agree on the specifications of custody and splitting of assets. If you cannot decide, you’ll have to file a contested case, in which case you’ll next want to contact an attorney.
California Divorce Step 2– Initiating The Divorce Process
To begin the Dissolution process, you or your spouse will have to file a Petition with the court. Whichever of you performs this action will be referred to as the “Petitioner” through your divorce, and the other will be named the “Respondent.”
How Do You Serve Divorce Papers In Los Angeles?
In serving your divorce papers, you will have two options: either by mail or in person. It is highly recommended that you contract a Los Angeles process server to perform this duty for you, in particular if your spouse has been uncooperative until this point.
Our licensed Los Angeles process servers will hand-carry your divorce papers quickly, legally and without event. You’ll have outright verification of delivery and avoid any potential problems.
Presuming you have resided in California for a minimum of 6 months and your present county for three months, you will need to file your divorce in the county you presently live in. If your spouse lives in a separate county, you may register your divorce in either county.
If you haven’t lived in California and your current county long enough, you will only be qualified for a legal separation until you’ve confirmed residency.
Once your spouse gets the Petition, the six-month waiting period the court mandates begins at once. At the end of the six-month period, you are entitled to request your marital status be terminated and have a verdict recorded.
Remember: Employing a Los Angeles process server to serve your divorce papers can do away with many potential problems and steer clear of scenarios you’d rather not cope with. Our professional process servers are trained to make this stress filled process as convenient as possible.
Call us today at (866) 754-0520 and see how we can serve your Los Angeles divorce papers, quickly and affordably.
Los Angeles Divorce Process: Part 2
Los Angeles Divorce Process: Part 3