Understanding the California Divorce Process

Experienced San Bernardino Divorce Attorneys Ready to Help

The divorce process can be very overwhelming. In order to file for divorce, you and your spouse must meet certain residency requirements. These requirements state that both you and your spouse must have lived in California for a minimum of six months and have been a resident of your county for a minimum of three months. If you both meet this requirement, you may start the process of filing for divorce, otherwise referred to by the courts as “dissolution of marriage” as soon as you wish.

The Law Office of Michael R. Young invests in helping our clients achieve outcomes that are in their best interests and the best interests their family. Our fifty years of collective experience enable us to adeptly handle even the most complex family law circumstances. With an AV® rating from Martindale-Hubbell® and 10.0 Superb Avvo rating, our San Bernardino divorce attorneys stand out in our field.

Understanding Court Involvement in Your Divorce

You will first file a petition with the courts and have your spouse served by a process server. Second, they will need to respond with a contestation or no contestation. If the divorce is uncontested, it should run smoothly, but if your spouse contests the divorce then you can expect to go to trial. Either way, there is a waiting period of up to six months in order for a judge to grant the divorce or order a trial.

During divorce, you should expect to discuss and come to an agreement on property division and alimony. If you have children together, an agreement should also be reached regarding custody and child support. If you do not come to an agreement, the judge will do so for you during the trial. In addition to filing and serving the proper documents, you will need to abide by several rules set forth by the court.

Until your divorce is deemed final, you are not allowed to: