Divorce doesn’t necessarily need to take place in court, there are other options, and two popular choices are mediation and arbitration.

A legal separation is a formal and legally binding agreement that divides debt, assets, and property between spouses; it will also address the issues of support and custody. Creating a separation agreement is similar to getting divorced, with the main difference being after a legal separation is finalized, you are still married.

The first step is to go to the website for the Superior Court in your area. From this website, you will be able to look through the court records digitally. You are able to search by location, case type, name, and other values. If your spouse has filed for divorce, you should find it listed here.

Do-it-Yourself divorce has never been more accessible than it is now. But just because you can, doesn’t always mean you should.

Laws vary from state to state and county to county. You don’t have to file where you were married, but California has 6 month residency requirement, and only one spouse need be a resident. The county residency requirement is 3 months.

Discovery compels each side to reveal what evidence and information they have, such as producing documents, taking witness testimony, and giving depositions.

When you file first, you’ll have more time to find and organize. You define the temporary orders. You can save up for legal fees and other costs. However, if you aren’t prepared, you can make a bad impression in front of the judge. Don’t file first just to be first.

California has a 6-month mandatory waiting period. The clock starts when the other party is served or files a response, whichever comes first. Common factors that lengthen the process include contention over asset division, custody disputes, and determination of support payments. A divorce may require a period of discovery or investigation.