Divorce: Don’t know where to start?

Maybe you’ve been considering getting a divorce for a while now but you have no idea where to start. The process can be daunting, especially if you don’t know the law.

Here’s how to start a divorce process in California:

A divorce is started by opening a court case. It can be filed and finalized even if your domestic partner doesn’t want one (no-fault divorce). To file for divorce in California, make sure that you have a residency of 6 months in the state and 3 months in your county. Once you filed the paperwork and paid the fee, the divorce papers must be served to your spouse. This is the official way to let someone know you started a court case.

The next step is to share your financial information with your spouse and vice versa. Then you and your spouse need to make decisions involving the care of your child/children, child support, child custody and visitation, alimony, and property and debt division.

You and your spouse can make agreements on these matters. If not, the court can decide for you. After these issues are decided, you can finalize the divorce. To finalize the divorce process, you submit the final paperwork and your divorce will become final.

This entire process can be done without hiring a lawyer. DIY is possible if you and your spouse can agree on important matters and there are no substantial assets to divide. Mediation is also an option. However, the stakes are high in divorce cases, so it’s crucial to protect your rights and know the deals you’re getting because the ramifications are long-term.

If you are not confident about doing this process on your own or the other party has lawyered up, it’s best to hire an experienced lawyer who can protect your rights and interest.

Reasons why to hire a lawyer

Here are 6 common reasons why you should hire a lawyer for your divorce proceeding:

1. Avoid mistakes in the process that might complicate matters in your case (for example, in filing paperwork)
2. An experienced divorce attorney will advocate for you, knows the law, and will help you understand family courts and how they work.
3. Maintain good communication with the opposing party. A divorce attorney can help you respond, in an appropriate manner, to the demands of your spouse. Emotions are usually high in divorce cases, so maintaining good communication with the other party is necessary to resolve issues objectively.
4. Protect your child/children’s best interest
5. Help you see the big picture and your options
6. Reduce stress. Divorce involves a lot of stress. A divorce lawyer can help you reduce stress by handling technical matters and expedite the process.

Why Thompson Law?

At Thompson Law, we understand the stakes that come with divorce and how personal it is to you. We will make sure that this transitional phase in your life is less daunting and that your rights and that of your children are protected. Even under the best circumstances, divorce involves a lot of stress. We’ll help you navigate the tough challenges that come with divorce proceedings and get you the best legal representation that you deserve.