How to Get a Quick Divorce in California?

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How to Get a Quick Divorce in California?
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Physical and Legal Custody
To file for divorce in California, at least one
spouse must meet the states residency
requirements. This means that either you or your
spouse must have lived in California for at least
six months and in the county where you are filing
for at least three months. Once you meet these
requirements, California law requires a mandatory
waiting period before the divorce can be final.
The waiting period is six months from the date
the divorce papers are served to your spouse, and
it cannot be shortened. However, if both spouses
agree on important issues, the rest of the
divorce can be quick and smooth.
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File the Divorce Petition

• To start your divorce, you must file a Petition
  for Dissolution of Marriage with the court. This
  is the official divorce paperwork. You will need
  to fill out several forms, including
• Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (Form
  FL-100)
• Summons (Form FL-110)
• Declaration of Disclosure (Form FL-140) (this
  form is for both spouses to disclose their assets
  and debts)
• If both spouses agree on all divorce terms, there
  might not be any court hearings, which can speed
  up the process.

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Serve the Divorce Papers
After filing your petition, the next step is to
serve the divorce papers to your spouse. In
California, the spouse filing for divorce must
have the other spouse served. You can hire a
process server or have a friend or relative over
18 years old do it. The respondent must sign an
acknowledgment of receipt. If your spouse agrees
to the divorce, they can sign and return the
papers. You can proceed with a default judgment
if they dont respond within 30 days.
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Create a Marital Settlement Agreement

• One of the quickest ways to finalize your divorce
  is to reach a marital settlement agreement. This
  is when both spouses agree on all the important
  aspects of the divorce, such as
• Property Division How to divide assets, debts,
  and property acquired during the marriage.
• Spousal Support Whether one spouse will pay
  alimony.
• Child Custody and Support How to handle child
  custody, visitation, and financial support.

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Submit the Final Judgment
Once both spouses have agreed on the terms, the
next step is to submit the Judgment of
Dissolution of Marriage to the court. If the
divorce is uncontested, the court will review the
settlement and approve it without needing a
hearing. If the divorce is contested, or if it
involves complicated issues like child custody or
significant assets, it may take longer to
finalize. In such cases, court hearings may be
required.
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Complete the Divorce
While California law requires a six-month waiting
period before the divorce can be finalized, if
all issues are agreed upon and there are no
disputes, the judge may approve the divorce right
after this period.
Use Mediation to Speed Things Up
A mediator helps both parties reach an agreement
without needing a court hearing, which can save
time. Mediation is optional in California, but
its a cost-effective way to finalize the divorce
faster.
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Get Legal Help if Needed
If your divorce is uncontested, you can handle
the paperwork yourself or use online services.
But if your divorce is contested, or if you find
the process confusing, hiring a divorce lawyer
might save time and prevent mistakes. Legal
experts can help ensure your settlement is fair.
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Final Thought
Though Californias divorce process includes a
mandatory six-month waiting period, you can still
get a quick divorce by following the steps
mentioned above, especially if both spouses
agree. Are you looking for a divorce attorney and
divorce mediation lawyer in San Diego? Get in
touch with Mesnik Law. We are a group of lawyers
who handle each case with complete care and
professionalism. Our lawyers are experienced and
knowledgeable and will guide you through every
step.
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Mesnik Law Group, Inc.
9665 Chesapeake Dr. Suite 445 San Diego, CA 92123
www.mesniklaw.com