Because divorce can be a stressful event for many people, some individuals
may try to complete their divorce process as quickly as possible. It is
possible that in your current situation, you may want your marriage to
be dissolved ASAP. But even though it may be convenient to quickly end
your relationship in some situations, the legal divorce process does not
allow you to file on a Monday and be divorced by Friday. There are many
waiting periods and restrictions set up within the California divorce
process. Our
Irvine divorce lawyer explains what you need to know about the time frames and requirements
needed to legally dissolve your marriage.
How Long Do I Have to Wait?
Starting the day you serve your spouse divorce papers,
your divorce can be finalized after a six month period. Even if you complete all of your paperwork in a timely manner, under
California law you must wait the full six months until your divorce can
be legally finalized. This is done in order to prevent couples from making
rash or emotional decisions that they might change their mind on. Even
if you are certain that you want to end your marriage, you must still
wait the full amount of time. Both spouses must occur before the timer
for the six months starts ticking, which means it can start before the
divorce papers are even filed.
What Can I Do During This Time?
If you and your spouse have not determined the details of your divorce,
you can use the time you are required to wait to resolve these matters.
Through the contested or uncontested divorce processes, an attorney can
help you and your spouse resolve a number of loose ends in your divorce.
Matters that a skilled Irvine divorce attorney can help you resolve include:
- Property division
- Alimony or support
- Child support
- Child custody
You and your spouse may come across other restrictions during your divorce
process. For instance, you must live in California for six months prior
to filing for divorce. Also, if you and your spouse have children but
do not have a custody plan in place before petitioning, California law
requires you to attend
custody mediation.
If you need an experienced Irvine divorce lawyer to handle your custody
mediation,contact Center for Mediated Divorce at (714)706-3992 today.