Step-by-Step Guide to Divorce in California

If you are considering divorce, or if you have been served with papers, then you need to know what is involved in the California divorce process. Call the Law Offices of Frank F. Ali at (916) 745-8444 to consult a Roseville divorce attorney.

1. Know What Divorce Involves

First, it is important to understand that there are many different issues that must be resolved in addition to the long timeframe, such as child custody or property division. If you are seeking divorce, then you need skilled representation on your side that can aggressively fight for your rights in court or help you through the process of divorce mediation.

2. File for Divorce

Divorce officially begins with one spouse filing for divorce and serving the petition to the other spouse. Whether you are the spouse filing for divorce or you have been served divorce papers by your spouse, the Law Offices of Frank F. Ali is here to help.

3. Response

The served spouse has 30 days to respond to the notice of divorce proceedings. If the respondent does not respond to the petition, then the process move forward and the petitioner can file requests for various elements such as custody, visitation, and property division.

Without a response, the divorce process is final six months and one day after the respondent was served. With a response, the process continues with both parties exchanging information regarding assets and income.

4. Discovery

The "discovery period," where each party discloses/uncovers information about assets and property, is important. You could suffer from the dishonesty of your spouse, so it is crucial that you have legal representation through this process.

5. Settlement or Trial

Before trial, you may be required to meet at a mandatory settlement conference in order to attempt to resolve various issues of divorce before trial. If you and your spouse are able to agree on every aspect of your divorce, including property division, custody, and support, then you may be able to draft your own divorce agreement and settle the matter outside of court.

Disputed cases will require a family law judge to make the final decision and issue appropriate court orders. At trial, you will be able to argue your case and fight for a favorable outcome. It is vital to have a capable divorce litigator by your side to argue your case and fight for the court orders that you need.

Hire a Divorce Attorney in Roseville, CA

The divorce process can be long and difficult. For this reason, it is crucial to your future that you have skilled representation on your side. Without the representation you need, you could find that you are left with highly undesirable circumstances for your life after divorce. At the Law Offices of Frank F. Ali, we operate by providing our clients with information and advice regarding the future. Seek our legal assistance today by calling (916) 745-8444 to begin the process of pursuing your goals and desires in your case.