My spouse is cheating on me.  My spouse left me.  What are grounds for divorce?

In California, there are two grounds for divorce – irreconcilable differences and incurable insanity (requires medical proof that one spouse is incurably insane).

Residency Requirements for Divorce

How long to I have to be in California before I can file for divorce?

You or your spouse must have lived in California for six months and in your county where you file for three months before the date of filing for divorce.

Automatic Restraining Orders During Divorce

What are automatic restraining orders?

There are temporary restraining orders that go into effect automatically when the divorce process begins, which includes;

• Neither spouse is allowed to take your minor children out of state without the other spouse’s written permission or a court order.
• Neither spouse is allowed to cancel or change the beneficiaries on your insurance policies or transfer property.
• Either spouse is required to notify the other before any out-of-the-ordinary spending—and be prepared to account for such expenditures to a judge.

Legal Separation

What is a legal separation?  How does a legal separation differ from a divorce?

You remain “married” but are no longer part of a “community.”  This is often done for religious, insurance, or tax purposes.  A court will divide your property and issue orders relating to child custody, visitation, child support and spousal support, and, if necessary, a restraining order.  There is no residency requirement to file for legal separation.  You can get a legal separation without having lived in California for six months or your county for three months before filing.

Annulment

I want an annulment.  Can I get my marriage annulled?

This is a court ruling that your marriage never existed.  You may be able to get an annulment if you married when you were a minor without the consent of your parents or guardian, or if there was fraud or deceit.

Simplified California Divorce

California has a process called summary dissolution which is much simpler and less complicated method to obtain a divorce.  You may be eligible for this process if:

• You and your spouse have agreed in writing to a division of your assets and debts.
• You have been married for five years or less.
• You have no children from the relationship.
• Neither of you own a home or other real estate.
• The value of all community property amounts to less than $25,000, excluding automobiles.
• The value of either party’s separate property amounts to less than $25,000, excluding automobiles.
• Your combined debts do not exceed $4,000, except for an auto loan.
• Neither spouse is requesting spousal support.

Divorce Final Judgment

Your California divorce will be final when the court issues a judgment which will be at least six months after your spouse was served with the petition for dissolution.  The court does not automatically end your marriage when the six months have passed.  You cannot legally remarry until you obtain a judgment even if the six months have passed.

Obtaining Financial Information

During your California divorce, if your spouse is withholding information about your property or finances, we can take their deposition, request answers to written questions, or conduct an Inspection Demand (a request that your spouse disclose and release important documents).

Property Division

In a California divorce, all community property is divided equally unless you and your spouse agree to an unequal division.  Community property is all property that you and your spouse acquired, through labor or skill, during the marriage.  This includes interests in pension, profit-sharing benefits, stock options, other retirement benefits, and any business owned by one or both of you.  Each spouse owns half of the community property.  This is true even if the property is in only one spouse’s name.

Debt Liability

In a California divorce, both spouses are responsible for community debts, debts incurred during the marriage.  The only exception being, student loans.  Division of debts can be done by an agreement entered into by you and your spouse or, if you and your spouse cannot agree, by the court.

Spousal Support

In a California divorce, spousal support, also known as alimony, is money that one spouse pays to help the other spouse support themselves upon the filing for divorce.  Usually, the spouse receiving such spousal support will pay federal and state income taxes on the money received.  The spouse paying spousal support will be entitled to a tax deduction.

The amount of spousal support awarded is determined by considering certain factors, such as:  the standard of living during the marriage;   the length of the marriage;  and, the age, health, earning capacity and job histories of both spouses.  If the marriage lasted less than 10 years, it is unlikely that a judge will order spousal support for longer than half the length of the marriage.

Child Custody

In a California divorce, if you and the other parent are unable to agree on custody or visitation, you will be required to appear in court for a judge to decide on a parenting plan.  Before any hearing or trial involving child custody or visitation, both parents are required to meet with a trained counselor who will try to help you reach an agreement on custody and a parenting plan.  In some counties, counselors are able to submit a recommendation to the judge even if you and your spouse did not reach an agreement.  In other counties, meetings with the counselors are entirely confidential and the counselor can only report agreements reached by the parents.

Depending on the nature of the custody dispute, the judge may order a psychological evaluation of one or both parents, and may appoint an attorney to represent the children.

Types of Child Custody

• Joint legal custody means that both parents share the right and responsibility to make important decisions about their children’s health, education and welfare.
• Sole legal custody means that one parent has the right to make decisions related to the health, education and welfare of the children.
• Joint physical custody means that the children spend time living with each parent on a regular basis.  This does not mean, however, that the children must spend equal amounts of time with each parent.
• Sole physical custody means that the children live with one parent and the other parent has visitation.

Children’s Wishes

The judge must consider what the child wants if the child is “of sufficient age and capacity to reason.” Children age 14 and older are also entitled, if they desire, to express an opinion about custody issues to the court.  In either case, however, the judge is not required to follow the child’s wishes.