DO-IT-YOURSELF CALIFORNIA DIVORCE: HOW DO I START?

If you are considering filing a Divorce without an attorney, you may be wondering how to begin.  Start with these 4 steps.

                                                         

1. DO YOUR RESEARCH 

Before attempting to file for divorce on your own, make sure you know what’s involved.  Learn the local rules, procedures, and laws that may pertain to your case. There are many do-it-yourself books available to guide you. Another excellent source of information is the court website.

2. SEEK COUNSEL

Even though you have decided to file your case on your own, it is wise to consult an attorney.  An experienced divorce attorney can advise you if you are a good candidate to file the case yourself.  The attorney may be able to spot potential pitfalls that you have not considered.  For instance, if you expect your spouse to oppose any aspect of the divorce, doing it on your own may not be in your best interest. If money is an issue, you may qualify for legal aid.  Another option is to hire an attorney on an hourly basis to review your case.

3. GATHER YOUR LEGAL & FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS

Before you can complete your divorce petition and other court forms, you will need to have a lot of information on hand.   Listed below are the most common documents you will need to refer to while completing your court forms. 

• Marriage certificate
• Birth certificates for each child
• Most recent statements for all financial accounts such as checking & savings, retirement, investments, etc.
• Life insurance policies
• Business assets such as accounts receivable, partnership and/or other business interests
• Employment information such as pay stubs, W2s, 1099s, etc.
• Property information for all property owned: mortgage note, Deed of Trust, most recent mortgage statement, etc.
• Most recent statements for all debts including credit cards, loans, student loans, taxes, etc.
• Information on all vehicles owned including cars, boats, etc. such as loan or lease contracts or sales receipts.
• Information on support arrangements such as court orders or stipulations.
• Tax returns for the last 2 years
• List of other assets and dates acquired such as jewelry, antiques, coin collections and art
• List of all household assets and dates acquired such as furniture and appliances
• Date of separation
• Previous addresses and dates of residency for the last 5 years
• Your current budget and expenses

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4. DOWNLOAD YOUR COURT FORMS

When you are ready to get started, go to http://www.courts.ca.gov.  There you will find the fillable forms and instructions.

Remember the old joke?  "How do you eat an elephant?"   Answer:  "One bite at a time."  Just keep that in mind as you go through these 4 steps.  Follow the steps, one-by-one.  Before you know it you will be organized and ready to file your initial paperwork.  For more information and related articles, visit our blog!

Still feeling overwhelmed?  Contact us with your questions.  Or if you would like us to prepare your paperwork for you Contact Us for a quote.

Happy filing!

Cherryl Rudy, AVBA at Attorneys Best Choice Document Services, LDA#459
This article was originally posted at www.attorneysbestchoice.com on November 11, 2017.

About the Author:  Cherryl Rudy has been assisting clients with their legal document preparation at Attorneys Best Choice for over a decade. Specializing in Divorce & Family Law, Bankruptcy, and Real Estate Law, Attorneys Best Choice is a registered, certified and bonded Legal Document Assistant in Orange County, CA. 

Related articles:  Can I File for Divorce Without an Attorney? ,  Divorce on A Budget, 5 Simple Steps to Hiring the Perfect Paralegal, #1 Mistake to Avoid When Filing Without an Attorney

Related links: http://www.courts.ca.gov/