The way you begin a divorce is by filling out a form called a Petition for Dissolution. Before you fill out this form, it would be wise to make sure you have all the necessary information gathered together. You will need to know and identify all the separate property and community property. You will also need to know and identify all the separate debts and community debts. Separate property is all property that was acquired before the date of marriage or after the date of separation. It also includes gifts and inheritances acquired before, after and during the marriage. Community property is all the property obtained by either spouse or both spouses after the date of marriage but before the date of separation, namely wages.

It is extremely important to make sure that your Petition for Dissolution is filled out correctly and completely. The final judgment will have to reflect that facts as set forth in the Petition. This means that if you do fill out the Petition for Dissolution wrong, you may have to file an Amended Petition for Dissolution later on in the divorce. This would only stall the proceedings and could cause an interruption in the completion of the divorce itself. To make sure you fill out the form correctly, you should speak to a knowledgeable divorce lawyer near you.

If you have any other questions about how to fill out a Petition for Dissolution, please call us. We are here to answer your questions. Our experienced California family law divorce attorneys can provide you with legal advice and will be your advocate in a family law court. If you’re thinking of hiring an attorney for a dissolution, call us today at 1-888-749-7428 for a consultation, or fill out the online case evaluation form to the right.