Going through a divorce can be a long and arduous process that takes a tremendous toll on the parties involved. Although you may want to put your marriage behind you and move on with your life, it can be difficult and time-consuming to go through the divorce process. A divorce in the state of California takes a minimum of six months and can sometimes take much longer.
Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be eligible for a summary dissolution or an uncontested divorce, which are two of the fastest ways to obtain a divorce in the state of California. An experienced Wallin & Klarich family law attorney can assist you every step of the way to make the process as easy as possible for you.
Summary Dissolution
If you and your partner are both seeking a quick and easy divorce, you can file a Joint Petition for Summary Judgment. In a summary dissolution, you and your partner may not need to appear before a judge. If you and your partner meet all of the following requirements for a summary dissolution, the divorce process can be expedited considerably:
- You and your partner must have been married less than five years on the date you file your Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution
- You and your partner must have no children together that were adopted or born before or during the marriage (and are not pregnant now)
- You and your partner do not own any real estate (house, condominium, rental property, land or a one-year lease with option to buy)
- You and your partner do not owe more than $6,000 for debts acquired since the date of your marriage (not including car loans)
- You and your partner have less than $36,000 worth of property acquired during the marriage (not including cars)
- You and your partner do not have separate property worth more than $36,000 (not including money you owe on the property or car loans)
- You and your partner agree that neither spouse will ever get spousal support
- You and your partner have signed an agreement that divides all of your property and debts
- You and your partner have lived in the state of California for the last six months and in the county where you will file for the last three months
If you and your partner meet all of the above requirements, you will need to fill out several forms and provide certain attached documents. A family law attorney can help you fill out the forms correctly to dissolve your marriage in a timely manner.
Uncontested Divorce
In most divorce cases, the two parties involved are not able to agree on one or more issues. This is when a divorce becomes contested, and in effect, more complicated.
An uncontested divorce, on the other hand, is a simple way to divorce in the state of California. In an uncontested divorce, the two parties agree on all terms of a divorce, including how to handle property, finances, spousal support and child support. You and your partner may not need to appear before a judge. Usually, an uncontested divorce is handled by submitting the proper paperwork to the court.
Many times in an uncontested divorce a partner unknowingly surrenders or allows the acquisition of his/her major assets including spousal support, pension benefits and other sources of income. Therefore, it is important to have an experienced family law attorney with you during the entire process to protect you and your rightful assets.
Call Wallin & Klarich Today
If you or a loved one is going through or is in the midst of a divorce, it is critical that you speak to an experienced family law attorney. At Wallin & Klarich, our attorneys have over 30 years of experience in handling all types of divorce cases in Southern California. Our attorneys will fight to get you the best possible outcome in your case.
With offices in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, Tustin, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, West Covina and Victorville, there is an experienced Wallin & Klarich Southern California family law attorney near you no matter where you work or live.
Call us today at (888) 749-7428 for a free phone consultation. We will get through this together.
