A Week in the Life of a Divorce Paralegal: Insights from Los Angeles

Ever wondered what it’s like to work as a divorce paralegal? Join me as I take you through a busy week at Divorce661, where we help clients navigate the complexities of divorce across California. From working with clients in various counties to handling diverse cases, each day presents unique challenges and rewards.

Our Week in Numbers

This week has been particularly dynamic. We handled 15 consultations, bringing our total to 56 for the month. We also welcomed 18 new clients this week, making it 51 new clients for the month so far. It’s been a strong start to the year, and the momentum continues!

Diverse Cases Across California

One of the fascinating aspects of our job is the variety of cases we encounter. This week, we assisted clients in several counties, including Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego. Each county has its own nuances in divorce procedures, making our work even more interesting.

Case Highlights

Let’s dive into some of the consultations and cases we worked on this week:

• Summary Dissolution: One client had been separated for a year and was in agreement about the divorce. They had no kids, assets, or debts, and wanted to finalize things quickly. Initially, they asked about an annulment, but I explained why that wasn’t feasible. Since they had been married for less than a year, we assisted them with a summary dissolution.
• Long-Standing Divorce Case: Another client had filed for divorce back in 2017 but never served the papers. When I reviewed their case online, I found that the six-month cooling-off period had never even started. The case was still open, saving them the filing fee as we didn’t need to file a new one. We did, however, need to file an amended petition.
• Trust Built Through Content: One consultation stood out because the clients hired us without even setting up a consultation first. This happens often due to the trust we’ve built through our online content and over 100 five-star reviews on Google. Their case involved a long-term marriage with kids, assets, debts, a home, and pensions. They retained our services to help finalize their settlement agreement.
• Filing Issues: A client who filed for divorce on their own in 2023 never served their spouse. Therefore, their six-month cooling-off period hadn’t started either. They had filed FL 160 property declarations, which contain sensitive financial information, raising concerns about privacy. We recommended dismissing the case and starting anew, this time avoiding those property declarations.
• Default with Agreement Process: In another case, the respondent had already filed a response. I explained that if both parties are amicable, filing a response isn’t necessary and only triggers a second filing fee. By guiding clients through the default with agreement process, we save them money while ensuring both parties are involved in signing the settlement agreement.
• Asset Division Clarifications: A client got stuck in their divorce process due to confusion over asset division. They had assets, debts, pensions, and a 401(k) but didn’t want to divide anything. I clarified that as long as both parties agree, the court won’t force them to divide their assets, even if they are technically community property.
• Revisiting Past Consultations: One consultation was with clients I had spoken with about eight months ago. They hadn’t moved forward because they thought their agreement wouldn’t be allowed by the court. One spouse wanted to keep 100% of the home while the other kept their pension, which were about the same value. I assured them that if both parties agreed, the court would approve it. They retained us and are now moving forward.
• Starting the Divorce Process: Another couple separated last July and just began the divorce process. I explained that the length of marriage stops running at the date of separation. Even if they were separated for years before filing for divorce, the length of marriage for dividing assets and debts is based on the separation date. They hired us to get the process started.
• Finalizing Mediated Cases: We also took over a case filed in 2024 where the clients had worked with a mediator to reach an agreement but needed help finalizing it with the court. It’s common for people to need assistance with the final steps, and that’s where we step in.
• Rejected Cases: Over the weekend, someone scheduled a consultation for a case that had been rejected three times recently. Upon reviewing their situation, I advised them that a consultation wasn’t necessary, as long as both were amicable and willing to sign the agreement. They hired us, and I found numerous errors in their paperwork. Even the court’s rejection letter stated there were so many mistakes they couldn’t list them all. I corrected everything and sent their final paperwork for electronic signature so I could file it with the court.

Conclusion: A Busy Week of Helping Clients

As we wrap up this week, it’s clear that we have been able to assist many people with their amicable divorces. Each case presents a unique set of challenges, but the satisfaction of helping clients navigate through this emotionally charged process is what makes our work rewarding. Thank you for following along on this journey with Divorce661!