How Long Does The California Divorce Process Really Take?

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

How long does the California divorce process take you ask?  It is certainly a loaded question, but let’s take a look at a few answers.  I have also discussed this in my video below.  Please feel free to watch or continue reading below.

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The most common reference to this questions of how long the California divorce process takes is, “What is the fastest I can get divorced?”  This answer is easy. California has a cooling off period and says that your divorce cannot be finished until 6 months plus one day have elapsed since your spouse was served.  The purpose of this time frame is to allow the parties time to reconcile.

Imagine if you could get divorced in a day, how many people would be getting re-married!

The next common reference to how long the California divorce process takes is about the paperwork.  How long will it take to get all the paperwork done?

The divorce paperwork can be completed as fast as you can fill out the forms.  We have even completed all the paperwork in single sittings in our office where the parties are present and sign all the documents.  We just have to make sure to follow the procedure correctly as there is a certain order to  filing and serving the divorce forms.

The California divorce process can be very short or very long.  In fact, the divorce process isn’t all that difficult at all.  What makes the divorce process difficult and take a long time is the parties involved.

If you are willing to work together to get your divorce done amicably, then the process will be relatively smooth and will take only the 6 months.

If you are not cooperative and want to fight it out in court, it could take many years.

We are a licensed and bonded legal document preparation service that specializes in divorce.  We can help you anywhere in California.  Make sure to give us a call for assistance.

By Tim Blankenship

What To Do If Your California Default Divorce Is Rejected

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

There are a few different ways you can file for divorce.  In this article we are specifically talking about the California Default Divorce.  This can be a True Default, where the other party is not involved at all or a Hybrid Divorce, where it is a Default, but you have an agreement.

More specifically, we are discussing the how to use the Request To Enter Default form with a default style divorce because we are seeing that people are having difficulty understanding how to use the form and when to submit it to the court.

Watch this quick video where I discuss what to do if your Request to Enter Default is rejected during your California divorce.

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If you are doing a true California default divorce, where the other party is not going to participate at all, you can file the Request to enter default form 30 days after the other party has been served.

But did you know that you can also submit your entire divorce judgment as well at the same time?

You sure can!

Most people think that they have to submit the request to enter default first, and then wait the 4-8 weeks or longer to see if it is approved before filing their judgment.  This is not necessary.

All you need to do is submit your entire California divorce judgment papers along with the Request To Enter Default forms.

When you are submitting a request to enter default for your California divorce, you may have to attach the FL-160’s (Property Declarations) if you have property.  Don’t forget, you need 2 sets of forms.  Once for community property and one for separate property.

We recommend you do one of each, even if there is no property, so the court knows that to be the case and don’t think you just forgot to do the forms.

Make sure to watch the video above, where I go into a little bit more detail about the Request to Enter Default and specifically about what you can do if your request to enter default is rejected during the California divorce process.

By Tim Blankenship

004 DMR Why Transparency In Home Sale Process During California Divorce Is Important

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

004 DMR Why Transparency In Home Sale Process During California Divorce Is Important

In this podcast we discuss why it is important to have transparency when selling your home when you are going through a divorce in California.

When you are going through a divorce in California, you may not be on the best speaking terms.  But it is important that you do communicate so you can make decisions such as selling your home, among others.

But where the parties are not communicating well, there are ways a real estate agent can assist you and you spouse get through the California home sale process, even when going through a divorce.

In this podcast, we discuss some of these ways.  For instance, a Realtor who is working part of a team or who has a team of agents working with them can assign each of the parties a separate real estate agent who can be their advocate and handle all the communication.

This would prevent the parties from having to get different real estate agents, which in and of itself would be a total nightmare and probably not be feasible at all anyways.

Real estate agents can even use technology to help the parties sign the sales contracts.  Programs such as DocuSign allow the parties to sign many of the real estate documents which can be done right on your computer and even be done separately.

I know we use Docusign quite a bit in for our California divorce clients that we are assisting remotely throughout California.

I hope you enjoy this podcast as it has tremendous value if you are going through a divorce in California and need to sell your home.

Press Play Below To Listen To This Podcast Or Click Here Subscribe To This Channel On iTunes

 

By Tim Blankenship

California Divorce Service Now On iTunes | Divorce Master Radio

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

We are excited to announce that our California Divorce Legal Document Preparation service now has a podcast which can be listened to on iTunes.  Make sure to check out our iTunes podcast called Divorce Master Radio.  Use the link and check it out.

We are the first LDA (Legal Document Assistant ) firm to have a podcast on iTunes and is just one more way to get out information about divorce in California.

Having an iTunes show made sense since we are advocates of getting information out to our clients (or future clients) who may need our service.  our iTunes podcast is now in addition to our blog, videos and social media accounts that we have had for some time now.

As an avid listener to podcasts, one thing I have learned is that I really connect with the person speaking on the microphone and can get some really in depth information and better understanding of what I am listening to.

I am hoping that the same happens for the listeners our show.  We are going to have some solo episodes about California divorce as well line up interviews with folks that would add value to our show.

Podcasts in general have started to become more popular now that so many people have smart phones and can listen virtually everywhere they go.  I know that I listen to podcasts at least  twice per day when I walk my dogs.  I also listen to podcasts while driving (not much of music guy).

In any case, I hope you enjoy the California divorce podcast officially known as “Divorce Master Radio”

I have embeded our most recent episode below.

By Tim Blankenship

 

How To Sell Your Santa Clarita Home During Divorce | Interview With Tim Blankenship and Robert Mickalson

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

When you are going through divorce and you own a home in Santa Clarita, you are going to have to deal with the property one way or another.  Be that to sell, refinance or buy the other party out.

Tim Blankenship (that’s me) with Divorce661.com and Robert Mickalson, a local Santa Clarita Realtor, (www.askrobertscv.com) got together and spoke about several issues you may face when going through divorce in Santa Clarita, or anywhere for that matter, and some solutions to make the home selling process easier.

Here are some of the topics we discussed.  Make sure to watch the interview below.

  • What to do when the parties cannot agree on a real estate agent
  • How can the parties be updated on the sale of their home
  • How Robert handles clients that don’t want to be in the same room or are living apart
  • Most common questions Robert gets from clients going through divorce
  • Why transparency is important when selling your home during the divorce process

The thing that I see frequently is that one of the parties usually wants to stay in the family home.  The problem becomes that usually they cannot afford to refinance the home in their name alone.

While some people just decide to keep their name on title and on the loan, the problem that exists there is that if the other party defaults on the loan, your credit will be impacted as well.

It is a cleaner transaction to refinance the property, removing the other spouse off the title and loan, where possible.  Where not possible, you have to decide if you want to take the risk or sell the property.

by Tim Blankenship

003 Divorce Master Radio | California Divorce | Difference Between Full Service & Online Divorce Service (Podcast)

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

In this episode, we speak at lengths about the differences between using a full service divorce company in California and using an online service. We provide a full service divorce process, do all the work for you and we cost less than an online type service.

We will talk about how we are able to save you money on your divorce and how we are less expensive than these online California divorce services that make you do all the work. We will also talk about the difference between an online divorce service and what we do.

We will explain all of this in this episode. Make sure to listen to the latest podcast.

002 Divorce Master Radio | Interview With A California Divorce Paralegal

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

002 Divorce Master Radio | Interview With A California Divorce Paralegal

If you wanted to learn more about Tim Blankenship and why they are the number one California divorce document preparation firm in California, you will want to listen to this episode of Divorce Master Radio.

Headquartered in Los Angeles County, Divorce661 assists folks from all over California in preparing and filing their divorce paperwork and getting them through the divorce process for a flat fee.

This interview of Tim Blankenship was given by Connor MacIvor, one of the best Realtors and avid Podcaster in the Santa Clarita Valley.

Enjoy this episode of Divorce Master Radio.

Press Play Below To Listen To This Podcast Or Click Here Subscribe To This Channel On iTunes

 

001 Divorce Master Radio: About Tim Blankenship And Divorce661.Com (Podcast)

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

001 Divorce Master Radio: About Tim Blankenship And Divorce661.Com (Podcast)

In this podcast, you will learn more about me, Tim Blankenship, and how I got started in the Divorce Document Preparation Field in California.

This is an interesting podcast because it goes deep into who we are as a company, our background and how we are able to assist people going through divorce throughout California.

This podcast was done as an interview style with Phoenix, Arizona Divorce Attorney Wendy Hernandez, who did a great job leading the interview.

Press Play Below To Listen To This Podcast Or Click Here Subscribe To This Channel On iTunes

Home Appraisals & Divorce, Pricing for Success In Santa Clarita

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

If you are going through a divorce in Santa Clarita and you own a home you will have to make a decision on whether one of you are keeping it and buying the other out, or if your need to sell.  To do that you need to determine the fair market value of your home.

The best way to do this is through hiring a Santa Clarita Certified Real Estate Appraiser and not rely on Realtor’s or neighbors.  I asked Anthony Barrett with SCV Appraisal Service to explain the best way to appraise your home during divorce.  Enjoy!

Home Appraisals & Divorce, Pricing for Success

By: Anthony Barrett, Certified Real Estate Appraiser

The housing market rarely stands still and understanding your home’s value need not be as complicated as it may appear. Depending on who you talk to, the spread of suggested values for your home can be quite large resulting in frustration and confusion for everyone involved.

Determining value can be daunting task that is often clouded by personal agendas and incorrect information when approaching it from outside sound appraisal principles and methodologies. We’ve all experienced that neighbor that seems to know everything but never has the time to double check the facts or the Realtor that looks for the highest sale in the area and assumes you must be 5% above that.
Bringing in a professional unbiased third party to help establish price when the decision is made to liquidate the property is a smart decision that will add checks and balances that everyone can agree on.how_to_appraise_your_home_during_divorce_in_santa_clarita

Selling your house for the highest possible price during a divorce in an effort to maximize equity is the goal. However, pricing your home properly and at the same time understanding how that price relates to current market conditions, exposure periods and competing inventory will speed the process and create less stress. An appraisal developed for the purpose of establishing a current market value will not only provide you with a well supported value based on facts, but will also give you the information needed to make informed negotiation decisions.

The appraisal will be developed based on comparable sales and how those compare to your home within the context of the current market. The appraiser will also look at those sales currently on the market and how fast those homes are being absorbed into the market. The unique features of your property will be considered based on how they relate to those of comparable homes as well as the actions of buyers and sellers of those homes.

It’s important to note that cost does not equal value when property features are considered but rather contributory value of those features is determined based on comparable sales.

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Negotiating a fair divorce property settlement is a difficult process. You want your settlement to be determined based on true, unbiased, accurate and complete information. Whether you and your spouse own one primary residence or many properties, a qualified real estate appraiser will play a crucial role in the process.

About the Author

Anthony Barrett is the Owner/Appraiser of SCV Appraisal Service a full service Real Estate Appraisal firm located in Santa Clarita. Anthony has over a decade of appraisal experience appraising homes for a variety of clients in and around the Santa Clarita valley. He can be reached at 661-977-7501, tony@scvappraisal.com, www.scvappraisal.com & www.scvappraisalblog.com

Get in touch with Tim Blankenship on Google+

How To Receive Free Money For College When Going Through Divorce Or Already Divorced

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

We handle a lot of divorce cases in California and with that comes other potential issues to think about.

One of those issues to consider is college planning!

So I asked to the owner of College Planning Experts, Brian Safdari, to address some of these questions you may have when going through a divorce.

How To Receive Free Money For College If You Are Going Through A Divorce Or Already Divorced

Written By: Brian Safdari

The daunting task of submitting and applying for Financial Aid for college can be an overwhelming chore to say the least. Now imagine if you and your family find
yourselves in a divorced situation. That’s right; it just got 3 times more confusing.  Numerous questions may be swirling in your head: Which parent do we file under.  Do the schools want both parents’ information? Do we have to provide EVERYTHING?

The questions can go on and on.

The good news is that in a divorce situation, you may just have many options in order to receive the most amount in financial aid, assuming you spend some time “planning” and gathering information from a credible source.

First things first are the forms used to apply for financial aid; the FAFSA and CSS Profile. These are the financial aid forms that most state and private schools use to determine financial aid eligibility. From your forms, you will receive a number called your EFC or expected family contribution. This number is used to determine your need. The way a school determines your need is they use your EFC and plug it into the  formula Cost of Attendance (The sticker price to attend college including everything) – EFC (Expected Family Contribution (A number that reflects the amount schools think you a can afford) = Need. Our goal is to reduce your EFC to increase your need. The higher your need, the higher your grants and scholarships.

Now, here come the questions; do you know how FAFSA requires what to list about a divorce family? Do you know legally and ethically how to give them the information but not divulge more than what they need in order to get more free money for college? For example, if you are attending a public university, depending on the specific college, you may be able to submit your financial aid form with one parent. You need to dig deep and know the specific strategies regarding their “non-custodial” rules. We had a student attending a public school that the rule was “Who does the student live with 51% of the time”? In this specific situation, we had the student 51% with the lower income and asset family and we were able to receive 26,000 in grants at UCLA, leaving the family with a total cost of $9,000 per year. No too bad, huh?

Another thing to keep in mind is that since colleges are businesses, they want to have you pay as much as possible for college. Also, we know that FAFSA and other Financial Aid forms have a high error rate. Avoiding mistakes and strategically planning will allow you to make college affordable without going broke.

There are three pillars in the college planning process. How to market and position your child to get accepted into the college of their choice. You will be shocked that colleges are not accepting students based on grades and test scores alone, but a big part is what makes your child “unique”. There are specific formulas to implement to increase your chances in getting accepted, even with a low grade point average (GPA). Pillar number 2 is get the most financial aid possible by understanding the financial aid formula we briefly talked about (COA-EFC = Need). All income level families can receive financial aid if you know how to utilize the financial aid formulas. Pillar number 3 is funding college. How are you going to pay your share for college? How much can you afford monthly? What type of loans and resources are available to ensure you don’t have to sacrifice using all your savings or jeopardizing your retirement?

Brian_Safdari_college_planning_experts
Brian Safdari, Founder & CEO, College Planning Experts

Brian Safdari, founder and CEO of www.CollegePlanningExperts.com made costly mistakes that cost him over $53,000 in student loan debt unknowingly and unnecessarily and attended his least desired college. After the mistakes he made, he devoted his life to share the truth about the higher education system and how to legally and ethically take control of the process in order to send kids into the college of their dreams and ensure the parent do not go broke.

If you’d like help navigating through this difficult and complicated process and want your questions answered, call us at College Planning Experts today to sign up for an College Planning Analysis. We can help you find out how to save thousands on college! This will be one of the wisest financial decisions you’ve ever made. Call us at (661) 295-9946 or visit our website at www.CollegePlanningExperts.com. Please make sure you reference “Tim Blankenship” as we have a special gift for you.

Get in touch with Tim Blankenship on Google+