Completing California Divorce Petition [Podcast] Tutorial

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

We strive to get our self help divorce information out to as many people as we can by as many means as we can.

Our latest efforts are in our weekly live radio show and daily Podcasts.

This podcast will detail how to complete the California Divorce Petition form FL-100.  We will walk you step by step through.  And don’t forget, we are a full service divorce document preparation firm.  If you are looking for assistance, we would be happy to discuss completing your California divorce for you.

Here is the podcast we recorded on our radio show.

Listen to internet radio with Tim Blankenship on BlogTalkRadio

This divorce podcast will walk you through the entire divorce form. We cover:

  • Which boxes to check
  • Determining the date of separation
  • What to list as separate property
  • What to list as community property
  • Help on legal custody
  • help on physical custody
  • What termination of spousal support means
  • what termination of jurisdiction means
  • and much more…

The California divorce Petition form is just one of the documents you will need to complete in order to file your divorce case in California.

You can also join us live on our weekly radio show broadcast on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m.

Here we will be discussing many different topics all related to California divorce.  In fact, we will be taking live callers who are looking for assistance in completing their California divorce.

We are a licensed and bonded legal document preparation firm that specializes in California divorce. We are not attorney and are not a law firm so we will not be answering any questions related to the law or legal type questions.

We focus on providing divorce self help services.  This means cases where you are representing yourself during your divorce.

Please join us on Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. and make sure to tell your friends that may need our service.

 

California Divorce Document Preparation Firm Now On The Radio

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

We are excited to announce that we are now broadcasting live on BlogTalkRadio every Wednesday evening at 6 p.m.  The news was recently announced on our show this morning.  Here is the show where we made the announcement in case you wanted to learn more.

Listen to internet radio with Tim Blankenship on BlogTalkRadio

Our goal is to get the word out about our California Divorce Self Help Radio show so we can help folks throughout California who are representing themselves during their divorce get the the help they need.

If you are going through divorce in California or thinking of doing so, then you are aware how little information is out there.  And what information is out there about divorce is so hard to understand.  Everything seems to be written in some type of code.

With our Radio show we are hoping to cast a wider net than we have with our blogs.  We are using the paid service which gives us impressions which should help our California Divorce Self Help radio show found by the folks looking for help.

We will be taking callers on the show and answering questions related to the divorce process, divorce procedure and divorce forms.  We want folks to call us and ask us their specific questions so our listeners can learn from those going through the divorce process as well.

The questions we get asked about divorce everyday are pretty much the same.  There is always a little twist in that each person has a little different issue that can change the advice we would give however.

While we hope that people take advantage of the free information we will be providing, we also hope that folks decide to use our divorce legal service as well.  Either way, we feel we are providing a valuable service and at the same time getting our name in front of potential clients.

Make sure to tune into our show at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays to listen to us live!

I Received A Notice Of Status Conference For My California Divorce

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

If you are in the divorce process in California and representing yourself, you may get a letter that is titled, “Notice Of Status Conference – Family Centered Case Resolution”

This is a hearing that is set by the court and are used for specific purposes.  They are using this procedure in many cases to advise the parties that certain actions must be taken prior to a hearing.

Here is a link with a sample of the Notice of Status Conference.

notice of status conference sample

The first such Notice Of Status Conference you may receive will be one which states that your divorce case is not complete.  You will receive this notice if you have not served your spouse the summons and petition within about 60 days from filing.

If you receive this notice, it will give you specific instruction on what you need to do prior to the hearing date.  In the example above, you would need to serve the summons and petition and complete your Declaration of Disclosure and file the Declaration Regarding Service of Declaration of Disclosure.  Both of these need to be filed with the court.

If you file the proof of service and Declaration of Disclosure, you will not need to go to the court date for the Status Conference.  The clerk will review your file on the date of your status conference and see that the appropriate documents were filed and take the hearing off calendar.

If you won’t be able to have the other party served by the time of the hearing you will most likely want to attend the hearing and advise the court why you have not done so and perhaps what problems you are running into.

The divorce courts have been taking a more proactive approach this year and setting status conferences to keep the cases moving through the court system.

Make sure to read any Notice of Status Conference you receive and make sure you comply with the courts requests.

If you have any questions about what you need to do about a notice you received in the court, please feel free to contact our office.

Do You Need Child Support Or Spousal Support Orders?

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

We are a full service divorce company that prepares, files and serves your divorce documents.  This includes assisting you with child support and spousal support orders. We can prepare your motion or assist you in filing a Response if you have been served. We can help you during your divorce or even after your divorce (Post Judgment).

How Spousal / Child Support works when you are getting divorced

If you are  going through a divorce, you can file a motion with the court and ask for spousal support or child support or both. At any time, while going through the divorce process, you can file a motion with the court.  These motions are called Request For Orders.  When you file a motion for child support or spousal support, a court date will be set.  The orders that are made at the hearing will give you temporary orders until time of the final judgment in the divorce case.

How Spousal Support / Child Support works after you have divorced

Any thing done after your divorce has been finalized in called “Post Judgment” which simply means “after the judgment”. When you file a motion to modify spousal support or child support there normally has to be some “change in circumstances” for the court to order a modification of support.  Normally if one of the parties loses a job or is now making more money is justification to request a modification of support. It is best to call our office so we can discuss if a modification is appropriate.

If you were served with a Request for Order for support

If you were served a motion or request for order, you can file a Response.  A Response is your opportunity to tell the judge your side of the story. Their are specific rules on filing a Response related to filing, service and due dates.  Don’t wait too long before calling us as it does take a few days to prepare your declaration and file them with the court.

Uncontested Divorce Cases Taking Longer In Los Angeles County

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

The Los Angeles divorce courts are under some severe strain right now.  With budget cuts, layoffs and court closures, we are really seeing an impact on the level of service we are getting from the courts.

What we are finding is that the California divorce cases are taking much longer than they did in the past.

We are not just talking about cases that go to trial and have to see a judge, we are talking about your everyday uncontested divorce cases with self represented divorce clients that never step foot in the court room.

We are specifically talking about the time it takes for the court to review and approve a final judgment in a divorce case.

When you are representing yourself in your divorce, it is just a matter of getting the paperwork through the system.  The final judgment is the last thing that you submit to the court.

The process of the court reviewing and approving the final judgment has always been long, however we are seeing a steady increase in the time it takes to review the divorce judgments.

First it was 3 months, then four.  Now we are seeing it routinely take 6 months and longer.  Now with the layoffs still so fresh from happening, I bet we will see even longer delays.

This can be a frustrating process.  Especially for those folks that have attempted to do their entire divorce on their own.  They are submitting them, only have it rejected 6 months later when they have completely forgotten about it an assumed everything was fine.  Especially since they did not hear anything for so long.

We recommend (if time is a concern) that you submit your final divorce judgment just as soon as you have completed all the paperwork for your divorce.

You don’t have to wait 6 months before submitting your divorce case for final approval.

You can submit your case within 30 days of your spouse being served (if you are doing a default or hybrid style divorce) or immediately if going by way of uncontested divorce.

You case is going to sit in a pile of other divorce judgment in line for review anyway.  You might as well get your case in line as early as possible.

Divorce Attorneys | Looking For Santa Clarita Divorce Attorneys?

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

Most People Think They Need A Divorce Attorney Or Divorce Lawyer For Their Divorce.  They Are Wrong!

If you are looking for a divorce attorney, divorce lawyer or family law lawyer (yeah, they are all the same thing) you are going to want to read this.  If you are a divorce attorney, I would not suggest you read this as you will probably be mad at me for letting people in on these facts.

So I know you are thinking about divorce or perhaps are involved in a divorce now.  You may be considering hiring a divorce lawyer or are wondering if you need one or not.  The reason I know this is that you would not be on this page if you weren’t.

Here is a quick video where we discuss your options for divorce assistance.

Here are a few statistics for you to chew on.

Only 5% Of Divorce Cases Ever Go To Trial

There are only two ways a divorce ends in California.  You either settle out of court or you go to trial.  And with so few cases actually going to trial, there is a good chance that your case is one of the 95% that will settle out of court.

85% Of All Divorce Cases Filed Are Done So Without An Attorney

The divorce process is one where you can represent yourself.  A divorce lawyer is not necessary.  But many people are not aware of the fact that they can represent themselves during divorce.  Those that do, don’t have the time or willingness to do it themselves.

Many People Are Not Aware Of Alternatives To A Divorce Attorney

People have been conditioned to think of an attorney when they think of divorce.  What’s the first thing you think of when I say divorce?  Attorney, Right?  It is probably one of the most searched for terms on the internet as it pertains to the word, “divorce”

But there are alternatives to divorce lawyers and attorneys.

Legal Document Preparation Specialists Are The Answer

We are a licensed and bonded legal document preparation firm that specializes in divorce.  We can complete your divorce from start to finish for one flat fee.

We can do everything a divorce lawyer can do except for give you legal advice and represent you in court.  But with the statistics I mentioned above, there is very little chance you will need it.

But What If You Do Need Legal Advice?

But if you do need some legal advice, you can simply go to an attorney for a consultation.  Read this article where we discuss how you can use our services and then get a attorney consultation only when you need legal advice.

Before you run out and hire and attorney, we recommend you call our divorce service to see if we can help you.  Chances are you will not need an attorney and you will not need to spend thousands of dollars for your divorce case.

We Have Helped 1000’s Of Clients Complete Their Divorce

We have helped thousands of clients get through their divorce without the need for a divorce lawyer.  Our clients come from all walks of life and income levels.  But there is one common theme among them.

None of them want to spend thousands of dollars on their divorce.

Call us today to discuss your options with your divorce.  We will be the first people to tell you if we think you need an attorney.  And if you do, we would be happy to refer you to an experienced divorce attorney.

 

Divorce Settlement | California Divorce Marital Settlement Agreement

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

The Best Way To Complete Your California Divorce Is Through A Divorce Settlement Agreement

Did you know that the courts want you to come to an agreement about the terms of your California divorce.  That’s right. They don’t want you in their court and they want you to figure it out.

They know that you and your spouse are the persons who know whats best for the two of you as it pertains to a divorce settlement.

Here is a quick video where we discuss what a marital settlement agreement is.

What Is A Divorce Settlement Agreement?

A divorce settlement agreement (Also known as a Marital Settlement Agreement) is simply a document that will detail all the agreements of your divorce.  This will cover all areas of the divorce such as:

  • Division of Assets and Debts
  • Spousal Support
  • Child Support
  • Parenting plans
  • And anything else you want included in the final agreement

The Marital Settlement Agreement Is The Final Step To Divorce

Too often, our clients are trying to figure out the entire terms of their divorce before they even take the first step to starting their divorce.  This is putting the cart before the horse.

There is no way you can decide on how to divvy up your assets and debts until both parties have completed their financial disclosures which will allow both of you to have a complete understanding of what is on the table and what needs to be divided.

So What Do You Do?

We recommend that you call our divorce service to discuss the issues of your divorce.  Most people do not need an attorney for their divorce case.

We can help you complete all the steps of your divorce including drafting the Marital Settlement Agreement to be attached to your final judgment in your divorce.

Call us to discuss your options.  We have helped thousands of people complete their divorce.  We are a licensed and bonded divorce document preparation firm that specializes in only divorce.

The owner, Tim Blankenship, is a leader in the legal services field and has worked for the Los Angeles Superior Courts and for major area law firms.  Tim has wrote over 1000 articles related to divorce, has hundreds of “how to” and instructional divorce videos and has a daily podcast.

You can reach us direct at 661-281-0266.  We would be happy to discuss your case and let you know if you are a good fit for our service.

California Spousal Support | What You Need To Know About Spousal Support In California

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

California Spousal Support | What You Need To Know About Spousal Support In California

We have many clients that have questions about Spousal Support.  When going through divorce in California, it is important that you understand how Spousal Support works.

Watch this quick video that discusses spousal support.

Do You Have These Questions About Spousal Support?

  • How Does Spousal Support Work?
  • How is Spousal Support Determined?
  • Can I Get Spousal Support
  • Will I Have To Pay Spousal Support
  • How Much Spousal Support Will I Have To Pay?

How Spousal Support Works And Is Determined

Spousal Support is determined by 2 things.

  1. Income of the parties
  2. Length of Marriage
  3. Need for support

Spousal support calculations can be complex, but at the basic level, this is what is boils down to.

Basic Rules of Spousal Support

  • If you make more money than your spouse, you may have to pay Spousal Support
  • If your marriage is longer than 10 years, the court can retain jurisdiction over spousal support for ever
  • In most cases, the parties can agree to waive spousal support

How Is Spousal Support Determined

As mentioned above, spousal support is determined by how long the marriage was, how much each of the parties make and if there is a need for spousal support.

The Court uses a program called a “Dissomaster” which runs a calculation to determine how much spousal support will be.  The resulting dollar amount is called “Guideline spousal support”.  This means it is simply a guideline.  The parties can agree to more or less Spousal Support than the Guideline amount.

We Can Help You Determine Spousal Support

We are a licensed and bonded divorce document preparation firm.  We specialize in helping clients get through divorce without attorneys and offer a flat fee divorce service.

Part of our services is to help you determine how much spousal support will be if you plan on paying or receiving spousal support.  As mentioned above, you can always decide to waive spousal support.

Your decision to waive spousal support is up to the parties.

We Have The Courts Dissomaster Program

One of the hardest things you will find is that there is no way to get your hands on a Dissomaster report without calling a divorce attorney.  We have found that divorce attorneys are charging $250 just to run a simple Dissomaster spousal support calculation.

Well we have the dissomaster program and running spousal support calculations are part of our flat fee service.

When you work with our divorce service to prepare your divorce case, we will include a dissomaster printout (which is required by the way) when you are going through a divorce in California.  This includes even when you are asking the court to waive spousal support.

Call Us Today!

If you are considering a divorce and want to save thousands of dollars by not hiring an attorney, please give us a call.  We have helped 1,000’s of people complete their divorce without the need for attorneys.

You can reach us at 661-281-0266.

California Divorce | What You Need To Know About Divorce In California

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

There is a lot to know about California divorce. This article will discuss some broad aspects about divorce and what you need to know about divorce in California.

We specialize in divorce in California so we know what questions you have about divorce.

We are a licensed and bonded legal document preparation firm that specializes in divorce.  We help people everyday with their divorce, so we have a pretty good idea of the information you want to know.

If you have searched and found this page, you are most likely at the beginning stages of your research on the issue of divorce.

So let’s discuss some of the considerations you should be thinking about at this stage.

The Divorce Process

One of the first basic questions about divorce is the divorce process itself.  Let’s talk about a few key issues regarding the California Divorce Process.

How Long Does Divorce Take in California?

California has what is called a “cooling off period”.  This cooling off period is 6 months.  This means that your divorce cannot be finalized until 6 months have passed since one of you have been served.  The 6 month clock does not start ticking until the papers have been served.

How much does it cost to get divorced?

The average cost of divorce in California is estimated at $15,000.  I know, that is ridiculous.  Even if you have an easy, uncontested case, divorce attorneys want $5,000 just to get your divorce case stated.  That is why we started this company providing flat fee divorce services.  When you use our services, the cost to file for divorce starts at just $599.

Do You Need An Attorney For Divorce In California?

The answer is NO.  You do not need an attorney for your California Divorce.  You can represent yourself during your divorce.  However, the divorce process is long and complex.  While it is possible to do your own divorce, most people will fail due to the complexity.

We Are Your Solution To Getting Divorced In California!

We are your solution to this problem.  We are a full service divorce company.  We are not attorneys, but are licensed to assist those going through divorce by providing a full service divorce process.  We take care of your entire divorce for one low flat fee.

In all honesty, there is too much information about divorce that can be covered in one article.  The best way to learn more is to call our office and speak to one of our knowledgeable divorce specialists.  Everyone’s situation is just a little different.

We are the only company in Los Angeles County that specializes in divorce.  We have worked for the Los Angeles Superior Courts and large area family law firms and we have helped 1,000’s of people complete their divorce.  We are members of the Los Angeles County Bar Association and Santa Clarita Valley Bar Association.

Call us to learn more about the California divorce process and how we can help you.  You can reach us at 661-281-0266

Information You Need To File For Divorce In California | Santa Clarita Divorce Service

Posted by Tim Blankenship on

Many people feel that they need to have everything figured out regarding their divorce before they file.  This is not true.

In this post, we will discuss the basic information and forms you need to file your case in California.

The first form you will need is the Petition.  This is form FL-100 and will contain most of the information about your requests and statistical information about your marriage.  Here is the information you need to complete the Petition for divorce.

  1. Your name, address and phone number
  2. Your spouses name address and phone number
  3. Date of marriage
  4. Date of separation
  5. Children’s names, date of birth and city & state they were born
  6. Your requests for legal and physical custody of the children
  7. Who is going to pay attorney fees?
  8. Do you want spousal support?
  9. Do you want to pay spousal support?

That is all the information you need to file the divorce Petition in California.

Next is the divorce summons.  This form only contains your name and address. It is fairly straight forward and does not even require a signature.

Depending on what county you file for divorce in, there will be some kind of case assignment sheet.  They go by different names.   It may be called a “Family Law Case Cover Sheet” or “Notice of Case Assignment”  All it is for is to let the court know where you reside so they can make sure you are filing in the proper court.

The last form you will need is the UCCJEA.  This form wants to know the names of your children and where they have lived for the last 5 years.  The court also wants to know if there are any other cases involving your minor children.

So there are only 3 forms you need to file for divorce.  There are 4 if you have children.

You don’t need much information to file for divorce in California.

When you use our Santa Clarita divorce service, these are the first set of divorce forms we will complete for you and which will be filed with the court and served on your spouse.

We are a licensed and bonded legal document preparation firm that specializes in divorce.  Please give us a call for more information.