How To Prepare Your Divorce Judgment Correctly

When it comes to finalizing a divorce, preparing your divorce judgment package correctly is crucial. Many individuals find their submissions rejected due to improper order or missing documentation. In this guide, we’ll walk through the essential steps and forms needed to ensure your divorce judgment is accepted without a hitch.

Understanding the Divorce Judgment Package

The divorce judgment package is a crucial part of the divorce process. It includes all necessary forms and documents that outline the terms of your divorce. If you’ve faced rejection, it might be due to incorrect order or missing forms. To avoid this, let’s break down the components of the package and how to organize them properly.

The FL-180 Form

Start with the FL-180 form, which serves as the cover sheet for your judgment. On the second page, you’ll find several areas that may apply to your situation, including:

• Children
• Parentage
• Child Support
• Spousal Support
• Property Division
• Attorney’s Fees and Costs

These items are listed as J through N on the second page of the FL-180. Use this as a guide to determine the order in which you will submit your judgment.

Order of Documents

Let’s assume that several items apply to your case. If you have children, you will want to include child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, and property division. Here’s the order you should follow:

1. FL-190: Notice regarding responsibility for children (not on FL-180)
2. FL-341: Child Custody and Visitation Attachment
3. FL-342: Child Support Order
4. FL-343: Spousal Support Order
5. FL-345: Property Division

It’s essential to keep these attachments in the specified order as you staple them together.

Separating the Judgment Package

When you’re ready to submit your judgment package, remember that the actual judgment (FL-180) should be on top, followed by the attachments we just discussed. However, there are additional forms that need to be submitted separately:

• Request to Enter Default (if applicable)
• Notice of Entry of Judgment
• Stipulation Waiver
• Final Declaration of Disclosure
• Declaration for Default and Uncontested Dissolution or Legal Separation

Each of these should be submitted individually, with three copies of everything. This is critical because if they are stapled together with the judgment, the court may reject the entire package simply because they don’t want to deal with the hassle of unstapling documents.

Common Reasons for Rejection

Many people encounter rejection due to a few common mistakes. Here are some reasons your divorce judgment might be turned away:

• Incorrect order of documents
• Missing forms or attachments
• Not following the court’s specific instructions for submission
• Inaccurate or incomplete information on forms

Being aware of these pitfalls can help you navigate the submission process smoothly.

Final Thoughts

Preparing your divorce judgment package correctly is essential to avoid unnecessary delays and rejections. By following the outlined steps and ensuring you have all the necessary forms in the correct order, you can streamline the process and move forward with your life. If you have any questions or need assistance with your divorce case, don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

For personalized support, feel free to contact me directly at 661-281-0266 or visit our website at divorce661.com. We’re here to help you through this challenging time.

Thank you for reading, and I hope this information helps you successfully navigate your divorce process!