The Los Angeles Divorce Process

The Divorce process in Los Angeles is the same for all counties in California.A California Divorce requires a number of steps:

1. file the petition
2. serve the spouse
3. wait 30 days
4. if no response, request to enter default paperwork with the court
5. if there are issues & the spouse agrees on the issues, a Marital Settlement Agreement can be prepared that, in most cases, will avoid a court appearance
6. if the spouse responds when served, you are in a contested Divorce and you will need to secure a trial date, have a trial brief prepared and go to trial on the specified date

There is also the option to file a Request for Order for temporary orders while the Divorce is in progress. The request may be for spousal support or the custody, visitation and support of children.

The best starting point is to speak with an experienced Divorce Lawyer who can advise you, explain the process and discuss your options.