Ventura County, California Divorce Lawyers and Family Law Attorneys
Divorce in Ventura County, California
About California Divorce Law
There are three main ways to end a marriage in California: divorce, legal separation, and annulment. It is not necessary for both spouses to agree to end the marriage since the State of California is a “no fault” divorce state. Either spouse can decide to end the marriage and the other spouse even if he or she does not want to get a divorce, cannot stop the process by refusing to participate in the case. If a spouse does not participate in the divorce case, the other spouse will still be able to get a “default” judgment and the divorce will go through. In order to file for divorce in Ventura County, California, at least one of the parties must have resided in California for at least six months prior to filing, and in Ventura County where he/she plans to file for the divorce, for the prior three months.
Legal Separation and Annulment
A legal separation, however, is a court order that mandates the rights and duties of a couple while they are still married, but living apart. The procedure for legal separation in California is very similar to divorce. California family law court will decide on issues such as alimony, child custody and visitation, child support and division of property. An annulment is when a court says your marriage is not legally valid. Annulment is important because there are situations where a person in a void marriage could claim certain property rights or even ask for support.
Divorce Procedure in Ventura County, California
The California divorce process is a system of steps and procedures that carry the case from the initial filing petition through trial. The divorce process begins when one person (the petitioner) files a petition for dissolution with the court. The other person (the respondent) has 30 days in which to respond to the court. After filing for divorce, there is a mandatory six month waiting period before the divorce may become final.
Consult a Divorce Lawyer in Ventura County, California
There are variety areas of California Family Law for divorce including Annulment, Alimony (Spousal Support), child custody and visitation, child support and division of property. Divorce can be very stressful and emotional. That is why you need to hire a divorce lawyer in Ventura County, California who not only knows the law but also understands what you are going through to help and protect during the difficult time. At the Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton, we work with our clients individually and come out the best solutions for your own case. To address your family issues, please consult our attorneys at (310) 300-4021.
