There’s always paperwork!

Later in this blog I’ll discuss different ways to approach your family law case, but in every case there is one constant- paperwork.

No matter if it’s a divorce, a custody case, child support, or even a domestic violence case, paperwork must be completed, filed, and then processed by the court.

Most family law cases are not “finished” until a judgment is entered on the court record.

For example, for a divorce in California, the minimum amount of paperwork usually includes (a) the petition paperwork, (b) proof of service of summons, (c) proof regarding disclosures and service of a preliminary financial disclosures, and (d) your judgment paperwork.  The judicial council even created a form giving the bare minimum steps for a legal separation or divorce in California- Form FL-107-INFO. Here’s a link to the form- https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fl107info.pdf . If you want court orders, the paperwork must be done.

When you file paperwork with the court for the first time, there is typically an initial filing fee. At the time of writing this blog, in Orange County, California, the initial filing fee was $435. It is possible to apply for a fee waiver for this cost.