An estimated 202,000 Californians divorced in 2017. While hundreds of thousands of Cali residents divorce every year, not everyone is as prepared for their divorce as they should be. For this reason, Stolar and Associates created this quick do’s and don’ts checklist.
DO’S OF DIVORCE
1. HIRE A KNOWLEDGEABLE FAMILY LAW LAWYER
Marriage is a complicated legal process, which means divorce is also a highly complex legal process. Without a knowledgeable divorce attorney on your side, you may accidentally agree to an unfavorable divorce scenario. However, with Stolar Law Group on your side, you can rest easy knowing we have your best interests at heart.
2. TAKE IT SERIOUSLY
When someone surprises their spouse with divorce papers, the spouse often believes they are immune to divorce because they don’t consent to it. In California, only one party has to consent to divorce for it to take place, which means the nonconsenting party is along for the ride regardless of his or her feelings. Therefore, if you’re served with divorce papers, you need to take it seriously.
3. EXPLORE YOUR DIVORCE OPTIONS
Divorcing couples who don’t see eye-to-eye need judges to rule on the outcomes of their marriages. However, not every couple disagrees with how property and family should be divided. If you and your spouse agree on the terms of your divorce (also known as an uncontested divorce), you can submit a marital settlement agreement to court. If you think this is a viable option for you, contact Stolar Law Group for assistance with your uncontested divorce.
DON’TS OF DIVORCE
1. SEND NEGATIVE MESSAGES TO YOUR SPOUSE BY SOCIAL MEDIA, E-MAIL, OR TEXT
Research shows that social media sites are mentioned in the pleadings of more than half of all divorce cases across the county. One of the main reasons that Facebook is becoming a star witness in divorce proceedings is message history. Spouses who use social media to abuse or threaten their significant other verbally will often have these messages used against them in divorce proceedings. Therefore, it’s wise to stay off all social media during a divorce.
2. SIGN PAPERWORK YOU DON’T 100% UNDERSTAND
A signature means a lot in the legal world, so when you’re asked to sign on the dotted line, make sure you know what you’re talking about. If your soon-to-be-ex asks you to sign something, make sure you talk to an attorney before you put down your signature!
3. SHARE BANK ACCOUNTS & CREDIT CARDS WITH YOUR SPOUSE
Once you serve your spouse, or if they served you, it’s essential you use separate bank accounts for here on out. You don’t want to use a joint card/account to make more purchases, as it will only create more work for you down the line when dividing assets.
These tips are only some of the top do’s and don’ts of a California divorce. If you need legal guidance for your divorce proceedings, call 424-421-0009 now to talk to a family law lawyer about your divorce.
