California Divorce

A divorce is the process by which a marriage is unwound and the bonds of matrimony dissolved, returning the parties back to an unmarried "single" status, granting to each the right to re-marry someone else. During this process, the marital property is divided, custody and visitation of children are determined, and financial support (spousal, child, attorney fees) is calculated.

Parties often find themselves in court at the onset of the divorce process, in order to request temporary orders, such as for custody, exclusive use of a family home, restraining orders, support and payment of attorney fees. Whereas the courts often justify these orders as restoring parties to their original status quo immediately prior to the divorce commencement or to ensure order, often the initial orders obtained will be determinative of the outcome of the case. It is for this reason that careful attention and effort must be given to the work done at the initial stage of a divorce.

In California, the soonest parties can be restored to "single" unmarried status is six months from the onset of the case. Nonetheless, if the parties agree in advance, their agreement may be submitted to the court as a judgment prior to the completion of the six month period. It may contain orders that become effective immediately upon signature by a judicial officer of the court, but may also specify the future date that the parties will be restored to "single" status to comply with the legal requirement.

Often, it takes time to sort through and evaluate the marital estate and resolve the primary issues of custody and support. Once a couple has obtained a Judgment on some aspects of their case, the case may still not be over if there are lingering issues that have not yet been resolved or addressed by the court.

Most times, life altering issues are decided during the divorce, which have significant ramifications in each of the party’s lives for many years to come after the divorce is "final". Even when a couple agrees, careful attention and scrupulous detail must be given to their Judgment to prevent serious and unintended results which affect a client’s custody, visitation, property and support rights.

This is why it is important to have excellent legal counsel at every stage throughout the process. Taking a team approach, the Law Offices of Peter J. Babos works with its clients to develop and execute plans and goals to achieve the client’s desired results while balancing the concerns of costs.

For more information and a free consultation, please call us at (310) 248-4822.