Sacramento, CA family law attorney Mary Molinaro provide a quick overview of the divorce process in California. The divorce process in California commences with the filing of a petition, followed by the requirement for a response to be submitted within 30 days, unless an extension is granted. The divorce cannot be finalized in less than six months and one day from the respondent’s first appearance in the case. If a petitioner files for divorce, the other party has six months and one day from the filing or service of the petition to finalize the divorce, due to California’s mandatory waiting period.

However, this does not imply that the divorce is automatically completed at that time; action must be taken to advance the process through the court or via mutual agreement. During this waiting period, California mandates specific disclosures, which involve the statutory obligation of each party to provide detailed information regarding the identification, characterization, and valuation of all their assets and debts. Additionally, parties are required to voluntarily exchange information about their income and expenses at two specifically defined points in the divorce process.

Once these disclosures are completed, and assuming there is an agreement between the parties, that agreement becomes the final judgment of divorce. This judgment includes all components, such as property division, custody agreements, and support arrangements.