How to File for Divorce in Ventura County, CA Written By Sandra McCarthy Founder, A People’s Choice Fact Checked Fact Checked By: Ian Corzine Ian Corzine got his Juris Doctorate degree with Honors and Order of the Coif from University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from University of California, Davis. Before practicing law, Mr. Corzine was Executive Assistant to the Governor of California and studied public administration during his term as a California Executive Fellow. In law school, Mr. Corzine joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of California, as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, prosecuting those arrested for crimes on federal lands. After law school, Hon. Peter A. Nowinski of the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California, appointed Mr. Corzine as a Federal Judicial Law Clerk. Ian is widely known as “Metaverse Man” on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms. He gives businesses strategies and a roadmap for launching their business into the Metaverse. Since Ian has extensive experience in social media law, he advises companies on compliance with international laws on blockchain, crypto, Web3 & the Metaverse. Some marriages can be saved, but sometimes, there is no other option but to end a marriage. Once you’ve decided you need a divorce, if you’re a resident of Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, or another city in the area, the next big question is how to file for divorce in Ventura County, CA. We have created this article to give you the best, easiest, and most reliable way you can file for divorce in Ventura county, California. Read on to learn more about filing for divorce in your local courthouse or even online. “This team is efficient, professional, ethical and easy to work with. Any of my questions were responded to immediately. They did everything they could to help me. 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So glad I used their services.“ Kristina C. “Very professional, excellent follow up and easy to work with. I will recommend them often! The staff rocks!” Gene A. “A People’s Choice helped me with my QDRO. They were very professional and very honest. They saved me a lot of money by having them do all the paperwork. There was no hidden fees. I would recommend A People’s Choice for any of your needs. They are very knowledgeable in what they do. Thank you A People’s Choice for all your help!” Debra H. “I want to personally thank the staff at A People’s Choice for making my divorce process so simple and painless . From my 1st contact in the office they were was warm and friendly and took the time to explain each step in a very simple and quick manner .Filing for a divorce can be a difficult and painful process and the staff was extremely professional and clear in all guidance and explanations. I highly recommend A People’s Choice.” C. 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All e-mails were answered with either a phone call or e-mail sometimes even late at night“ Tar “I used A People’s Choice for filing divorce paperwork for an uncontested divorce. The price was very affordable and fair. Excellent service throughout. Not being able to call and talk on the phone worried me at first but they responded to every email extremely quickly. There directions were very easy to understand and they had no problem explaining something multiple times if I had questions or did not fully understand the directions. Will definitely use them again for any other legal documents I might need help with in the future.” Frank M. “Thank you A People’s Choice for saving me all the headaches when I thought I could save money and file my own divorce paperwork. The court clerks offer no assistance whatsoever with simple questions and handed me another packet to figure out on my own. Trust me, the best advice I can give you is to call A People’s Choice first. They typed up my paperwork and my divorce was final in two weeks! I am so grateful to them and I would highly recommend them to everyone.” L. Bayer “A People’s Choice prepares legal documents so you can represent yourself and still look like you know what you’re doing. I used their services recently and found them to be professional as well as extremely helpful. I couldn’t be happier.” Evan J. “I recently required the help of A People’s Choice, Inc. and found them to be entirely professional. Everything was done in short order yet all was explained to my satisfaction. They were friendly and courteous. I am happy and impressed.” C. Zyobel “I would just like to comment on what a great job A People’s Choice did with my divorce. I have just received the final judgement and could not be happier. They told me up front what the cost would be. They also let me know how they keep the cost down by communicating through email. I also appreciated how when I had a question they got back with me in the day or in the evening. Thank You for you quick responses. A People’s Choice is a good deal for the consumer.” R. Leyva “I have worked with A People’s Choice since September 2013. They are very knowledgeable and experienced. Their work is done professionally and timely. They show a real concern for my situation. I recommend you give them the opportunity to be of service to you.” D. Echeverra “How much is peace of mind worth to you? This company of hardworking, caring individuals will help you get the job done in the quickest, most efficient way. Conveniently located. Check it out. Thank you!” Diana K. “I’m so glad I found this company to handle my divorce. They were very professional and detail oriented and answered all of my (many) questions, keeping me informed along the way. They handled everything for me from hundreds of miles away and made it pretty seamless. The pricing was in the exact range we were looking for. Very honest company and great to work with. Highly recommend them to anyone!” Jessica J. “I just recently moved to the Ventura area and didn’t know of any companies to help me with my legal paperwork. I am glad I chose A People’s Choice. They were very friendly and helped me with my documents in a very efficient way in very little time. Give them a try and you will be writing a positive review just as I did.” D. Buelna “Great way to get your divorce processed without attorneys for approx. $495. There were a few small hiccups with the documents, but nothing major, which I caught when I reviewed. I am happy with their service, efficient and organized, and would recommend them for filing a divorce that is mutually settled and skip the attorneys. Note: They are not process servers, so find your own server, or if you can do it yourself and save the $$. Thanks for a job well done!” Bud P. “Lightning fast response, I had my very simple document on the same day as my order for the very fair and reasonable price of $325 (including the rush fee!) compared to my attorney who quoted me 3 weeks and $2500. I will definitely use these folks again and highly recommend them!” L. Carnes “Divorce is usually never pleasant but A People’s Choice made it much easier than it would have been if we tried to do the divorce paperwork on our own. They were very quick to respond to us and always took the time to answer all of our questions thoroughly, in addition to quickly. I would highly recommend them for handling divorce paperwork.” Susan Z. “I highly recommend A People’s Choice.The customer service and professionalism is exceptional. My documents were delivered to me quickly and accurately. I didn’t contact them until late on Thursday afternoon and had everything in hand to be at the County Government Center by 8:00 am on Friday morning. Compared to using an attorney for complete paperwork, this service is only a fraction of the cost, more responsive, and better suited to quickly completing complicated court forms. “ Linda F. “This company is excellent! They helped me get through all of my paperwork, submitted it to the court, and now everything is complete. Everything was clear and almost too easy. I saved thousands of dollars!” Seth M. “I was very happy with the service received. They were extremely responsive by phone and email and completed the document in less than 24 hours! All questions were answered promptly. I would highly recommend this service to anyone needing a legal document prepared!” M.D. “A People’s Choice is a great option to get legal documents prepared inexpensively. They offer a very professional, low-cost service for all sorts of legal paperwork, from living trusts to divorce, bankruptcy and everything in between. I always received a prompt reply to my inquiries and found the legal guide they gave me extremely helpful and informative. If you know what you want to do, don’t need legal advice and just need help preparing legal paperwork, I strongly recommend calling this company. You won’t be disappointed and will save lots of money as compared to using an expensive attorney!” Kathryn R. “I was overwhelmed with my divorce,custody and child support paperwork Sandy at People’s Choice made everything so much easier and really put my mind at ease. I couldn’t be happier with their assistance and it really made all the process speed up for me. Thank you so much for all your help.” Samantha R. Filing for Divorce in Ventura County, CA: Getting Started To get started with your divorce, you may want to consider whether you’re eligible for divorce and what the legal reason for your divorce will be. We’ll quickly cover that in this first section. Requirements for Filing for Divorce in Ventura County, CA Not all couples residing in Ventura county can file for a divorce. To qualify, you or your spouse need to: Lived in California for half a year or more Be a resident of Ventura county for at least three months If you have children, your children must be California residents for you to take them to court for custody proceedings. Typically, they must have resided in California for at least six months before any proceedings can occur. Grounds for Divorce in Ventura County, CA To file a divorce in Ventura county, California, the party that institutes the divorce has to submit a divorce petition following the correct filing procedure. The document must include one of the grounds for divorce the state’s family code provides. But what exactly are those grounds for divorce in your area? According to California Family Code, Sec. 2310, here are the grounds for divorce in Ventura county: Incurable insanity is when a veritable medical or psychiatric source attests to one of the spouses being incapacitated. This call can’t be made at your absolute discretion; filing for incurable insanity divorce is very complicated.1 Irreconcilable differences are responsible for a marriage’s irreparable breakdown. However, California is a no-fault state. This means seeking a marital settlement agreement based on irreconcilable differences is sufficient. Different Forms for Various Marriage Annulment Cases in Ventura County, California When you’re ready to proceed, it’s time to consider the paperwork. Every court proceeding requires a specific set of forms, such as form FL-195 and form FL-341A. Some are optional forms as well. That said, here are the divorce forms needed for divorce in Ventura county, California. Keep track of your costs to file the forms using the CA fee schedule. General Forms for Divorce in Ventura County, CA Petition Summons Response Declaration of Disclosure Separation Agreement Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution Notice of Entry of Judgement Proof of Service Ventura County Divorce Decree or Judgement Property Declaration financial forms Declaration Regarding Service or Stipulation and Waiver Forms for Divorce in Ventura County, CA with Children Moreover, if the marriage involves minor children (age range below eighteen), the list of forms required will also include: Declaration under UCCJEA Child Support Case Registry Form Child Support Calculations Parenting Time Order Attachment Notice of Rights and Responsibilities Child Support Information and Order Attachment Income and Expense Declaration Keep in mind that the list above doesn’t cover all the additional forms needed for a divorce case in Ventura county, California. A divorce case may be a contested or uncontested divorce, property inclusive, or involve child custody, perhaps even all three. Hence, divorce cases vary, and so do the documents involved. If you need help with your paperwork, don’t hesitate to reach out to A People’s Choice for a cost-effective alternative to an attorney-client relationship. Divorce Filing Fees in Ventura County, California? To file for divorce in Ventura, you will need to pay a flat fee of $435. However, you can file the Request to Waive Court Fees if you are financially incapable. The form will require information on your spending ability and finances. After, the judge determines whether the request is reasonable. Divorce with Children in Ventura County, CA Custody issues may well arise if you and your spouse have children together. This can either be resolved amicably between each party of the domestic partnership/marriage or in court. For any divorce, but especially for divorce with kids involved, things will be much easier if you and your spouse can act as a civil unit and agree on the divorce terms. If you come up with a marital settlement agreement before filing for a divorce, your case will not be left to the sole discretion of the court. This way, there are no disputes, and the court will treat the case as an uncontested divorce. If trying to do this with your spouse may be challenging, you can have an arbitrator help you and your spouse come into an arbitration agreement. For arbitration, one spouse must notify the other via written notice of dispute. Whether or not you manage to figure things out with your spouse without involving legal services, your child custody case will be one of two types: Legal and physical custody. Legal Custody: According to family law, this is the party that gets legal custody of a child. They have legal rights over all the child’s important decision-making (such as healthcare, education, and welfare.) Physical Custody: The spouse that gets physical custody of the child provides accommodation for them. According to California Family Code, Sec. 3010 – 3012, judges determine who gets custody of the child based on the child’s best interest. To decide that, the court inspects certain factors within family law like: The child’s age and health The emotional connection the child shares with each parent Each parent’s ability to care for the child History of substance abuse or violence Both legal and physical custody can be shared or handed over to a parent. The decision is dependent on the circumstances of the case. Child Support and Spousal Support Family Law Proceedings in Ventura County, California Conventionally, a child’s parents are responsible for their upkeep regardless of their marital status. Again, this is something you can negotiate directly with your spouse or battle out in court. To decide the specific amount of child support, the court considers the following: Each parent’s earning capability How many kids do you have with your spouse Each parent’s income How much time do you and your spouse individually spend with your kids Retirement contributions Support of children from other relationships Tax filing status of each parent Health insurance expenses To find out the particular amount for your case, you can use the California Guideline Child Support Calculator. Rules Guarding Spousal Support in Ventura County, CA A spouse may pay spousal support to the other under the court’s order based on California Family Code, Sec. 4320. The court considers the following when deciding how much the lower-earning spouse is entitled to: Each spouse’s age and health condition The learning capacity, education level, and financial perspectives of each party Any history of domestic violence How long has the marriage lasted Each spouse’s separate property There are also some additional terms based on California Family Code, Sec.4320, 4324, 4330. Getting a DIY Ventura County, CA Divorce Now that you know what it looks like to get a divorce in Ventura County, CA, it is time to discuss how to do it. If you live in Ventura County and want to save money completing your divorce, you may be looking for a Ventura County divorce self-help center to help you. A quick online search will usually direct you to the Ventura County Court’s Self-Help Center. You can visit the Ventura Superior County Law Library located in the Hall of Justice at 800 South Victoria Avenue Ventura. Its business days run from Monday-Friday. The Superior County Courthouse (not the City Hall) also has a customer care center for any queries. However, the Ventura County divorce civil self-help center at the courthouse may not be the best option for everyone. It typically mandates substantial tenacity and patience, requiring multiple trips to the courthouse, and early morning rises to get to the front of the line. Further, you must prepare all the required legal forms yourself, a daunting task for many people. If you’d rather skip the lines and do everything using your own hosting service providers and one initial purchase, A People’s Choice may be a better option for you. We offer family law self-help services by assisting you with your legal documents. Get a Divorce in Ventura County, CA with A People’s Choice Online Service Stop staring at your blank forms. A People’s Choice is a Ventura County divorce self-help service that provides all the divorce documents you’ll need. People who use our divorce self-help personal service enjoy the peace of mind that they will quickly complete their divorce form packets stress-free. Get help with your California legal documents today. A People’s Choice can save you hundreds of dollars by preparing your legal documents instead of an expensive attorney. We also handle a variety of other civil legal matters, including class actions, intellectual property rights, a notice of appeal documents, and much more through our family of sites, including iancorzine.com. Get help with this overwhelming family law matter today so you can move on with your life. Start My Divorce By Sandra McCarthy|September 12th, 2022|California Courts, Divorce, Family Law|2 Comments