2020 has been an unprecedented year, and you may have reached the decision that the only way to achieve peace of mind in 2021 is to separate from your spouse. Perhaps you have decided to make a clean break and file for divorce as soon as employees of the courthouse log into their work email in the new year. That is right: Divorce Monday is just around the corner. Think of the remaining days of 2020 as divorce preparation season. If you do your research, the procedural aspects of divorce can be easy, especially if you hire a California legal document assistant to prepare your divorce paperwork.
Figure Out If You Qualify for a Summary Dissolution of Marriage
There are different types of divorce preparation forms. For short term marriages, you can file a summary dissolution of marriage. If you and your spouse had a short marriage with little financial entanglement, a summary dissolution can be just what you need. These are the main requirements for a California summary dissolution of marriage:
- You and your spouse do not have children together
- The time from your wedding to your final separation was not more than five years
- Your marital property, not including cars, is valued at less than $40,000
- Each person’s separate property, not including cars, is valued at less than $40,000
- Your marital debts do not exceed $6,000
Be Realistic About Your Finances
Even if you and your spouse do not own much property together, it is important to be honest with yourself and with each other about how much you own and how much you owe. Financial disclosures are part of every divorce case, even the simplest ones. California is a community property state, so each spouse keeps half of the marital property. Start your divorce preparation and post-divorce preparation to achieve a future in which half of your current marital property is in your possession.
Be Realistic About How Amicable Your Divorce can be
If your ultimate goal is to remain friends with your spouse during and after your divorce, you might make a lot of financial decisions that are penny wise and pound foolish. During your marriage, your spouse might have been vague and evasive about finances, and you might have let it go, in order to keep the peace. Your divorce is the right time to ask straightforward questions about your spouse’s assets and debts. If you have children, it is still possible to get divorced without a lawyer, but do not put any “let’s decide later” provisions in your parenting plan, because you are setting yourself up for future conflict. Now is the time to overcome your fear of confrontation, at least temporarily.
Do Not Make Plans to be Single Before the Middle of the Summer
Even in the simplest divorce cases, the soonest you can be single is six months and one day after you serve your spouse with divorce papers. Although the divorce preparation process may be fairly simple, if you file for divorce on Divorce Monday, do not set a wedding date to marry your new partner before July.
Choose A People’s Choice for Divorce Preparation
No matter your path to divorce, a non-attorney legal document assistant makes the divorce preparation process simpler and more affordable. Contact A People’s Choice to get started on your divorce preparation now. You can reach us at 800-747-2780.
Was this article helpful? We would love to know your thoughts! If you found this article helpful, please check the LIKE button below. Your feedback helps us plan topics for future articles.
Leave A Comment