There are three options to end a California marriage: divorce, legal separation, and annulment. Here is what you need to know.

What our Clients Say...
“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
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M. Rice
“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. Hannon
“I thought I could save money and file my own divorce paperwork. The court clerks offer no assistance whatsoever! The best advice I can give is to call A People’s Choice first. They typed up my paperwork and my divorce was final in two weeks! Would highly recommend them to everyone.”
L. Bayer
“So glad I found this company to handle my divorce. They were very professional and detail oriented, answering all of my (many) questions and kept me informed. 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!”
Jessica J.
“I would just like to comment on what a great job A People’s Choice did with my divorce. I could not be happier. They 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. APeoples Choice is a good deal for the consumer.”
R. Leyva
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C. Lazalde
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Pam T.
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Kristina C.
“My wife and I needed to have papers filed in court but found traditional lawyers were quite expensive. A People’s Choice did a professional job completing our paperwork and I might say, at a very reasonable price. You can bet I will contact A People’s Choice again if or when the need arises. “
D. Hileman
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R. Betancourt
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Tar
“I used A People’s Choice to complete custody paperwork. No disappointment here. The service was easy and painless. It might have been nice to have a discussion by phone, but it was still quite easy and quick via email. Overall, the process was simple and I would use A People’s Choice again.”
Michael J.
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Diana K.
“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.
“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.
“Very professional, excellent follow up and easy to work with. I will recommend them often! The staff rocks!”
Gene A.
“I had the opportunity to use A People’s Choice again, Wow doesn’t say enough for the way the staff was able to get me in and out and all my answers answered. Very P-professional, organized and Friendly. I highly recommend!”
Debbie E.
“I’ve 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
“A People’s Choice is awesome! They made the legal documentation process painless. I highly recommend A People’s Choice. The name says it all.”
Eric J.
“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.
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Kathryn R.
“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. Directions were very easy to understand. Will definitely use them again if I need.
Frank M.
“A People’s Choice prepares legal documents so you can represent yourself and still look like you know what you’re doing. I utilized their services recently and found them to be professional as well as extremely helpful. I couldn’t be happier.”
Evan J.
“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. I highly recommend their services.”
Leigh A.
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Debra H.
“I can’t remember how I found A People’s Choice, but am completely satisfied with the service provided. The person I worked with was very friendly whenever we spoke on the phone and always responded promptly to any emails. The entire process was smooth and painless. Would recommend A People’s Choice without hesitation.”
Les A.
“When I first saw all of the documents required to file I was overwhelmed. Already dealing with the stress of everything else, I did not want to deal with the courts, a mountain load of paperwork and trips to file as well. I’m VERY happy that I went with A People’s Choice. They were very helpful, despite all of my questions. I definitely recommend.”
M. McCleod
“Great service. Highly professional and efficient creating legal documents. I am completely satisfied and highly recommend them to others. I am so glad I found you on the internet. People who are looking for professional legal services look no further, try A People’s Choice.”
Radtech N.
“Overwhelmed with my divorce, custody and child support paperwork, A Peoples 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.
“A People’s Choice is a business that delivers what they promise. I was treated like a VIP by their staff. As for their services, they promptly delivered all of the official documents and fillings on my behalf and their price is more than reasonable. In short, this is a business that I will always recommend and continue to use. Thank you!”
Juan B.
“I had contacted a lawyer and he wanted to charge me $1800.00. Then I found A People’s Choice. They got my paperwork started and at a much lower cost, and steered me, with the help of lots of paperwork, in the right direction. I am grateful for the company’s services and would recommend them to anyone that may need the services they offer.”
April R.
“Highly recommend A People’s Choice. The customer service and professionalism are exceptional. My documents were delivered to me quickly and accurately. 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.
“I needed help understanding and filling out legal documents, but I didn’t have enough money to pay for an attorney. The staff at A People’s Choice was very professional and helpful. They took care of all of the paperwork and filings and kept me posted. I would highly recommend them. You will get outstanding service at an affordable price. “
Sharon B.

Get help filing a California Divorce, Legal Separation or Annulment!

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Use Divorce to End a California Marriage

Divorce is one of the most common options used by couples to end their marriage.  In a divorce, the marriage is legally ended and two people are then are free to remarry after the court enters judgment and the designated “termination date” passes. For example, in California, a spouse can file a divorce based on “irreconcilable differences” between partners. In other words, California is a “no-fault” state, and a party who wants a divorce does not have to prove any other reason. For this reason, the court does not determine a party “guilty” during the divorce proceeding.  When considering your options to end a California marriage, remember that in all proceedings the court will be able to make order on child custody, child support, spousal support, division of assets, and who is responsible for paying debts.

To file for divorce, you must meet the requirements. In this regard, one spouse must have lived in California for the past six months and in the county where the divorce is filed for the past three months.  Remember, in California, the termination date of the marriage cannot take place before six months after filing the case and serving the other party.  If a couple does not meet the residency requirement to file divorce in California, but would like to start the divorce process as soon as possible, they can file for a legal separation. Afterward, once they meet the residence requirement, the Petition for legal separation can be amended to a divorce.

Use Legal Separation to End a California Marriage

The main difference between a divorce and a legal separation is that in a legal separation the spouses are not free to remarry because they are still technically “married.”  It is important to realize, however, that like a divorce, a court will still make orders on all issues of the marriage. In other words, the court will make orders on child custody, child support, spousal support, and division of property and debts.  In the event a couple opts for a legal separation instead of a divorce, there is no residency requirement other than living in California at the time of filing.  There are many reasons a couple may want to file legal separation and not a divorce. A couple may choose to file legal separation because of religious beliefs or personal objections to divorce. As a result, filing legal separation will allow the court to settle support, property and other issues.  Using legal separation to end a California marriage may allow a spouse to stay on the other’s health insurance. Although this may be true, we have heard stories of some insurance companies attempting to disallow this between separated spouses.

Use Annulment to End a California Marriage

The third option for ending a marriage in California is an annulment.  In an annulment proceeding, the court will declare that the marriage was never legally valid.  This is like “unringing the bell.” Be that as it may, unlike a divorce or legal separation, an annulment the court will grant an annulment only for specific reasons. Under California law, the reasons for an annulment are:

  1. The marriage is incestuous.  (i.e. the spouses are close relatives.)
  2. The marriage is bigamous.  One or both spouses were legally married at the time of the wedding.
  3. One spouse was under the age of 18 at the time of the marriage and did not have parental permission to marry.
  4. The marriage was the result of force or fraud.
  5. One spouse was mentally incapacitated at the time of the marriage.

The partner seeking an annulment must prove why the court should annul the marriage. To prove their case, the Petitioner must testify in person and present evidence in a formal court hearing before a judge. If the judge believes the Petitioner’s reasons satisfy the legal requirement, they will grant the annulment. Note that a religious annulment is not the same as a legal annulment.  Even if a couple gets an annulment from a church, they will still have to obtain a legal annulment or a divorce before they can remarry.

Contact A People’s Choice for more information on the various options to end a marriage in California. Learn more about the differences between divorce, legal separation and annulment. We offer full-service, low-cost document preparation and case help to complete a California divorce, legal separation or annulment. If you have immediate questions, please call us at 800-747-2780.

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