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Sometimes after you file divorce, you discover you need to change or correct your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. Usually, you must amend a divorce petition because there was a mistake in the original filing. Sometimes a person amends the petition to change the case from divorce to legal separation or vice versa. This is not unusual, but it is important you handle the process correctly. Fortunately, you usually don't need a lawyer to amend a divorce petition. A People's Choice can help you throughout your divorce process, even if you need to make changes.

Most couples think their most valuable community property asset is their house. Surprisingly, however, the most valuable asset is often their retirement plan. Just as with other community assets, a divorcing couple must settle retirement division. In general, the law considers retirement benefits accrued during the marriage until the time of separation as community property. This article will explain the steps to divide retirement in divorce.

Probably the simplest type of divorce occurs when both parties want to end the marriage and are cooperating. You can file divorce when both parties agree by completing an "uncontested divorce" process. Because uncontested divorce is faster, easier, and less expensive, most couples prefer this process. However, the couple still must file the right papers to protect themselves and get the divorce finalized.

In California, financial disclosures in divorce are required to complete the divorce process. For example, the Petitioner must file a Preliminary Financial Disclosure within 60 days of filing for divorce. This is one of two financial disclosures in divorce that are usually necessary.

Learn what issues are influenced by a long term vs short term marriage in divorce, particularly the impact on a California spousal support order.

A Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a retirement system and plan for federal employees, military personnel and reservists. Congress established the plan in 1986. The federal TSP is a defined contribution plan. This means the amount of money a plan participant receives from the plan depends on how much he/she contributed throughout his/her working years. The [...]

Often we are contacted by divorcing couples with regards in how to file a final judgment in divorce. First, to finish your divorce, you must have completed the required financial disclosures. Once that has been done, the forms required to complete and file the judgment forms with the court clerk will depend on the status of [...]

In California divorces, the petitioner (the spouse that initiates the divorce) is required to serve the respondent with a copy of the Petition and a Summons to appear in court. The Summons provides notice to the respondent that the petitioner has filed for divorce and informs them that he/she has 30 calendar days to file [...]

Retirement accounts have a great value during a divorce. These accounts exist in different forms. Most employers offer either a defined benefit plan or a defined contribution plan as a retirement benefit for their employees. An example of a retirement account is the 401K account. How to divide a 401K in divorce in California? With [...]

The are several legal documents you must file to finish your divorce in California. The legal documents you will have to complete in the California divorce process will depend on whether or not your spouse filed a response to the Petition. Unfortunately there are many forms and the process gets very complicated when dealing with [...]

In California, serving the respondent in a divorce can be challenging. Under certain circumstances, you can petition the court for permission to serve the respondent with divorce papers ”by publication” or “by posting.”  “Service by publication” means the court Summons and other required documentation is published in a local newspaper of general circulation. Read on [...]

Divorce is something you can’t avoid especially when in a toxic marriage relationship. You can seek divorce if your marriage or domestic partnership has hit a dead end. It’s believed that 50% of marriages end up in divorce in the world. Recent reports suggest a lower percentage, however. What are the steps for how to [...]