As daunting as the divorce procedure itself is to expertise, it becomes even much more intimidating when one takes into account the sheer volume of divorce forms essential to complete the process as smoothly and hassle-totally free as feasible.
But what do all of these divorce documents do?
The answer to this question is a easy one: Each document has its particular purpose During the California divorce time line, and all contribute to show the Court that both spouses have put forth Each effort to comply with the rules in order to make their divorce amicable.
A California uncontested divorce begins with the filing of the divorce Petition (form FL-100) at the local courthouse. This specific document informs the Court that there is an impending dissolution proceeding between the spouses; it further tells the Court the basics about the parties’ proposed agreements for alimony and child support, child custody and child visitation schedules, and divorce property/debt division.
Then comes service of the divorce Summons (form FL-110), a document notifying the opposing spouse that divorce forms have been filed with the Court and that a divorce response is necessary from him or her within thirty (30) days.
As the time line progresses through the California divorce method, the two spouses are responsible for exchanging a set of divorce documents which supplies facts about the other’s present employment status, tax filing category, gross monthly income quantity, and general household expenses among other issues. The technical name for the form the parties ought to trade with Every other which also shows the Court the financial circumstances of Every spouse is referred to as the “Income And Expense Declaration” (form FL-150).
The purpose of the document exchange is to make sure that Every party is on the identical page, and no future surprises are in store for one spouse due to the other spouse’s deliberate intent to hold back essential facts.
The spouses need to prove to the Court that Every has given the other a copy of his or her own Income And Expense Declaration form. The proof comes via a declaration document that Every party need to serve on the opposing spouse (through a neutral third party) – said proof of service document informs the Court that both parties have complied with California family law by performing the necessary Income And Expense document exchange.
Next comes the second document exchange.
This time around the parties will share with one an additional all the details Every has about any marital property and debts along with a proposed plan of how to divide the items in question (form FL-142). Once more a neutral third party is necessary to serve this next set of court documents on the opposing spouse, and the respective proof of service forms will also be filed with the Court to show that this second document trade occurred.
The declaration for an uncontested divorce (form FL-170) is the next document to be signed and filed, informing the Court that the parties have mutually agreed how their marital dissolution is to proceed and they wish to participate in an uncontested divorce.
When all the document trades have taken location and the Court is satisfied that both parties are in complete agreement, it is time to file the Judgment (form FL-180). This is the most necessary form in your California uncontested divorce, because it contains the Judge’s signature of approval that the marriage has now come to its conclusion and all agreements are fair to everybody involved.
And when the Judgment has been signed off by the judge, you are restored to “single person” status!


