Divorce- Frequently Asked Questions

California is a "no-fault" divorce state, which means neither party must prove why they want to get divorced.  The legal standard is "irreconcilable differences", which could be as simple as a different taste in food.

No, there is no requirement to separate before getting divorced. In California, there is an option instead of doing a divorce called Legal Separation. However, it is the exact same process, but at the end, the couple is still legally married. There are few reasons a couple should ever choose this option. A legal separation is not required to be filed first, to graduate to a dissolution. A party can file for a dissolution immediately.

It is impossible to estimate how long a divorce will take or how much one will cost. Typically, the duration and cost of a divorce have a directly proportional relationship. The longer the case lasts, the more expensive it ends up being. However, much of the cost of a divorce or the length of time between filing a petition and getting to judgement depends on the client's ability to follow instructions, organization, and willingness to compromise.