Divorce rates in the United States have risen steadily over the years. Orange County, California is among leading states when it comes to divorce. Statistics show that about 7 out of 10 marriages in Orange county end in divorce. The national average stands at 50 percent. This makes Orange County divorce attorneys some of the most sought after professionals in the county. How would one go about the divorce process?
1. Secure expert representation
If you are going through this process, you probably want to start by looking up some of the best divorce attorneys in Orange County. A quality attorney does not only provide information on set legal procedures. The attorney also takes time to understand exactly what you want to achieve and how existing law can work for you.
2. Understand the options
Several avenues could be used to end a marriage. Orange county divorce attorneys generally advise that clients understand the specifics of all options, in order to select the most appropriate.
i. Legal Separation
In a legal separation spouses remain legally married. They are not free to re-marry. Like in divorce, the spouses still live separately and divide property. If there are children to be considered, child custody and support orders are determined.
ii. Annulment
Marriage annulment renders the marriage invalid. It declares that the marriage never existed. To qualify for annulment, one spouse must prove that one of the following was true at the time of entering into the marriage:
iii. Divorce
It is a more lengthy process which permanently ends all legal bonds between spouses. Worthy of note is that it is not mandatory that both parties agree to a divorce. One party’s refusal to participate in the process does not stop it.
iv. Summary Dissolution
This option is available to couples who have been married for less than 5 years. It is ideal for those who have no children and little or no assets or debts.
3. Key Factors to be determined
The following questions have to be answered and agreed upon:
Bottom Line
Even with the best divorce attorneys in Orange County, it takes at least six months to finalize dissolution. This period is based on the date the spouse who initiated the process had the other served with the petition. It could also be based on the date the receiving spouse responded. Regardless of time taken, dissolution is not complete until a ‘judgment of dissolution’ is signed by a judge.
