How to Divorce Amicably/Peacefully in California
Spouses can choose to end their marriage on good terms and divorce peacefully. Here’s how to have an amicable divorce in California.
To have an amicable divorce in California, it’s best to reach a divorce agreement through either mediation or collaborative divorce before filing any divorce papers. Make sure your divorce is uncontested, and the divorce process will be easy, cheap, and quick.
What is amicable divorce?
An amicable divorce is a divorce in which spouses end their marriage peacefully. Divorces often become messy and nasty when spouses involved in the divorce process don’t agree to divorce terms like child custody, child support, alimony, and property rights. Spouses can amicably divorce by settling divorce terms before filing the initial divorce paperwork. That way the divorce petition will not be contested, and the entire divorce process will be a lot more peaceful.
Reach a Divorce Agreement Before Filing
If a divorce is contested, spouses may need to attend court to settle disputes divorce terms. That’s where a lot of fights and nastiness can arise between spouses. If you and your spouse can reach a divorce agreement before filing, you’ll likely avoid the complications of court. To make sure their divorce is amicable, spouses resolve their disputes through mediation or collaborative divorce.
Go to Mediation
Mediation can be a great way for spouses to make sure their divorce is amicable. In divorce mediation, an impartial third party helps spouses settle divorce disputes outside of court. An experienced mediator helps facilitate productive discussions between spouses. If you and your spouse want to reach a divorce agreement in mediation, get in touch with one of our experienced divorce mediation attorneys in California.
Get a Collaborative Divorce
Spouses that want to end their marriage peacefully often opt for collaborative divorce. In a collaborative divorce, each spouse brings their own attorney to a four-way meeting. With their respective attorneys present, spouses negotiate divorce terms like child custody, child support, spousal support, and property rights. A mediator can also be brought in to handle collaborative divorce in a more structured manner. If you and your spouse want to get a collaborative divorce, get your free consultation with one of our collaborative divorce attorneys in California today!
Make Sure Your Divorce Is Uncontested
The most important part of having an amicable divorce is making sure your divorce is uncontested. An uncontested divorce is a divorce in which the responding spouse agrees to the terms of divorce listed in the petition. If the responding spouse does not contest the divorce, the entire divorce legal process may only require filing some paperwork. In uncontested divorces, spouses may not need to attend court. For more information on how to get an uncontested divorce in California, click here.
Amicable Divorce Checklist
If the proper steps are taken, spouses can avoid the complications of a nasty, drawn-out divorce. To have an amicable divorce in California, make sure you
- Understand your options
- Attend mediation or collaborative divorce
- Reach a divorce agreement that is fair and thorough
- To leave your divorce as uncontested
If you and your spouse reach mutually-satisfactory divorce terms in either mediation or collaborative divorce, the chances that your divorce will turn ugly are very low. By not contesting the petition, the entire divorce process will be much simpler, cheaper, and peaceful.
Amicable Divorce Cost
How much your amicable divorce costs depends on the method you used to reach a divorce agreement and whether a response will be filed. California courts charge $435 to file a divorce petition or response. Legal fees can be minimal if you choose mediation to resolve divorce disputes.
Amicable Divorce Services
Divorce mediation and collaborative divorce are great legal services meant to help spouses have an amicable divorce. If you’re interested in either of these services, our divorce mediators and collaborative divorce attorneys in Calfornia are here to help.
Free Consultation With a Divorce Attorney in California
If you want to have an amicable divorce in California, contact us. We’ll get you in touch with the most qualified attorney or mediator for your unique divorce case. Get your free consultation with one of our Divorce Attorneys in California today!