The Orange County family law courthouse can help you with your divorce. Before you decide to seek a dissolution of marriage in California here are a few things you need to know. To file for a divorce in California one of the two parties has to show proof of residence for at least six months. The filing also needs to be done in the specific county that one of the parties to the divorce lives when the divorce is filed. If you live for example in Irvine, Santa Ana, Tustin, Mission Viejo or Laguna Beach you would file your divorce at the Orange County family law courthouse.

Getting a divorce in Orange County family law courthouse requires filing a number of forms. Orange County has a great self-help section and a family law facilitator so that you can do your own divorce. However, you can still hire a legal document assistant or an attorney. The first step is to fill out Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (form FL-100), Summons (form Fl-110), Family Law Declaration Regarding Related Cases (form L1120) and finally if you have any children you will have to fill out the Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (form FL-105). In Orange County if a couple is married less than 5 years, have no children, do not owe much and agree on how they will divide up their assets and debts than they can file for a Summary Dissolution.

When filing for a divorce in Orange County make sure to familiarize yourself with The Superior Court of California – Orange County. There is a Family Law Self-Help Team and a Family Law Facilitator that can help you out with your divorce. The forms mentioned above are also obtainable on this website. The self-help center can also help you in child support or spousal support situations which is common in divorce cases.

It is important to know some major key terminology before your divorce. If you have children child support is when a party during the divorce process seeks monetary support for the child or children for living and medical expenses. The court will look at both parent’s monthly income and the amount of time the child spends with each parent.

The court will look at the income of each party which includes amongst other things:

1) income from a job,

2) rental income and

3) unemployment benefits.

Spousal support is when one party during the divorce process seeks monetary support. The court will look at different facts to determine if someone is eligible per Code Section 4320. One of the key factors is to look at the financial situation of each party.

When considering getting a divorce in the Orange County family law courthouse make sure to have a plan of action and familiarize yourself with the county rules for this county. The assistance given by each county may factor in whether doing it yourself or hiring an expert to help you would be best.