In California there is a 6 month cooling off period when you file for divorce.
What does that mean?
It means that once your papers are filed with the courts your divorce will be finalized no less than 6 months after that date. BUT it’s not a guarantee that it will only take 6 months. Right now, from where you’re sitting contemplating divorce, 6 months seems like forever, but believe me that when 18 months have passed and your divorce still isn’t finalized 6 months will seem like a dream.
So what can you do to help ensure things don’t go past 6 months?
That’s simple! (sarcasm intended) You can agree on everything with your spouse and submit it to the court so that all the judge has to do is sign it. But since you’re getting a divorce it’s very likely that you and your spouse can’t agree on anything, except the divorce and maybe not even that.
So what do you do?
You talk to a mediator. In reality you and your spouse may agree on many things in regards to the divorce but you keep getting stuck on one or two issues that no matter how hard you try you can’t agree on. Saying you can’t agree on it is putting it mildly. The reality is probably more like every time this issue comes up the conversation breaks down quickly and you’re in another fight . . . again. A mediator will help you to talk about those tough issues so that the conversation can continue past the point where it usually breaks down to help you both find a resolution and move on with your life.
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