California Divorce Rate Continues to Be One of Highest in U.S.

The California divorce rate is estimated to be about 75%. That means an average of 3 out of 4 marriages in the state are ending in divorce. On top of this, Orange County has not only one of the highest divorce rates in the state, but in the entire nation. One OC columnist discovered that the county's divorce rate averages about 33 divorce filings per day, seven days a week. With so many divorces occurring it is no wonder that people are looking to attorneys and mediators more and more to smooth the process. Talk to a divorce lawyer today to find out about your options.

The Divorce Process

Going through a divorce is understandably a very emotional and personal process. There are many grounds for divorce and California is a "no-fault" divorce state. This can greatly simplify things in some cases. To file for divorce in Orange County you must have been a state resident for at least six months and a county resident for at least three months. The first step is usually to contact a divorce attorney to discuss your options and file a divorce petition with the court. The spouse who is the respondent in the divorce proceedings would then be served with the petition and a Summons. The process generally takes a minimum of six months (a divorce cannot be finalized in less than six months) from the time the Summons is served.

From there, both parties meet and discuss relevant agreements in the divorce. Trial can be avoided if the parties agree to an uncontested divorce or go through divorce mediation. In the case of a contested divorce, going to trial may be necessary. In either case, spousal support, property division and other financial aspects to the marriage dissolution are worked out. When there are children involved from the marriage, the additional factors of custody, visitation, child support, etc. must be agreed upon.

Talk to a Divorce Attorney about Your Case

Contact us at the Law Offices of Marc E. Mitzner today if you are considering filing for divorce. We understand the care and dedication required for these emotionally charged legal matters and we do everything possible to smooth the way for our clients. It is important to discuss your goals and questions with a lawyer as soon as possible when it comes to you and your family so call today.