Does it matter who files first for divorce in California?

Does it matter who files first for divorce in California?

There really is not distinct advantage during the pendency of a divorce case to be the Petitioner or the Respondent. Most legal experts believe that there is little legal advantage to who files first because California is a no-fault divorce state, so the court really doesn’t care who files the petition first.

Is California A 50 50 state when it comes to divorce?

Since California is a “Community Property” state, all marital property will be divided in a 50-50 fashion according to the court unless agreed to otherwise by the divorcing spouses. This means that everything that is considered “up for grabs” in the dissolution will be distributed equally to each spouse.

Is alimony in California for life?

Under California Law, the general presumption for duration of support is “one-half the length of the marriage,” for marriages of fewer than 10 years. This means that if you were married for six years, the judge has the right to limit alimony for one-half of the marriage if the need exists (three years).

Does adultery affect divorce in California?

California is a no-fault divorce state, meaning the family court judge is not allowed to consider fault when making major determinations regarding property, custody and other divorce issues. Unfortunately, adultery alone will not result in direct legal consequences for the adulterous party in California.

Is alimony mandatory in California?

For longer marriages, where the parties may be older and their earning potential lower, the time the lower- or non-income earner may require support for much longer. In either case, California law requires the partner receiving support to make a good faith effort to support his or herself.