Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Divorce California: California is a “no fault” state, which means that in order to get divorced you can simply tell the court that you have “irreconcilable differences” and that your marriage is over. You don’t need to give any specifics about why you feel your marriage is over. And, if your spouse feels your marriage is over, but you want to stay married, your spouse has an absolute right to get divorced from you. You can’t legally stop someone from divorcing you (except by reconciling, of course).

Divorce Mediation: A process where spouses have several joint meetings (or parents, if you are not married) which last 3-4 hours each. During those meetings, you and your spouse discuss the issues which need to be resolved in your case. The mediator is there to facilitate the discussion, assist with communication, provide information and suggestions, and use specialized training to assist the two of you to resolve your differences and write up an agreement which is fair to both of you, and, if you have children, in their best interests as well.

Divorce Rights: Each state has laws which govern how property and income is divided in a divorce. Before you file for divorce, you’ll want to be sure you understand how your state’s laws work and that you’re prepared for what to expect. An accountant or Certified Divorce Financial Planner can be a great resource before, during and after a divorce.

Divorce Statistics: About 41,000 couples file for divorce every year in Los Angeles County. 98% of those couples are able to settle out of court, many using mediation. Over 70% of divorcing couples in Los Angeles County get divorced without using any lawyers at all. Only 10% of the divorce cases have 2 lawyers involved.