Serve Your Divorce Papers in Sacramento

Divorce refers to the official termination of a marriage. Once the legal procedure is finalized, the former spouses regain their single status, which allows them to remarry or make other personal decisions without being bound by their previous marriage. In California, a no-fault divorce state, either spouse can seek a divorce without blaming the other person. The most frequently cited reasons for divorce are irreconcilable differences.

To begin the divorce process, the spouse seeking the divorce must submit the required documents to the appropriate court. The correct place to file is the Superior Court of the county where either spouse lives. California law mandates that at least one of the parties must have lived in the state for six months and in the county where the filing takes place for three months before starting the divorce procedure. If both spouses reside in separate counties, the person filing for divorce can choose to do so in either county.

Several important documents must be submitted to the court during the divorce process. These essential documents include:

• Petition for Dissolution: The petitioner initiates the divorce process when they fill out this form. It contains essential information about the individuals involved, the marriage, and the children.
• Summons: This form notifies the respondent (the spouse who did not file) of the ongoing divorce proceedings.
• Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act: If children are involved, this document provides crucial information about their living arrangements.
• Income and Expense Declaration: Both spouses must complete this form, which discloses their income, expenses, assets, and debts.

Serving divorce papers ensures that the respondent is adequately informed about the impending divorce and has an opportunity to respond. The due process rights of both spouses necessitate the service of divorce papers, which guarantees fair treatment and fosters transparency throughout the legal proceedings.

In California, divorce papers must be delivered by an impartial third party called a process server. This person can be a registered process server, a sheriff, or anyone over 18 years old who is not a party to the case. Friends and family members can serve the papers if they meet these criteria.

• Personal service: The process server personally hands the papers to the respondent.
• Substituted service: If personal service fails after multiple tries, the process server can leave the papers with a responsible adult at the respondent’s residence and mail a copy to the same address.
• Service by mail: A process server sends the papers through certified mail and requests a return receipt.
• Service by publication: If the respondent’s location is unknown, the court may allow the petitioner to publish a notice in a widely circulated newspaper where the respondent is presumed to live.

Some divorce papers need to be notarized to verify the authenticity of the signatures. The following documents typically require notarization:

• Marital Settlement Agreement: This legally binding contract outlines the divorce terms, such as property division, spousal support, child custody, and visitation. Both parties need to sign the MSA in front of a notary public.
• Stipulation for Entry of Judgment: This form confirms the parties’ agreement to the divorce terms and needs notarization for both parties’ signatures.
• Quitclaim Deed: When the divorce settlement involves transferring real estate, the party transferring the property must sign a quitclaim deed in the presence of a notary public.

In California, divorce records are usually considered public, allowing interested parties to access them. However, some sensitive information, like financial details and child custody evaluations, may be redacted or sealed by the court to protect the privacy of those involved. To obtain copies of divorce records, you must submit a request to the court clerk’s office in the county where the divorce was finalized.