What date do I use?:
I filed for a default divorce and contacted Riverside County Self-Help for guidance. I was informed that the jurisdiction date was correct; however, I subsequently received a Notice of Document Return indicating that the entered date was incorrect.
The respondent was served by mail on June 6, 2025. I was informed that I needed to add 10 days to the service date, which would result in a new jurisdiction date of June 26, 2025. I entered 6/16/2025 on form FL-180, section 3, but the documents were returned with the following notation:
“FL-180 Judgment is incorrect regarding section #3. Please enter the correct jurisdiction date. The respondent was not served on the date entered.”
Could you clarify the correct jurisdiction date so I can resubmit the judgment accurately?
Galen’s answer:
You can only serve by mail with the other party's agreement. You would include form FL-117 Notice of Acknowledgment which the other party must sign and which you would submit to the court for filing along with your FL-115 Proof of Service of Summons.
I infer you know the address, since you mailed the petition package to the respondent. I suggest you have the pleadings personally served. If your ex is out of state you can hire a registered process server where the respondent resides to attempt service.
How can I go about modify an uncontested divorce I got in Guam while I now reside in California?: I obtained an uncontested divorce in December 2012 in Guam while I was a federal civilian employee working in Okinawa Japan. I married a Japanese citizen in 2013. We moved to California in 2016 and have resided here ever since. We have a child together born in 2016. I'm am scheduled to retire the end of May 2026 and we will return to Japan. Because my financial and social situation has changed I'm looking to modify my original divorce decree as I will not be able to sustain the costs. The former spouse now lives in Korea. I am also an Air Force retiree. There are no dependent children from the marriage they are all over the age of 30 years old.
Galen’s answer:
In Guam, a party can modify a divorce judgment by filing a formal motion or petition in the Superior Court of Guam, typically the same court that issued the original decree.
Legal Grounds for Modification
Modifications are generally granted only when there has been a substantial and material change in circumstances since the original judgment was entered.
Spousal Maintenance: May be modified unless the original decree explicitly states it is non-modifiable.
Property Division: Generally considered final and difficult to change once the decree is signed, unless there is proof of fraud, hidden assets, or clerical errors.
Procedure to Modify
Prepare a Motion: Draft a "Motion for Modification" or "Petition to Modify" that identifies the original order and details the specific material changes in circumstances.
File with the Court: Submit the paperwork to the Superior Court of Guam and pay any required filing fees.
Serve the Other Party: You must legally notify your ex-spouse of the modification request via formal service of process.
Attend a Hearing: If the modification is contested, the court will hold a hearing to review evidence and testimony before making a final decision.
For standardized forms, you can visit the Judiciary of Guam's official website or consult with the Guam Bar Association for legal representation
Should I start temporary visitation?: I went to mediation at the end of July and we settle on a temporary visitation for the father. The father has been texting me asking me. Can he start the visitation process but the judge has not signed off on the visitations should I allow him to visit or wait for the order to be signed
Galen’s answer: I don’t think there’s a reason to delay visitation! It appears you are in LA County Superior Court. Generally, the mediators in LASC submit a document which memorializes the parties' custody and parenting time schedule (visitation) to the parties to sign electronically. Once it's signed the mediator submits it to the court. The judge reviews it and generally signs the document. The document is a proposed custody order. Once the judge signs the proposed order it is an order of the court. The court prefers the parents to determine custody and visitation schedules. Congrats on accomplishing this. There's no reason not to begin following the visitation schedule to which you and the other parent have agreed now. It's unlikely the Court would have a problem with your proposed order. It's likely the work flow in the department to which your case is assigned is high and there is a delay in formalizing the order.