Home > Research Legal Advice > Divorce / Separation > Regarding California Divorce - I am not represented by an attorney. Need...
Get private, personalized proposals from top-rated lawyers ready to help you.
Asked about 1 year ago - Coalinga, CA
FlagTwo days ago I was served with divorce papers (I am Respondent). The D is to be uncontested. What I need to know is 1. What docs must I complete and return? 2. Who are the documents to be returned to? She is not represented but had a preparer complete the docs. 3. Must she be served any docs? 4. A MSA was previously agreed upon and notarized, but was not filed with the court, is it required to be submitted?5. I am currently out of the city where the D papers were filed, how can I get docs to courthouse if I am not in town? thanks in advance.
You must file and first serve a response within 30 days of being served with a petition in California. Use of judicial council forms are mandatory in California. There is a website below that allows free use of judicial council forms. She must be served and you must a valid proof of service before the clerk will allow you to file your response. MSA's are typically attached to and incorporated into the Judgment in family law proceedings. You can submit your pleadings to the court via US mail pursuant to the CRC. Use a SASE, you can submit up to two copies to be conformed and returned. Good Luck!
In response to your questions:
1. You need to file a Response within 30 days of the date you were served with the Petition to avoid having your default be taken (a lot of trouble to get it set aside and you can avoid it by filing your response on time). You should have received a blank Response with the Petition. You will need to have someone 18 years old or older mail your wife a copy of the response and sign a proof of service form, which you attach to the response before filing it with the court.
2. See answer to No. 1.
3. See answer to No. 1. In addition, you are required to serve her with your Declaration of Disclosure.
4. You and she must BOTH exchange your Declarations of Disclosure BEFORE signing a settlement agreement. Any MSA signed by you previously may be void if you didn't exchange declarations of disclosure before signing it.
5. There are many services that will file documents for you. Some allow you to fax or email the documents to them for filing. They charge a fee for these services. Consult a telephone directory or look up court messengers and couriers online.
My best advice to you: Consult with an attorney. Even if a local attorney doesn't practice in the jurisdiction where the case was filed, he or she can give you the advice you so desperately need right now. If you absolutely cannot afford even one hour of an attorney's time, you will need to consult the local Family Law Facilitator for assistance.
You will have to answer the petition which is a response to the petition. You need to file a copy with the court where the case originated and you need to serve a copy on your ex.
Not to be rude but how you get the documents to the court is something you will have to figure out. You can call the court and see if they accept mail. You have 30 days to respond to the paperwork you were served.
You do NOT have to file a Response if you two agree. You can file the form FL 130 and send the filing fee with it.
I have never heard of any court that does not allow filing by mail. You must send an SSAE and ask for a "conformed copy."
Yes the MSA must be sent with the Judgment but MANY OTHER forms must also be filed,and the MSA does not need to be notarized of both parties appear-- but the defaulting party must have a signature notarized if they are not appearing.
I strongly recommend unbundled services to have the forms and MSA reviewed.
Don't speak legalese? We define thousands of terms in plain English.
Browse our legal dictionary
