Divorce and Spousal Support/Alimony
Many local laws and courts have been affected by COVID-19. Please use the search for legal help tool to find a legal aid organization or self help center near you for accurate information and more support.
If you cannot afford the filing fee or other court costs, you may qualify to have these fees and costs waived by the court.
Find information about ending a marriage or registered domestic partnership.
This link includes videos that provide information about child custody, divorce, and and representation in family court.
Types of property: community, separate, quasi-community, and mixed community.
The purpose of this Email Hotline is for WomensLaw to provide basic legal information, referrals, and emotional support.
This section will give you general guidelines for how to best prepare yourself for court.
Except in the case of Social Security and Tier I Railroad Retirement benefits, a court order is necessary for someone who has been divorced to get a share of a pension.
If you are getting divorced and want to change your name to back to your maiden name, you can usually do that in your divorce case.
Your options if you were asked for a divorce or separation.
Family changes: birth or adoption, domestic partnership, marriage or divorce, or personal information changes; name or address changes; employment changes: leave of absence, leaving calpers membership, retirement, returning to work, or death/illness/injury; death or terminal illness: injury/disability
ADR is usually less formal, less expensive, and less time-consuming than a trial.
Getting an earnings assignment (wage garnishment).
A step-by-step outline of the process for divorce/separation.
When a couple legally separates or divorces, the court may order 1 spouse or domestic partner to pay the other a certain amount of support money each month. This is called "spousal support" for married couples and "partner support" in domestic partnerships. It is sometimes also called "alimony."
My Spouse/Partner Filed a Response and We Have an Agreement.
Information about family law for domestic partners.
Steps for changing Spousal/Partner Financial Support.