What is the “Six Month Cooling Off Period?”

California requires a cooling off period of six months before a divorce can be final. It starts as soon as either party serves the opposing party with the required paperwork.

You can still resolve the issues in your case and submit a final judgment during this “cooling off period,” but the earliest you can be divorced is six months.

Often people believe that they are automatically divorced after this six month period. That is not the case. In order to become single again, you will need a Judgment from the court stating that your marriage is terminated.

Do I really have to wait until everything is decided?

It may be possible to terminate your marriage before all of the issues have been resolved, but this can sometimes cause other issues with taxes, retirement accounts, or insurance. You should always consult an attorney any time you are considering terminating your marriage.

Any Questions?

Please contact me for a free consultation if you would like more information on anything you have read. Jennifer Yates, Attorney at Law.