When Is My Divorce Final?

A divorce decree sits on top of a brown leather portfolio. Two golden wedding bands and a wooden gavel sit on top of the divorce decree.

Divorce tends to be exhausting for all parties involved, particularly if the process has been dragged out with litigation. If you’re in your 5th month or even your 3rd year of divorce, you might wonder when it will all finally end, so you can move on with your life.

How Long Does Divorce Take in CA?

In the state of California, it usually takes at least 6 months to complete a divorce. Much of the process involves filing and serving various documents, attending hearings, and conducting necessary discovery.

In a friendlier, uncontested divorce, the only discovery that takes place are the mandatory exchange of financial disclosures. In contested divorces, however, the court must allow both parties a reasonable amount of time to conduct detailed discovery. This time could be extended by the reluctance of one party to participate in the divorce or make his or her ex’s life any easier.

When Is My Divorce Final?

When all is said and done, a judgement of divorce becomes effective the day the judge signs the judgment for dissolution of marriage. A clerk then must enter the judgement into the court record. The clerk will enter the judgement and date stamp the documents when the judgment is entered.

Each party will receive a copy of the entered order, which will state the termination date of the marriage. When the termination date on the judgement passes, the marriage is officially terminated.

How Soon Can You Remarry After Divorce?

After the divorce is finalized, the marriage is officially terminated and each party is free to remarry if they so choose. The court will not send out any other notices after the termination date passes, so don’t lose your copy of the final divorce order.

It's important to note that you are not free to remarry just because you filed for divorce. You are still married even if you filed divorce papers. You must wait until the divorce is finalized, which will take at least 6 months due to the mandatory waiting period from the date divorce is filed until the date it can be finalized by a judge.

If you and your spouse are thinking of divorcing, talk to one of our skilled attorneys as soon as possible. Moore, Shulman & Moore, APC have more than 200 years of combined experience to offer your case. Let us see what we can do for you and your family.

Contact us at (858) 492-7968 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation today.

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