Plain answers for one of life's hardest questions.
Clear, careful guidance on what California law actually says — about your house, your income, your kids, and the long road between filing and finished. Written for people, not lawyers.
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Each section is a careful walk through one part of California divorce law, with the practical questions answered before the technical ones.
The Basics
No-fault divorce, community property, residency requirements, and the six-month rule that surprises everyone.
Begin hereProperty Division
What's community, what's separate, and what happens when the two get tangled — including the house question.
Read onSpousal Support
Temporary support, long-term support, the ten-year rule, and the factors a judge actually weighs.
Read onChildren
Legal vs. physical custody, the best-interest standard, and how California calculates child support to the dollar.
Read onThe Process
From petition to judgment: filing, serving, responding, discovery, settlement or trial — step by step.
Read onResources
Forms, court self-help links, fee waivers, and where to find an attorney when information isn't enough.
BrowseMore useful things
Tools, references, and county-specific guides for the practical questions that come up after the law itself is understood.
Support Estimator
Rough temporary spousal support estimate using the Santa Clara guideline. Free, fast, educational.
Try the calculatorGlossary
The 60+ terms a California family lawyer will use, defined plainly. From ATROs to Van Camp.
Open glossaryFAQ
Direct answers to the questions readers ask most: how long, how much, do I need a lawyer, and more.
Read the FAQBy County
Filing guides for Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego — with courthouse locations and local rules.
Browse countiesOnce a month, no spam.
One careful email a month — what's changed in California family law, plain explanations of one tricky topic, and a few resources we've vetted. Skip it if you'd like; we won't be offended.