Los Angeles Divorce Lawyer, Cathleen E. Norton, is a highly experienced family law attorney with offices in Beverly Hills, Woodland Hills, & Westlake Village. Visit us at http://www.cnortonlaw.com or call (310) 300-4021 for a free consultation. If you have additional questions regarding child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support (alimony), or any other aspect of a divorce or paternity action, please do not hesitate to contact our offices at (310) 300-4021. For more information, please visit our website at www.cnortonlaw.com.

1. HOW TO FILE
FOR DIVORCE IN
3 EASY STEPS
LAW OFFICES OF CATHLEEN E. NORTON
9595 WILSHIRE BLVD., SUITE 900
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212
(310) 300-4021
WWW.CNORTONLAW.COM
Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton
www.cnortonlaw.com
(310) 300-4021

2. STEP 1:
INITIAL PLEADINGS
• Fill out a “PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE”
form (FL-100)
• Fill out a “SUMMONS” form (FL-110)
• Both forms can be found at www.courts.ca.gov
• Take 3 copies to the court for filing and pay a $435 filing
fee
• The court clerk will stamp the forms and assign you a
case number.
• Have someone personally serve the papers on the other
party.
• File the proof of service with the court clerk.
• The Respondent has 30 days to file a “RESPONSE -
MARRIAGE” form (FL-120).
Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton
www.cnortonlaw.com
(310) 300-4021

3. STEP 2:
PRELIMINARY DECLARATION
OF DISCLOSURE
• Fill out an “INCOME AND EXPENSE DECLARATION”
(FL-150) and a “SCHEDULE OF ASSETS AND DEBTS”
form (FL-142)
• Fill out a “DECLARATION OF DISCLOSURE” form (FL-
140)
• Have someone serve the other party with a copy of
the forms (mail service is ok)
• File a “DECLARATION REGARDING SERVICE “ form
with the court clerk (FL-141)
Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton
www.cnortonlaw.com
(310) 300-4021

4. STEP 3:
STIPULATED JUDGMENT
• Fill out a “DECLARATION FOR DEFAULT OR
UNCONTESTED DISSOLUTION” (FL-170)
• Fill out an “APPEARANCE, STIPULATION AND
WAIVER” form (FL-130)
• Fill out a “STIPULATION AND WAIVER OF FINAL
DECLARATION OF DISCLOSURE” form (FL-144)
• Fill out a “JUDGMENT” form (FL-180)
• Attach a fully Executed Stipulated
Judgment, Judgment, or MSA to the Judgment
• Fill out a “NOTICE OF ENTRY OF JUDGMENT” (FL-190)
Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton
www.cnortonlaw.com
(310) 300-4021

5. FINALIZING YOUR
DIVORCE
• Once you have all the necessary signatures on the forms needed
for your final judgment, you need to file the “judgment package”
with the Court with the accurate number of copies, including:
• Judgment with the signed Stipulated Judgment: (Original
signature and 3 copies)
• Notice of Entry of Judgment: (Original signature and 2 copies)
• Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution
• Appearance, Stipulation and Waiver
• Declaration Regarding Service of Declaration of Disclosure
• Stipulation and Waiver of Final Declaration of Disclosure
• You must provide the Court with two (2) Self Addressed Stamped
Envelopes with the proper postage; one envelope should be
addressed to you and the other envelope should be addressed
to the other party.
• Once you receive the Notice of Entry of Judgment from the Court,
you are divorced. Congratulations!!!
Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton
www.cnortonlaw.com
(310) 300-4021

6. SOME THINGS TO
KEEP IN MIND:
• The earliest you can be divorced is 6 months from
the date the Respondent was served.
• If you need orders for child
support, custody, visitation, spousal support
(alimony), restraining orders or other issues before
your divorce is final, you can file a REQUEST FOR
ORDERS asking for temporary orders pending the
final divorce.
• If you need assistance with this process, please
contact the Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton at
(310) 300-4021 and we will be happy to help.
Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton
www.cnortonlaw.com
(310) 300-4021

7. SOME MORE THINGS
TO KEEP IN MIND
• Simple divorces can often be done without an
attorney.
• While it is always better to have an attorney
represent you, many people cannot afford to hire
one.
• The Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton understands
this, and provides limited scope services beginning
at $1500; in many cases we can begin your divorce
case with a relatively small retainer.
• Knowledge is Power so begin educating yourself on
the law. You can begin learning about the divorce
process by visiting www.cnortonlaw.com
Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton
www.cnortonlaw.com
(310) 300-4021

8. CHILD CUSTODY
• Child Custody: Keep in mind that if you have
children, and you and your spouse cannot agree to
a custody and visitation schedule, you may want to
retain an experienced family law attorney to help
you. The process for filing for divorce is different if
you have children.
• You will need to file what is called a “REQUEST FOR
ORDERS” with the Court and explain what custody
plan is in your children’s best interest.
• You will have to appear in Court, and would be
well-advised to have an attorney representing you
at the hearing.
Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton
www.cnortonlaw.com 8
(310) 300-4021

9. CHILD SUPPORT
• Child Support: Child Support is calculated primarily
based on two important factors:
1. The relative income of the parties.
2. The amount of time each parent spends with the
child.
• Depending on your income, relative to the other
parent, you may want to consult with an attorney to
discuss how much child support you will be required
to pay, or how much child support you can expect
to receive from the other parent.
Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton
www.cnortonlaw.com
(310) 300-4021

10. ALIMONY/
SPOUSAL SUPPORT
• Spousal Support: Depending what is called your
“marital standard of living” you may be required to
pay spousal support to your spouse.
• The amount and duration of how much you will be
required to pay depends on many factors, and you
should consult with an experienced family law
attorney to help you.
• If you are the lower wage-earner, you should talk to
a family law attorney to determine if you are
eligible to receive spousal support until you are able
to become self-supporting.
Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton
www.cnortonlaw.com
(310) 300-4021

11. ATTORNEY’S FEES
• Attorney’s Fees: If you are the stay-at-home
spouse, for example, then the Law Offices of
Cathleen E. Norton will request that your spouse
pay your attorney’s fees to ensure you both have
equal access to the legal system.
• While there is no guarantee that the Court will order
your spouse to pay your attorney’s fees, if you
contact our office we will be able to tell you what
your chances of success may be.
Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton
www.cnortonlaw.com
(310) 300-4021

12. MORE QUESTIONS?
• If you have a general question that you’d like to see
addressed in a similar presentation, then please feel
free to email cathleen@cnortonlaw.com and I will
do my best to post answers to your questions as well
as additional resources on my YouTube channel at:
http://www.youtube.com/user/LAFamilyLawAttorney.
• If you have a specific family law situation that you’d
like to discuss with me, please contact my office at
(310) 300-4021. We are here to help you, and our
consultations are completely free.
Law Offices of Cathleen E. Norton
www.cnortonlaw.com
(310) 300-4021