Family Law – Finalizing Your Divorce Print this Page
Phone: (415) 444-7040
Email: familylaw@marincourt.org
Location: Civic Center, Hall of Justice, Room 113
Office Hours: 8:30am - 4:00pm




ONCE YOU FILE FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE, YOUR MARRIAGE IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY TERMINATED AFTER SIX MONTHS. You must complete your divorce and obtain a judgment either by filing a:

  • Default (when your spouse does not respond),
  • Written agreement with your spouse (called a marital settlement agreement),

You may also resolve your case by presenting your issues at a trial or settlement conference.

We highly recommend that you consult with a family law attorney before finalizing your divorce. You may have important legal rights regarding spousal support, pensions or other deferred compensation, or other property rights. It is your responsibility to know your rights before you finalize your dissolution, or you may lose those rights forever.

After completing the documents to finalize your divorce, you may deliver these documents to the Civil Clerk's Office for the judicial officer's signature and filing. After processing your judgment, the Notice of Entry of Judgment will be completed by the Court and mailed to you and your attorney. This is your proof that your divorce is final. The original judgment is kept in the court file. If you are uncertain that your final dissolution paperwork was submitted to the Court, you may come to the courthouse and check the court file.

Help is available in the courtroom for parties who are not represented by attorneys. If you are representing yourself in a dissolution, legal separation or nullity case, the Court offers a specialized calendar, in which volunteer attorneys, mediators and other legal professionals are available in the courtroom to answer your questions and help you complete various procedural steps in your case or prepare court documents.

Obtaining Forms

Judicial Council forms and local forms may be downloaded from our web site. Family Law forms are also available in the Civil Clerk's Office. Required forms may include both Judicial Council and local forms.

Overview

Family Court is comprised of three distinct program areas:

  • Family Law Division of the Civil Clerk's Office, which processes filings and schedules court hearings for many different types of matters.
  • Family Law Facilitator's Office, which assists parties who have questions about child support, spousal support, health insurance, and the availability of community resources to help families.
  • Family Court Services, which provides child custody mediation and helps parents resolve child-focused disputes once parents are living apart.


 
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