Legal Question in Family Law in California

Bifurcation usually means that the court issues a decree that the parties' marriage is dissolved, and reserves jurisdiction to decide the other issues. It is usually done so that one of the parties can legally marry someone else.

It is also a term used to mean decision of an issue, prior to other issues being decided. For example, the parties may not be able to settle the matter due to a dispute over whether real property is community property, separate property, or portions of both. One of the parties may file a motion to bifurcate, and have that issue decided earlier than the other issues in the divorce, which may facilitate settlement later on.

It is used all the time in California.