Legal Question in Family Law in California

If your ex will not sign a settlement agreement, you need to go to court. You cannot force a spouse to settle, but you can request a trial, your spouse will need to attend. Sometimes, the notice of a trial date jump-starts the settlement process.

It would be best for you to have an attorney, but if you simply cannot afford one, there are a few things you can do. First, if your spouse earns enough money, you can ask the court to make your spouse pay for your legal counsel. Second, you can seek a low cost attorney through one of many local bar associations, such as the Los Angeles County Bar Association. Third, you can do the work yourself. A good way to start is looking at the L.A. Superior Court's website, at www.lasuperiorcourt.org. There is a "Self-Help" link, in the Family Law section.