Legal Question in Family Law in California

California will exercise jurisdiction over a divorce if one of the spouses has lived in California for at least six months. You must also have lived in the county you file in for three months. If the other spouse does not live in California and has not lived in California in the last six months, however, the California courts only have power to dissolve the marriage. They do not have power to issue any orders or enter any judgment regarding property or spousal support. The California courts would only have jurisdiction over child custody and support if the child(ren) also have lived in CA for the past six months or more. So if you want a complete divorce with property division and support issues decided, you may have to file where your spouse lives.