Legal Question in Family Law in California
Separation to Divorce
I have been separated from my husband for 14yrs, he moved to another state after our separation. Is their a law that states after being separated for so long you are automatically divorced? Are there papers that need to be signed?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Separation to Divorce
You will need to file for a dissolution of your marriage. There is no law that says that the marriage is dissolved after separation of a set time. Your zip code indicates that you live in south San Diego County. You can go to the courthouse in Chula Vista and ask the facilitator to assist you with the paperwork or you can hire an attorney. I typically charge $750 to process a dissolution and could probably handle this by phone, fax and mail. You will still need to wait the statutory 6 months for the dissolution to be final as to status so you should start right away. Good Luck, Pat McCrary