Free guide · California
Simple to understand. Easy to miss. And each one changes what you keep.
A short, plain-English guide — no legal jargon, no scare tactics. Answer three quick questions and read it right away.
This is the short version. The free guide walks through each one properly, with what to write down and what to ask.
Almost everything either of you earned or bought between the wedding day and the date of separation is community property — his paycheck, her paycheck, the 401(k) contributions, the business that grew during those years. Sole-name accounts included. Most women assume the opposite, and quietly negotiate down from a number that was never the real one.
A judgment that says you get half of his 401(k) doesn't move a dollar. A separate court order — a QDRO — has to be drafted, signed and delivered to the plan administrator. It is routinely forgotten in the relief of finishing. Years later the money is still sitting in his account, and it is usually the largest number on the page.
California requires both people to disclose income, expenses, assets and debts. Whoever arrives organized sets the pace and spends far less at $300–$500 an hour. Whoever arrives with a shoebox pays a lawyer to do the sorting — that's the bill nobody warns you about.
The guide takes each of these from “good to know” to “here's exactly what I do next.”
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Straight answer
Divorce Guide USA is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This is general educational information about California and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed California attorney about your situation.
Divorce Guide USA explains how California's process generally works and helps you organize your own information. It does not fill out or file court forms for you, and nothing here is advice about your specific case.
