Orange County Just Got Served Lawyers Helping Clients With The Divorce Process

It is very distressing to get served with divorce papers for a dissolution of marriage action, especially if you were not expecting this to happen. At Sarieh Law Offices in Orange County, we know what you are going through emotionally, and we know what needs to be done to protect your rights and interests and get you through this difficult time. 

Although you may feel like you just want this process to go away and be done with as quickly as possible, the decisions made in your divorce can have a lasting impact on you and your children for years to come. When served with California divorce papers in Los Angeles or Orange County, let us lookout for you and your family.

Here are some frequently asked questions that we have received from clients in the past:

• What to do when you’ve been served divorce papers?
• What are your next steps after speaking with a divorce lawyer?
• What if you missed your response deadline?

What To Do When You’ve Been Served Divorce Papers?

The papers you were just served with (usually a summons and petition) are very important, and you must respond in a timely fashion or your legal rights will be greatly compromised. Usually, you have to respond within 30 days if you were personally served, but the timeline can differ depending upon how the papers were served. 

Timelines are crucial, but they are also highly technical. An experienced divorce lawyer in Orange County will know what to do to secure your rights within the applicable time frame.

The first thing you should do is immediately call us to schedule a 45-minute, free initial case evaluation to have those documents reviewed. There is a special urgency if the papers indicate there is a court date scheduled and/or if some temporary orders have been issued. 

You also should be aware that the backside of the SUMMONS contains some automatic temporary restraining orders (ATROs) that affect your ability to travel with the children and your rights concerning your insurance coverage and property rights. Read them carefully, and we will go over them in detail during your case evaluation.

What Are Your Next Steps After Speaking With A Divorce Lawyer?

After you file your answering documents with the court, your spouse must be served with a copy as well. When you file and serve your answer, this allows the court and your spouse to know that you will be actively involved in the divorce proceedings. 

After this, you will receive a notice for you and your spouse to meet for a management conference. The judge will want to know if it is possible to reach a settlement or if the court will have to intervene. Then you will learn what will need to be done to finalize the divorce.

What If You Missed Your Response Deadline?

Do not worry. It is best to call the court as soon as you can to learn if a hearing has already been scheduled that would allow your ex to go forward with the divorce without you participating. It is at this hearing that you can appear and file your response. 

If no hearing hasn’t been scheduled, you can ask for an extension to file an answer at once. If nothing is done, your ex can get a divorce decree and the courts will typically grant all of their requests.

Speak With A Just Been Served Law Firm In Orange County, CA Today

If you have just been served with divorce papers, it is imperative that you speak with an award-winning divorce lawyer as soon as possible. At Sarieh Law Offices, we know that this is a difficult time in your life, and we are here to help. 

We are compassionate to our clients and will aggressively fight for your rights. To learn more about your legal options, call us at 714-694-7723.