What happens if i dont sign divorce papers

Log into your account. Forgot your password? Privacy Policy. Password recovery. Recover your password. Get help. Divorce and Finance. Contested Divorce Divorce involves two parties: the petitioner the one who files a divorce and the respondent the one who receives the divorce papers.

Avoidance and Publication Most attorneys recommend responding and signing the petition, yet, not everyone follows this advice. Requesting Default Judgement Suppose a spouse is still refusing to sign the divorce papers and continues avoiding the petition. Conclusion Any law firms or attorneys will stress the importance of both parties signing the divorce agreement.

Divorce without spouse signature will lead to complications and a longer process. If spouses cannot agree on the divorce by signing the paperwork, the court will impose its terms. It is best to find a way to communicate with your spouse through peaceful negotiation or even mediation. Try not to refuse to sign your divorce papers, and make sure that you share your part of the story in front of the court.

This way, you will secure your rights and reach a fair agreement with your spouse. Author Recent Posts. Stay Connected. The only way to negotiate terms to your liking is by responding to the divorce papers.

You typically have 30 days to respond to divorce papers. A judge can issue what is known as a default judgment if you fail to do so. A default judgment means that the terms proposed by your spouse will be accepted.

The divorce will be finalized despite your efforts to make it stop. Have you recently been served with divorce papers in Los Angeles? Understanding what the papers say and how you should respond can be challenging. You do not need your spouse to agree to end the marriage or sign the divorce documents. As long as you meet the legal requirements for a divorce, you can get divorced without your spouse signing any documents.

To get divorced in California, you must meet the residency requirements. You must have lived in the county where the divorce is filed for at least three months before filing the divorce petition. You must be a resident of the State of California for at least six months before filing your divorce petition. The divorce papers must be served on your spouse. A spouse may be uncooperative and refuse to sign the proof of service. The proof of service simply states that the person received the divorce papers, not that he or she agrees with the terms of the divorce.

Even if your spouse refuses to sign the acceptance of service, you can still get divorced. Because divorce law is state specific, this article only provides general information. Always check your state's laws and requirements to understand how those laws impact your situation. Before assuming your spouse is acting unreasonably and refusing to sign your divorce papers out of malice or ill will toward you, it may help to try to talk to them.

Sometimes, spouses going through a divorce find it difficult to communicate with each other. That lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings. There may be a relatively minor point of contention in your divorce plans at the root of the lack of communication.

If you are able to come to an agreement, your spouse may be willing to sign the divorce papers and you can both move on with your lives. But, if your spouse refuses to communicate or cooperate with your divorce filing, you may be able to get a default divorce. Under a default divorce, if your spouse does not respond to or contest your divorce petition and does not answer or participate in the proceedings, the divorce decree will be based on your the filing spouse's wishes, as set forth in the original petition.

If your efforts to negotiate and come to agreement with your spouse fail, your divorce can still proceed in one of several ways.