Q: We need to dissolve our CA domestic partnership in order to get married in the United Kingdom where we now reside.
We do not qualify for summary dissolution because of the length of the partnership but a standard divorce seems overly complicated because we don't need to split assets or debts. Also the self divorce process keeps asking for an address in California which we don't have. What would be the easiest and most appropriate way to dissolve the Domestic partnership and should it be through the Los Angeles or Sacramento court system?
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A:
You can file for dissolution of your California domestic partnership through either the Los Angeles or Sacramento court system, but Sacramento might be more appropriate since it's where the Secretary of State's office maintains domestic partnership records.
Since you're living abroad, you'll need to meet California's residency requirements differently. One option is using your last California address on the forms, or you can use a trusted family member's California address with their permission. The court primarily needs this for jurisdictional purposes and sending notices.
The most straightforward approach would be filing a regular dissolution petition (Form FL-100) rather than trying to force-fit a summary dissolution. While it may seem more complex, you can simplify the process by filing a default case with a written agreement stating you have no assets or debts to divide. You might also want to consider getting help from the court's family law facilitator or a legal document preparer who can guide you through the paperwork remotely - many now offer virtual services for international clients.
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