Q: Divorce filed with the court on 10/21
Now my question is… if and when the judge signs the MSA, does it make the divorce official from the date the divorce was filed with the court or when the judge signs the judgment? Just wondering because it just seems like it’s been a while now and haven’t heard anything update from the court.
A: You are divorced when the Judgment and Notice of Entry of Judgment have been filed with the court. A marital settlement agreement alone is not enough to get you to the end of your case. There are other steps to be taken and other documents that need to be filed. https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/divorce-california
A: As another attorney stated the signing of an MSA does not finish the case. You are not divorced until judgment is entered which is usually when the judge signs the judgment. You have to do the things that turn the terms of the MSA into a judgment. Good luck on your case.
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A:
The official date of your divorce will be the date when the judge signs the final judgment, not the filing date from October. This is known as the date of dissolution.
While waiting can feel frustrating, courts often have significant backlogs that can extend processing times. The timeline can vary greatly depending on your location and how busy the court system is. Many courts are still working through delays from recent years.
You might want to contact your attorney or the court clerk's office to check on the status of your case. They can verify if all necessary paperwork has been properly filed and if there are any issues that need to be addressed. Remember that even though the waiting period feels long, you're making progress toward this important life transition.
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