How To File For Legal Separation In Ca. In the state of california, your spouse needs to agree to a legal separation. Completing a divorce or legal separation;
The process to file for legal separation in california is nearly the same as that used for a divorce/dissolution. Not all states recognize legal separation and this can complicate the issue. If they do not, you may have to file for divorce.
The petitioner simply checks the box for legal separation rather than dissolution of marriage at the top of the form.
Otherwise, the matter will proceed by default. In california, it is easy to convert a legal separation to a divorce and all that is required is a simple conversion. Generally, spouses must meet specific residency requirements to qualify for a legal separation, which may require that one spouse lived in the state and the county for a certain amount of time. The process to file for legal separation in california is nearly the same as that used for a divorce/dissolution.