How to Do Your Own Divorce in California in 2016: An Essential Guide for Every Kind of Divorce

This is a great book if your divorce is uncontested. Good luck to all who can use it!! Helen Holroyd

How to Do Your Own Divorce in California: Everything You Need for an Uncontested Divorce of a Marriage or a Domestic Partnership How to Do Your Own Divorce in California by Ed Sherman is a required resource. It is also an incredible bargain for the information and reference to other resources it contains. For such an inherently difficult process like divorce, the chapters and steps are well organized, making the process alot easier. However, it does lack an index, which the author justifies excluding based on the time-sensitive nature of the information, and the difficulty of including it. But you can still find what you need. Be prepared to spend a lot of time studying the chapters and learning the process. I can see that some people might not have the patience for the process and run to an attorney. But if you have the patience, and don't have the money, this is the way to go! It is still difficult even with the book, but lots better than going through an attorney. The demo software (for CalSupport and DealMaker) and worksheets that come with the are also very helpful. CalSupport and DealMaker are easily downloaded for only $35 each, and are bargains for what they can do! I am still going through the process and using the book and software.

I used the book. However If your spouse gets a Lawyer you have to get a Lawyer. The programs on CD cost about $25 for the full version but its worth to know what you are in for as far as vaginamony and Child support.

Even if you have an attorney or a paralegal helping you with the divorce, this book gives you a lot of great information on our CA legal system. It addresses the idiosyncrasies of each county venue and has all the updated forms. You can save yourself a lot of money just having the forms filled out for your legal advisor ahead of time. The Marital Settlement Agreement is invaluable. Get this book!

I am happy I spent the money on the How to Do Your Own Divorce. It is easy to read and gives examples of all the forms you may need to use and how to fill them out. The laws regarding divorce in California are made easy to understand. Also, if there is a law you don't understand or have a question about something you can call the divorce help line for $10.00 a call and $3.50 per minute (kind of steep and I hope I don't have to use this). Once you get the book you will need to download the latest forms. If you want a cd you will have to spend another $5.00 to have it sent to you. Also, if you have a messy divorce you will need to buy a second book to get those questions answered. After looking through the book I've decided I don't have the time to do my own divorce and am going to retain a paralegal to file papers for me. In the back of the book there is a list of paralegal located throughout California. The positive is that what I have learned from this book will make my own divorce a lot easier.