A new law in California promises to streamline divorces and lower costs for splitting couples, creating an option for people to file joint petitions for marriage dissolution for just $435.
The law, which was signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom last year, came into force on Thursday, January 1.
Why It Matters
The cost of divorcing can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on each specific case and whether the separation is contested or not. The average divorce in California costs couples across the state an estimated $17,500, according to the Los Angeles Times, because of court filings, proceedings and attorney fees.
According to the Society for the Positive Care of Children, the Golden State’s divorce rate was one of the lowest in the country in 2023, at 7.45 percent, meaning 75 out of every 1,000 people in the state were divorced.
What To Know
The new law, Senate Bill (SB) 1427, makes it cheaper and quicker for divorcing couples to separate by allowing them to file a joint petition for dissolution of marriage or legal separation for $435…