Anyone use a free Marital Settlement Agreement template?
CAnewleaf20261 month ago
I see templates online — are they safe to use if our case is simple?
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2 replies
✓ Verified answer from a licensed attorney — shown first
Templates from the CA Judicial Council (FL-180 attachments) or a reputable self-help site can work for very simple cases — no kids, no real property, no retirement, no support. The risk isn't the template; it's the issues the template doesn't think to ask about. The single most common 'simple' case I see go wrong: one spouse stays on the other's health insurance via COBRA-equivalent for a few months 'as a favor' and it's not in the MSA. Then there's a dispute. Put everything in writing, even the temporary stuff.
marisol_v1 month ago
We used the Judicial Council template and had an unbundled attorney review it for $250. Best money we spent.
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