Spouse won't sign anything and won't respond to lawyer letters
CAquietsail1 month ago
It has been 6 months. He won't sign, won't respond, won't open mail. What's my path?
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2 replies
✓ Verified answer from a licensed attorney — shown first
Speaking generally — you don't actually need their signature to get divorced in CA. Once they were properly served (FL-115 on file) and 30 days passed with no response, you can request a default. From there you submit a default judgment package with the terms you're asking the court to grant. The court doesn't force them to sign; it just enters the judgment. The real risk in a default is asking for something the court won't grant on default — for example, you generally can't get more on default than you asked for in the petition. Have your attorney check the petition matches what you actually want in the judgment.
Lawma Moderator1 month ago
If you're in CA, the Judicial Council has a free 'Default Judgment Packet' on courts.ca.gov that lists every form in order. Useful as a checklist even when an attorney is doing the filing.
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Please readThis is a community space for sharing personal experience — it is not legal advice, and posts here are not from Lawma or your attorney. We strongly encourage you to post under an anonymous handle, keep questions general, and avoid posting private details of your active case. For advice about your own situation, message your attorney.