Filing fees for divorce in Contra Costa County The average initial filing fee is $435, but the exact amount of the filing fee, for each individual case, also depends on what additional court services are used.
Tasks to Complete Step 1Mail: Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mail to: Contra Costa Superior Court. Drop Box: Located in the main lobby of the Spinetta Family Law Center.In Person: File in person on the 1st Floor of the Spinetta Family Law Center. This requires a service ticket number.
Average cost of divorce in California. At a minimum, you'll need to pay the $435 filing fee to get divorced in California. The spouse that files a response to that divorce petition will also pay a $435 filing fee. You'll also need to factor in photocopies and mailing costs.
In community property states, you are not responsible for most of your spouse's debt incurred before marriage. However, the IRS says debt taken on by either spouse after the wedding is automatically a shared debt. Even if your spouse opens up a line of credit in their name only, you could still be liable for that debt.
As part of the divorce judgment, the court will divide the couple's debts and assets. Generally, the court tries to divide assets and debts equally; however, they can also be used to balance one another. For example, a spouse who receives more property might also be assigned more debt.
When deciding whether to pop the question ― or agree to a proposal ― it's important to consider how debt can alter the relationship. From a legal standpoint, bringing debt into a marriage doesn't mean the other spouse becomes liable for it. That remains the responsibility of the person who accumulated it.
Costs and Benefits of Marriage. Married couples, he points out, can save money by sharing household expenses and household duties. In addition, couples enjoy many benefits single people do not when it comes to insurance, retirement, and taxes. However, being married carries some financial costs as well.
Legally, debt brought into marriage is typically the responsibility of the person who incurred it. Some married couples choose to pay off separate debts together, but in the event of a divorce, remaining debt brought into the marriage will be owed by the spouse who incurred it.
If you have any joint debt with your spouse and you can afford to, we highly recommend paying off all marital debt, even before you draw up the divorce papers. For example, if you have $5,000 in joint credit card debt, pay it off before the divorce is finalized.