Chester, CA Divorce Law Firms & Lawyers

You should both be represented by different attorneys. The court will sometimes award attorney's fees to one party to pay for another. Discuss this with your attorney.

If you know where your husband lives in Australia, then the judgment can be sent to him for signature and notarization.  If your spouse 'responded' when served (this is not the same as signing the 'service' documents) then you would be in a contested matter.  However, if he did not 'respond' and you have issues that need to be resolved, you would have a 'default' divorce and the courts would require a hearing for only you so as to address the issues such as spousal support.  You may call us if you wish additional help.

How long as the affair been going on? If you have been aware of it for more than two years, then adultery will not matter a lot. If less, you might be able to use that as a means to get more than 50% of the community property. Have you graduated high school? Have you gotten an advance degree or certification? If no, then you may be eligible for some spousal support - normally for a period of time so that you can get the training necessary to get a job. Again, if the adultery has been less than 2 years, that might give you a little more in spousal support. You are entitled to of the pension for the period of time that you have been married. If the pension started when you got married and he is now collecting, then you should get. If he started earning the pension 10 years before you got married, then you would get ? of 2/3 of the pension. The devil is in the details and your attorney will help figure it out. You will not get any of his social security. It is not allowed under Federal law.