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Check this List Before You Go to the Chapel
There is more to getting married than just showing up at the church. If you live in California and are thinking about getting married, be sure to check the requirements. Marriage laws vary by state, so don’t wait until the last minute to make sure you are ready.
- Get a marriage license. California requires each couple to make an application and obtain a marriage license. Once issued, the license is good for 90 days.
- Make sure your marriage license will not expire before the wedding day. If the license expires before you get married, then you must get another one.
- Check your fiancé’s date of birth. He or she must be of legal age of consent, which in California is eighteen, unless parents sign documents consenting to the marriage. (Which is another matter entirely.)
- Find an authorized person to conduct the marriage ceremony, along with a witness. The authorized person to conduct the ceremony may be a judge, county clerk, priest, minister or rabbi of any religious denomination who is at least 18 years old. Active and retired judges can also perform the ceremony, as well as anyone who completes the Deputy for a Day program.
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Five Mistakes to Avoid When Getting Divorced

- Rushing. It is natural to want to get it over with, but the decisions you make now may affect you and your children for the rest of your life. Take your time and consult your lawyer to help you consider all of the potential ramifications surrounding a settlement before you accept any offer from your soon-to-be ex-spouse.
- Taking legal advice from your stylist. The easiest divorce is a complicated matter, and it can get even more complicated when you add children and significant assets. The average non-lawyer does not know what you ‘should’ get in a divorce, and more than likely does not know everything about your circumstances. Let your well-meaning friends offer emotional support, then change the subject.
- Forgetting that equitable does not mean equal. A couple’s assets and liabilities will be equitably divided based on the individual circumstances of the case, including each party’s expected earning capacity, the value of separate estates, individual income needs, and so on.
- Forgetting to consider tax consequences. We are not a tax law firm, but even we know that alimony is deductible for the payor but child support isn’t. Rather than agreeing to pay additional child support relative to extra curricular activities or non-covered medical expenses, opt to pay a little alimony for a period of time not to exceed the number of years until the children reach adulthood. Vice versa if you are the probable recipient of alimony – ask for extra child support instead. Of course, you should consider all of the potential tax consequences and while we are not experts, we can help you find one.
- Hiring a second-rate lawyer or deciding to forego a lawyer altogether. It should go without saying, but say it we must. You should not represent yourself in a divorce any more than you should perform surgery on yourself. You wouldn’t cut out your own tumor or have it done at Wal-Mart. Yes, I’ma lawyer and this tip may seem self-serving, but skimping on a lawyer during your divorce is one mistake you will wish you never made. Find someone with the right combination of experience, tact, and tenacity to get the job done right the first time.
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