California divorce and family law courts do not always have policies insisting on your appearance in court. You are afforded options on how to proceed and appear/not appear at your divorce court hearings, some which include not having to physically appear in court.
If you have an uncontested divorce, that is, you and your spouses amicably agree on all issues of your dissolution, you may draft the divorce agreements, officialize and submit them to the court along with the necessary documents. Nonetheless, it is more common that there will be some level of dispute involved in your divorce case requiring some form of court hearing. Contested cases may require a Trial Setting Conference or Status Conference in which the court may order the parties to appear with the counsel if represented. Currently since Covid Protocols have become common many counties in California are allowing appearances to be via remote technology like Zoom or Microsoft Teams which is for health purposes but is also much more convenient than actual physical appearance in the courtroom.
In the more common divorce scenario where there is disagreement between spouses like say alimony or visitation rights your case will need to be litigated in court. If you get an experienced divorce and family law specialist to represent you, they should be able to shield you from the bulk of anxieties associated with appearing in court. While your family law case is being processed in court you will only have to deal with working with your attorney to write your legal documents. A competent attorney could at certain times spare you the burden of appearing before the bench and debating your legal rights while in the presence of your spouse. Most likely, the only time you will see your spouse during the divorce process will be at the final judgment hearing where the divorce ruling is finalized.
For the court hearings leading up to the final judgment hearing most divorce clients opt to be absent from their hearing and have their legal representatives appear in court for them. This is usually the case because of the emotional labor involved in divorce proceedings or because of prior commitments and employment obligations. However, if you are among the small contingent of divorce clients that choose to be present at your family law court hearings you are more than welcome to do so. Some clients opt for this out of curiosity of the process or are eager and confident to assert their voice wherever possible. An experienced and effective divorce attorney like Charles M. Green will guide you on the approach the best fits your style and comforts.
Our office is here to help you through the divorce process. Attorneys Charles M. Green and Diana O. Olanipekun work hard to make sure you get the best possible outcome for your case and ensure you are comfortable with every stage and aspect of the legal process.
Charles M. Green is a certified family law specialist with financial expertise as a former CPA and Diana Olanipeken is a highly experienced attorney handling sensitive family law matters. Call us today for a consultation.