Can we just work out a financial agreement and file court papers without an attorney?
Yes. There are many resources available for separating couples to handle their own dissolution actions. Put “California divorce self-help” into an internet search engine, and you will find some of them on-line. There are also very good published books which can assist you. One good available resource is the California Judicial Council’s self-help center, which can be accessed from the Council’s official website, www.courtinfo.ca.gov. Congratulations on being able to work out your separation by yourselves. Separating couples should definitely be aware, though, that any financial agreements between domestic partners will be treated as “interspousal financial agreements,” subject to the same limitations as those between married husbands and wives. There is a rebuttable presumption of undue influence as to any agreement in which one spouse obtains an advantage over the other. This will unquestionably include agreements calling for unequal distribution of community assets, or one partner’s
