For over 40 years this is THE book Californians turn to when facing divorce. Because of this book, about 60% of all California divorces go through the court system without the help (not to mention the expense and contentiousness) of lawyers, and over the years have saved untold BILLIONS of dollars in legal fees.This book shows you how to:Understand the rules and standards for a California divorceDecide what"s fair and you want in your settlement agreementFile a Petition or a ResponseMake a Settlement AgreementGet your JudgmentIt also includes practical advice, step-by-step instructions, forms and free help with local forms. The first part explains in detail how the law says you can divide your property and settle issues of custody, visitation and child support. It discusses the implications of doing your own divorce, how to start a divorce, how to serve divorce papers, California residency requirements, mandatory disclosure, the difference between retaining and just using an attorney, how to solve problems that come up, when you should get some help,how much your divorce will cost, and much more.The second part guides readers through the court process step by step — how to complete each of the forms and file them with the court.