Very often my clients ask me, "when am I divorced?" This is a common question after the parties sign a Stipulation of Settlement, or complete a trial.
The answer is you are not divorced until the judge signs the Judgment of Divorce. This is the official document, which is an order from the Court, which finalizes your legal status as "divorced."
Many cases settle wherein the parties enter a Stipulation of Settlement. Signing this document alone does not mean you are divorced. It means that you have resolved all possible issues that can arise during your divorce. Once the Stipulation is signed, the attorneys will submit the "divorce packet" to the Court. This consists of different documents which each county requires to effectuate your divorce.
Typically, the "divorce packet" is submitted within sixty days of execution of the Stipulation of Settlement. Then it takes a few months for the county and court to process the "divorce packet," and the parties to receive back their Judgment of Divorce (commonly referred to as JOD), which is signed by the presiding judge.
For more answers to your legal questions, please contact the office.