Joint Petition Process for Divorce and Legal Separation – A New California Law

Описание: In this episode of Divorce Hacker: Survive to Thrive, Ann Grant is joined by guests Jeff Jacobson and Jennifer Winestone, Los Angeles family law attorneys who were instrumental in drafting new California legislation for a streamlined joint petition process for divorce and legal separation. This new law, which went into effect on January 1st, is intended to lead to a smoother and more collaborative separation process.

▬ Key Moments ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

3:06 - Why Create this New Joint Petition?
8:11 - Does the Joint Petition Change the Overall Tone of Divorce?
10:53 - What is the Collaborative Process?
13:13 - The Joint Petition is Designed to be the Starting Point
14:50 - Protections and the Off-Ramp
18:01 - The Filing Fee & Maintaining Representation
22:13 - Joint Petition Limitations
24:28 - Exchanging Financial Information
28:09 - Jeff’s Experience Thus Far
29:50 - Future Considerations & Improvements

▬ Guest Bios ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

Jeffery S. Jacobson, CFLS has practiced family law since 1996 and is a Certified Family Law Specialist whose work focuses exclusively on mediation and collaborative divorce. He is a long-time leader in California’s collaborative law movement, a Los Angeles Magazine Super Lawyer for over a decade, and a recipient of the Eureka Award for his contributions to collaborative practice statewide.

Connect with Jeffery S. Jacobson, CFLS
► Website: https://jjfamilylaw.com
► Email: [email protected]

Jennifer Winestone, Esq., LLM (ADR) is the founder of Winestone Mediation and a nationally respected leader in dispute resolution. She holds an advanced degree in dispute resolution from Pepperdine’s Straus Institute, teaches family mediation at USC Law School, and was recently honored with the 2025 Eureka Award for her role in creating the joint petition process through Senate Bill 1427.

Connect with Jennifer Winestone, Esq., LLM (ADR)
► Website: https://www.winestonemediation.com
► Email: [email protected]

▬ About The Divorce Hacker | Ann Grant ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

I'm an attorney and I know divorce from both sides of the negotiating table. I experienced a high-conflict divorce that dragged on for five years. Everything that I had dreamt of came to an abrupt end and some days I literally didn’t know how I was going to make it through. I was sick, scared, and constantly under attack. Even as an attorney, I didn’t know who I could trust or where to turn.

In time, I learned that life could be better, much better. In the end, I not only survived, I learned how to thrive. I now run a family law practice focused on helping women like you navigate the legal minefields and outsmart the system so that you can create a new and better life as quickly as possible -- with your sanity intact and your money in the bank. Divorce does not have to be the end of your life and it does not have to be an endless, complicated undertaking. It is an opportunity for a new and better life, and I am here to show you how to make that a reality.

► To learn more about Ann Grant and Family Law Center of Southern California, please visit: https://famlawsc.com/

▬ Disclaimer ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

All content in this video is for educational purposes only. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as constituting legal advice or the provision of legal services for or on behalf of any person.