How do I terminate a civil union?

In California, the process of terminating a civil union is relatively simple. It is important to note, however, that a civil union cannot be terminated until all associated financial issues have been resolved. If you have already finalized all financial matters, you can then proceed to the court to legally terminate the union. To do so, you must file a “Petition to Dissolve Civil Union” (“Petition”) in the county in which you registered the union. The Petition must include the full names of both members of the union, the date of the registration, and a statement that all financial matters have been resolved. Once the court approves your Petition and declares the civil union at an end, the court will issue a Judgment of Dissolution. This document is legally binding and confirms the termination of the civil union. You are then free to remarry if desired. It is important to note that the court may set conditions or require additional documents before finally dissolving the union. You may be required to attend a court hearing or provide evidence of your agreement regarding financial matters. Finally, the court may issue a Judgment of Dissolution without your agreement if the other member of the civil union files a Request for a Default Dissolution. This document requests the court to terminate the union without your consent. In such cases, you may still be given an opportunity to explain why the civil union should not be terminated.

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