Residency Requirement for Divorce

Part Two of a blogging series covering legal issues presented in the Cruise and Holmes divorce.

Katie Holmes filed for divorce in New York, but could she have filed in California instead? At the heart of this issue is if Holmes has met the New York residency requirement. Though a divorce settlement has reportedly been reached between Cruise and Holmes, just last week there was a dispute surrounding the simple filing of the action.

To file for divorce in California, one of the spouses must be a resident of California for six months and a resident of the county for the three months immediately preceding the filing. New York has a longer residency requirement. Holmes has allegedly been secretly renting an apartment in New York on her own for the past year, so she may be able to establish residency.

Residency requirements can be complicated, but the Certified Family Law Specialists* at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri have decades of experience handling complex family law matters.  If you find yourself on either side of a divorce, contact the Certified Family Law Specialists* at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information. 

Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

*Certified Family Law Specialist, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization