Court Jurisdiction in Family Law Cases

Family Code Division 6, Part 1, Chapter 2 deals with jurisdiction in nullity, dissolution, and legal separation cases.

Section 2010 provides that, in a proceeding for dissolution of marriage, for nullity of marriage, or for legal separation of the parties, the court has jurisdiction to inquire into and render any judgment and make orders that are appropriate concerning six specified matters.

Section 2011 specifies that when service of summons on a spouse is made, the court, without the aid of attachment or the appointment of a receiver, has and exercises the same jurisdiction over community and quasi-community property of spouses.

Section 2012 states that, during the time a motion is pending, the respondent may appear in opposition to an order made during the pendency of the proceeding and the appearance is not deemed a general appearance by the respondent.

Section 2013 says that, if a written agreement is entered into by the parties, the parties may utilize a collaborative law process to resolve any matter governed by this code over which the court is granted jurisdiction. The term “collaborative law process” is defined.