“Bifurcation: It is the common name for separating one or more issues of the dissolution; It is commonly used to terminate the marital status of the parties; It requires the filing of a noticed motion or a court order; Request is made on a FL-315 attached to FL-300; It requires service of Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure; It requires service of completed Schedule of Assets and Debts. A trial on bifurcated issue(s) requires: A completed Request for Separate Trial (form FL-315- with the Request for Order box checked); The completion of an Application or Response to Application for Separate Trial (form FL-315); and A declaration that must accompany the request if the request is regarding the alternate date of valuation under FC 2552(b).
There are many issues that can be bifurcated such as: Validity of a postnuptial or premarital agreement; Date of separation; Date to use for valuation of assets; Whether property is separate or community; How to apportion increase in value of a business; Existence of value of business or professional goodwill; Termination of marital status; Child custody and visitation (parenting time); Child, spousal or domestic partner support; Attorney fees and costs; Division of property and debts; Reimbursement claims; or Other issues specific to a family law case.”
[LW Greenberg, California Family Law]
