This sample trial brief is for a California divorce and includes 7 separate headings covering such issues as child support, custody and visitation, spousal support and more.

1. 1 Any Party
Any Street
2 Any Town, CA 55555
3 714-555-5555
4 Petitioner, In Pro Per
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Superior Court of the State of California
9 County of ______________________
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11 In re the marriage of: ) Case No.
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12 Petitioner: _________________________ ) Petitioner’s Trial Brief
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13 and )
Date:
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14 Respondent:____________________________ ) Time:
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) Dept:
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20 To subscribe to my FREE California weekly legal newsletter visit
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http://www.legaldocspro.net/newsletter.htm and enter your e-mail
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23 address. Be sure to remove this notice and all other notices before
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using this document.
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26 1 Petitioner, _____________________________, appearing in propria persona, respectfully
27 submits his Trial Brief:
28 I.
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PETITIONER’S TRIAL BRIEF

2. 1 STATISTICAL INFORMATION
2 Date of Marriage: List exact date of marriage, day month and year.
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Date of Separation: List exact date of separation, day month and year.
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Length of Marriage: List length of marriage in years and months, for example
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4 years, 4 months.
7 Children: ________________________, born _______________. List all children
8 of this marriage, or relationship along with their date of birth. If no children state there are no
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children.
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II.
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CUSTODY AND VISITATION
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13 A. HISTORY:
14 On ____________________________ both parties stipulated to Joint Legal and Joint
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Physical Custody of the minor children, with Primary Physical Custody to the Respondent and
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visitation as specified in the stipulation. A copy of the Order signed by Judge _______________ and
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filed on ______________ is attached as Exhibit “A”.
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19 B. CONTENTIONS:
20 The Petitioner agrees with the Current Custody and Visitation orders.
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Be sure to modify this and add detail according to your particular situation. List the
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current custody and visitation orders, and then put down what changes you want, if any. Do
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NOT just use the wording in this paragraph.
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III.
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PETITIONER’S TRIAL BRIEF

3. 1 CHILD SUPPORT
2 A. HISTORY:
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On _______________ the Court issued an order for the Petitioner to pay the sum of
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$__________________per month for child support, payable one-half on the first and one-half on the
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fifteenth of each month commencing ___________. A copy of the Order on Order to Show Cause is
7 attached as Exhibit “B”.
8 B. ISSUES:
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As shown on Page 3 of Exhibit “B” the support orders were based upon a Chambers
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Conference in which the Court would not impute income to the Respondent. However, the Court
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indicated that the Respondent should be gainfully employed within 90 days. The Respondent has
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13 failed to seek gainful employment.
14 C. CONTENTIONS:
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To purchase and download the entire trial brief visit:
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17 http://www.scribd.com/doc/25869129/Sample-Trial-Brief-for-Divorce-case
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PETITIONER’S TRIAL BRIEF

4. 1 CHILD SUPPORT
2 A. HISTORY:
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On _______________ the Court issued an order for the Petitioner to pay the sum of
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$__________________per month for child support, payable one-half on the first and one-half on the
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fifteenth of each month commencing ___________. A copy of the Order on Order to Show Cause is
7 attached as Exhibit “B”.
8 B. ISSUES:
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As shown on Page 3 of Exhibit “B” the support orders were based upon a Chambers
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Conference in which the Court would not impute income to the Respondent. However, the Court
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indicated that the Respondent should be gainfully employed within 90 days. The Respondent has
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13 failed to seek gainful employment.
14 C. CONTENTIONS:
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To purchase and download the entire trial brief visit:
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17 http://www.scribd.com/doc/25869129/Sample-Trial-Brief-for-Divorce-case
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PETITIONER’S TRIAL BRIEF

5. 1 CHILD SUPPORT
2 A. HISTORY:
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On _______________ the Court issued an order for the Petitioner to pay the sum of
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$__________________per month for child support, payable one-half on the first and one-half on the
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fifteenth of each month commencing ___________. A copy of the Order on Order to Show Cause is
7 attached as Exhibit “B”.
8 B. ISSUES:
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As shown on Page 3 of Exhibit “B” the support orders were based upon a Chambers
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Conference in which the Court would not impute income to the Respondent. However, the Court
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indicated that the Respondent should be gainfully employed within 90 days. The Respondent has
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13 failed to seek gainful employment.
14 C. CONTENTIONS:
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To purchase and download the entire trial brief visit:
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17 http://www.scribd.com/doc/25869129/Sample-Trial-Brief-for-Divorce-case
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PETITIONER’S TRIAL BRIEF

6. 1 CHILD SUPPORT
2 A. HISTORY:
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On _______________ the Court issued an order for the Petitioner to pay the sum of
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$__________________per month for child support, payable one-half on the first and one-half on the
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fifteenth of each month commencing ___________. A copy of the Order on Order to Show Cause is
7 attached as Exhibit “B”.
8 B. ISSUES:
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As shown on Page 3 of Exhibit “B” the support orders were based upon a Chambers
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Conference in which the Court would not impute income to the Respondent. However, the Court
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indicated that the Respondent should be gainfully employed within 90 days. The Respondent has
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13 failed to seek gainful employment.
14 C. CONTENTIONS:
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To purchase and download the entire trial brief visit:
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17 http://www.scribd.com/doc/25869129/Sample-Trial-Brief-for-Divorce-case
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PETITIONER’S TRIAL BRIEF