DIVORCE MADE SIMPLE
How to File a Motion to Compel & Protect Your Case
Shopping for Missing Ingredients: Get the Information You Need
Course Introduction: Going to the Store with a Motion to Compel
Get What You Need—Or Get Stuck
Missing information in your divorce isn’t just frustrating—it’s a threat to your case. If you don’t have full financial records, property details, or key disclosures, you can’t negotiate, plan, or fight effectively.
If something was missing from your pantry, you wouldn’t just give up—you’d go to the store. A motion to compel is how you "go to the store" in divorce court. It forces the other side to hand over what they’re refusing to provide. Without it, you’re stuck. With it, you’re in control.
Why You Need This Course
Attorneys make motions to compel sound complicated to justify high fees. But the truth? This is a routine legal tool. You don’t need a law degree to use it—you just need the right system.
This course gives you a clear, step-by-step strategy with templates, checklists, and real-world examples so you can:
Spot what’s missing and prove why it matters.
Document your good-faith efforts to request it.
File a motion to compel when the other side refuses to comply.
Whether you're self-represented or working with an attorney, knowing how to force compliance ensures you’re not left waiting, guessing, or giving up what’s rightfully yours.
Why This Course Uses California Law as an Example
This course uses California law as a reference because I’ve navigated its structured, well-documented discovery process firsthand. But these strategies work everywhere.
You’ll also learn how to:
Find your state’s discovery rules and deadlines.
Locate the right court forms and filing requirements.
Adapt the process to your jurisdiction.
Who This Course is For
Self-Represented Litigants: Get What You Need or Get Left Behind
If the other side is withholding financial disclosures, pay stubs, or property details, you have two options:
Wait, hope, and get stuck.
File a motion to compel and force compliance.
This course gives you:
A step-by-step plan to file a motion to compel.
Templates and checklists to eliminate guesswork.
Tools to prepare, present, and win your motion.
Even without an attorney, you can take action and move forward—now.
Litigants with Attorneys: Stay in Control
Even if you have an attorney, knowing how motions to compel work keeps you from being overcharged or ignored.
With this course, you’ll:
Ensure your attorney has what they need to file fast.
Track deadlines and prevent costly delays.
Avoid paying extra for what is often a routine legal procedure.
Take Action Now—Or Risk Losing Ground
If you don’t force compliance, you’re giving the other side the power to control the timeline, the information, and the outcome.
This course gives you everything you need to file and argue a motion to compel with confidence. You’ll save time, reduce costs, and stay in control of your case.
Don’t wait. Don’t give up. Get what’s yours. Let’s get started.
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A motion to compel is a request asking the court to order your spouse to provide missing information essential to your divorce case. It’s like mise en place—the preparation needed to bake an award-winning pie. Whether you’re a chef (self-represented) or sous chef (with an attorney), you check for missing ingredients and go to the store to get them. In this lesson, you’ll learn the purpose of a motion to compel and understand the steps involved, using California as an example.
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Recognizing non-compliance is key to knowing when a motion to compel is needed. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to identify delayed or incomplete discovery responses and spot signs that your spouse may be withholding information. Using California as an example, we’ll review timing requirements and offer tools, including AI-based resources, to help you explore similar procedures in other states and stay prepared.
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Noncompliance can disrupt your case and lead to penalties. In this lesson, you’ll learn how courts handle incomplete or untimely responses and the potential consequences, like sanctions or fines. Understanding these outcomes ensures you stay organized, document issues, and protect your case.
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Drafting a motion to compel requires specific steps to meet court requirements. In this lesson, you’ll structure your motion, outline the missing information, and cite the legal basis to support your request. Using California as an example, we’ll explore how to create a compelling motion, with guidance to adapt for other states.
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Small mistakes can undermine your motion to compel and delay your case. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to meet deadlines, document noncompliance, avoid formatting errors, and exhaust resolution options before filing. These steps ensure your motion meets court standards and strengthens your argument for the missing information.
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Filing a motion to compel involves specific steps to meet court requirements. In this lesson, you’ll learn about deadlines, required forms, and proper formatting to comply with guidelines. We’ll cover practical details like where to file and required notices. Using California as an example, you’ll get step-by-step guidance on the process, with tools to adapt to procedures in other states and ensure your motion is effective.
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Serving a motion to compel requires following specific rules to ensure compliance. In this lesson, you’ll learn who can serve your motion, the accepted methods, and how to document proof of service. Using California as an example, we’ll cover key requirements and provide insights to help you adapt to service rules in other states.
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Understanding the court process is key to presenting your motion. In this lesson, you’ll learn what happens during a motion to compel hearing, how judges review missing items, and how they decide to order or deny them. We’ll provide tips for organizing documentation and staying calm and professional in court.
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Getting evidence admitted in court is critical to building a strong case. In this lesson, you’ll learn the exact steps to introduce documents, financial records, and communications effectively. Even if you have an attorney, it’s important to understand this process—some attorneys overlook key steps, and being informed helps you ensure that your evidence is properly handled in court.
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The court’s decision determines the next steps in your case. In this lesson, you’ll learn about outcomes like orders for compliance or sanctions for noncompliance. Using California as an example, we’ll explore common responses and offer tips for clarifying orders or addressing uncertainties.
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Following the court’s orders is critical to your case. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to monitor compliance, document progress, and take action if your spouse doesn’t comply. We’ll cover steps like filing a contempt motion and offer tips for handling noncompliance professionally.
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