California Divorce Process

The divorce process in California is quite simple, with the exception of a Joint Summary Dissolution (simplified divorce) all divorces are handled through the same process.

California divorces are handled in a two step process, with two filings.

First Filing:

This is what gets your divorce started. You will file your Petition for Dissolution of Marriage along with a Summons along with supporting documents, depending on whether you have children and or property.

Once your documents are filed with the court, you will have your spouse served. This sounds intimidating but the reality is, it's a very simple procedure, it simply means that someone over the age of 18 who is not a party to your divorce case must hand the papers to your spouse and sign an affidavit. If your spouse is in a different state or in a different place you can most likely serve via certified mail. If you do not know where your spouse is, you will need to serve by publication which means you will need a place an ad in the local newspaper announcing the summons.

Once your spouse has been served, you must give him/her 30 days to respond. If your spouse does not respond in 30 days, you will have the second set of papers prepared and file for a default judgment. This simply means that your spouse is not constesting the divorce or what you are asking for. If your spouse does respond, you will need to work together to come up with an agreement to file with the court along with the final papers or you will need to appear in court to let the court decide how things will be divided.

Regardless if you both agree to everything and you can get a signed judgment back within 60 days, your divorce will not be final until 6 months and one day from the date you filed the first set of papers. There is no way to shorten this waiting period, regardless of your case. Even a Joint Summary divorce takes 6 months.

Second Filing:

The second filing consists of the final papers asking the court to grant the divorce based on the things outlined in the petition. Your divorce will not be granted unless you have all of the required forms filled out the correct way.

Our Divorce Packages Include Both Filings

We offer California divorce packages using all of the latest court mandated forms, including marital settlement agreements, parenting plans, and fee waiver forms, all for the low price of $99.94.

We go a step further, we will e-mail the completed forms to you within 48 hours as well as print them and mail them to your door within 7 business days. We also include your forms on cd rom for future reference.

No place else can you get all of your divorce needs taken care of so quickly and so affordably. Our paralegals are trained and have complete knowledge of what forms you need for your particular case. Best of all, our forms as well as our work is fully guaranteed.

Not sure if California is where you need to file? Get more information on the California divorce laws here. If you decide to file in another state we can still help. Please visit our "other states" page for more information.

The divorce process in California is the same for all types of divorce except a Joint Summary Dissolution. If you think you qualify for a Joint Summary Dissolution, check the laws and process on our Summary page.

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California Divorce Court Filing Fees and Court Fee Waivers

Our prices do not include the standard court filing fee. This fee varies from county to county so you will need to contact your county clerk to get the exact cost of filing for a divorce. Our divorce packages include the "Court Fee Waiver" forms, free of charge.

California Divorce Papers: What You Get with Your Order

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Ongoing Support Until Your Divorce is Final

Online Filing Instructions

Online Information to Assist you Through the Divorce Process

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Questions?

We try to answer all questions but please understand that we cannot give any legal advice. We are not attorneys. If you have questions that you feel are not legal questions, please feel free to contact us we will get back to you within 24 hours.

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