The divorce forms in California start with a Petition (FL-100) and a Summons (FL-110), add a set of financial disclosure documents in the middle, and finish with a judgment package (FL-170, FL-180, and FL-190, plus either FL-130 or FL-165 depending on whether your spouse participates). If you have minor children or property to divide, a few more forms attach along the way. The exact stack depends on your situation, but every standard dissolution runs through the same three stages: opening, disclosure, and judgment.
Before you file anything, confirm residency. At least one spouse must have lived in California for six months and in the filing county for three months.1California Legislative Information. California Code FAM 2320 – Residence Requirements If neither of you meets the county requirement, you can file where either spouse lives, but the court may hold off entering a judgment until the three-month mark.
Forms That Open the Case
Two forms start a standard divorce, filed together at the clerk’s office of your local superior court.
The Petition — Marriage/Domestic Partnership (FL-100) identifies who is filing, sets out the basic facts of the marriage, and states what you want from the court on custody, support, and property division.2California Courts. Petition – Marriage/Domestic Partnership (Family Law) FL-100 You check a box for dissolution of marriage and, for grounds, “irreconcilable differences.” California doesn’t require you to prove fault.3California Legislative Information. California Code FAM 2310 – Grounds for Dissolution or Legal Separation
The Summons (FL-110) is filed at the same time. It gives your spouse notice of the case and 30 days to respond. Its back page contains automatic restraining orders that take effect immediately for both of you: no removing children from the state, no canceling insurance, no hiding or transferring property, no changing beneficiaries.4Judicial Council of California. FL-110 Summons (Family Law) These stay in force until the divorce is final or a judge changes them. Read them carefully. Violations can trigger sanctions or contempt.
Bring your originals and at least two copies to the clerk. The filing fee runs $435 to $450 depending on the county.5California Courts. File Your Divorce Forms If you can’t afford it, submit a Request to Waive Court Fees (FW-001) with the Petition. You qualify if you receive certain public benefits, your household income is below a set threshold, or you lack enough income to cover basic needs plus court costs.6California Courts. Request to Waive Court Fees FW-001 The clerk stamps everything with a case number and returns your copies.
Serving Your Spouse and the FL-115
Filing alone doesn’t move the case forward. Your spouse has to be formally handed the papers by someone who is at least 18 and not part of the case. You cannot serve them yourself.7California Courts. Serve Your Divorce Papers That server delivers the Petition, Summons, and any attachments to your spouse in person. If your spouse refuses to take them, the server can set them down and explain what they are. That still counts.
The server then completes the Proof of Service of Summons (FL-115) with the date, time, and location, and signs under penalty of perjury.8Judicial Council of California. FL-115 Proof of Service of Summons You file the FL-115 with the court. Without it on the record, the case has no proof of notice and cannot move.
The Response — or a Default
Your spouse has 30 calendar days from service to file a Response (FL-120), which mirrors the Petition and lets them agree or disagree with what you’ve asked for.9California Courts. Fill Out and File Forms to Respond to Divorce Papers They pay a filing fee too, or request their own waiver.
If nothing comes back in 30 days, you can file a Request to Enter Default (FL-165). A default lets the court proceed without your spouse. The judge can approve the terms you asked for in the Petition based on your evidence alone, and your spouse loses the right to contest.10California Courts. How to Finish Your Divorce in a Default
Financial Disclosure Forms
Both spouses are required to exchange a full picture of their finances. The court will not finalize a divorce without it. There’s a preliminary disclosure early in the case and a final disclosure before judgment, though the final one can be waived in writing.
The disclosure paperwork is served on your spouse, not filed with the court. That’s the piece people get wrong most often. What you file with the court is a separate one-page form confirming the exchange happened.
- Declaration of Disclosure (FL-140). A cover sheet listing what you’re handing over. Serve it on your spouse with the attachments. Do not file it with the court. File FL-141 with the court to confirm you completed the exchange.11Judicial Council of California. Declaration of Disclosure FL-140
- Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150). Monthly income from every source and monthly expenses, with copies of your pay stubs from the last two months. Bring your most recent federal tax return to any court hearing.12Judicial Council of California. FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration
- Schedule of Assets and Debts (FL-142). Everything you own and owe, each item labeled community or separate property.13Judicial Council of California. Schedule of Assets and Debts FL-142
- Tax returns. All returns filed in the two years before you serve the disclosure documents.11Judicial Council of California. Declaration of Disclosure FL-140
The Property Declaration (FL-160) is an alternative to FL-142 and can also be used later. You can attach it to the Petition or Response to tell the court about property upfront, serve it on your spouse in place of FL-142, or file it with the judgment when asking the court to divide community property or confirm separate property.14Judicial Council of California. Property Declaration (Family Law) FL-160
If You Have Minor Children: FL-105
Any divorce with minor children requires the Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (FL-105). It tracks where each child has lived for the past five years so the court can confirm it has authority to decide custody.15Judicial Council of California. Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act FL-105 You’ll also disclose any other court cases involving the children, such as guardianship proceedings, restraining orders, or child welfare matters.
Judgment Forms That Finalize the Divorce
Once disclosures are exchanged and the response deadline has passed or an agreement is reached, you assemble the judgment package. The exact set depends on how your spouse participated.
When your spouse filed a Response and you’ve reached a written agreement:
- Appearance, Stipulations, and Waivers (FL-130). Both spouses sign to confirm the terms.
- Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution (FL-170). Despite the name, this covers uncontested cases too. It tells the court you’ve met all requirements.
- Judgment (FL-180). The court order ending the marriage, with your written agreement attached.16California Courts. Finish Your Divorce When You Have a Written Agreement
- Notice of Entry of Judgment (FL-190). After the judge signs, the court mails this to both parties confirming the divorce is final.
When your spouse never responded and you took a default, the set is similar: FL-165 (already filed), FL-170, FL-180, and FL-190. You may also need FL-150 and FL-160 if you’re asking for support or property orders. Pull the court’s checklist form (FL-182) early so nothing gets rejected for a missing attachment.10California Courts. How to Finish Your Divorce in a Default
The Six-Month Waiting Period
Even with every form filed on time and full agreement between the spouses, California will not terminate the marriage until six months have passed from the date your spouse was served (or the date your spouse first appeared in the case, if earlier).17California Legislative Information. California Code FAM 2339 – Waiting Period The judge can sign the judgment sooner, but you are not legally single, and cannot remarry, until the six months run. Your marital status changes on the date the six-month period ends or the date the judge signs the judgment, whichever comes later.
A Shorter Path: Summary Dissolution
Some couples avoid most of this paperwork by qualifying for summary dissolution, a streamlined process that uses a single joint form. The rules are strict, and few couples meet all of them:
- Less than five years from wedding to date of separation.
- No minor children together, born or adopted, and neither spouse pregnant.
- Neither spouse owns or leases any house, land, or building (a lease ending within a year of filing is fine).
- Community debts under $7,000, not counting car loans.
- Community property worth less than $57,000, and each spouse’s separate property worth less than $57,000.
- Both spouses agree to end the marriage, waive spousal support, and agree on how to divide everything.
Couples who qualify file a Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution (FL-800) together, replacing the separate Petition and Response.18California Courts. Find Out if You Qualify for Summary Dissolution If any requirement isn’t met, the standard forms above are the path.