Get oriented, gather the information you will probably need, and check which California process you are actually using. This is preparation—not a strategy for what to ask the court to order.
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Skip anything that does not apply. Nothing on this checklist is saved to your account.
First: identify the process
Which path are you looking at?
California now has more than one way to start a divorce. Do not assume the regular Petition/Response path applies to every case.
That is okay. Review the paths before using a starting-form checklist so you do not accidentally follow instructions for a different process.
Residency & county
Confirm where a case can be filed.
For a regular California divorce, either spouse generally must have lived in California for the past 6 months and in the county where the case will be filed for the past 3 months. Different rules can apply to legal separation, California-registered domestic partnerships, and some other situations.
Local layer
Choose the county you expect to use.
This does not decide proper venue. It lets you open the court's current local information before filing.
Know the basic facts
If children are involved
Gather financial records
Think about immediate court needs
Before submitting anything
Three final checks.
Preparation, not asset or litigation strategy.
Gathering records is useful. This checklist does not tell you to move money, transfer property, change ownership, hide information, choose a legal position, or take action against the other person. If you need advice about what you should do before filing, talk with a qualified family-law professional or your court's self-help center.
When you are ready
Move from preparation into the right next step.
The app will still ask you to verify the process and county before treating a packet as complete.
Safety, restraining orders, or CPS involved? A routine divorce or custody checklist may not be the right starting point. The free crossover guide explains domestic-violence resources and when a juvenile-dependency case can change which court controls custody and visitation. Nothing about the underlying allegations is saved.Open safety & crossover guide