There is not one universal “California divorce packet.”
The forms that appear in a case depend on the process being used and the issues involved. A regular Petition/Response case, the 2026 joint-petition process, and summary dissolution have different starting forms and procedures. Local courts can also require local forms.
Form descriptions explain purpose, not eligibility or legal strategy. A form appearing on this page does not mean it belongs in a particular case.
Common forms in the regular divorce process
Petition—Marriage/Domestic Partnership
A starting form used in the regular divorce or legal-separation process. It identifies the case and the issues being presented to the court.
Summons (Family Law)
Issued in the regular process when the case starts. It gives notice of the case and includes important automatic family-law restrictions.
UCCJEA Declaration
A child-custody jurisdiction form commonly used when the case involves minor children. It asks for residence and related custody-case information.
Response—Marriage/Domestic Partnership
The regular-process response form used by the respondent to participate in the case and state positions on the issues listed in the form.
Declaration of Disclosure
A disclosure form used to identify the type of financial disclosure being exchanged and the information included with that disclosure.
Income and Expense Declaration
A detailed form used in many family-law contexts to report income, expenses, assets, deductions, household information, and other requested financial information.
Assets and debts disclosure forms
Forms used to organize property and debt information for financial disclosure purposes. Which form is used depends on the applicable disclosure instructions.
Declaration Regarding Service of Declaration of Disclosure
A proof form filed with the court to report that required disclosure documents were served. The private disclosure packet itself is generally exchanged rather than filed as the disclosure packet.
Request for Order
A form used to ask the court for certain temporary or other family-law orders in an existing case. Additional forms and service requirements depend on the type of request.
Judgment
A principal judgment form used when the court enters final orders in a family-law case. Other attachments and forms can be required depending on the judgment path and issues.
Three form-handling distinctions that matter
Draft vs. filed
A draft is not the same as a court-filed or signed document. Keep the filed version when the clerk returns it.
Filed vs. served
Some forms are filed with the court, some are served on the other party, and some involve both steps. Financial disclosures are a common place where this distinction matters.
Statewide vs. local
Judicial Council forms are statewide, but Superior Courts can add local forms or procedural requirements. The local court website should be checked before filing.
Form number does not answer the legal question
Knowing a form number does not determine what relief to request, what facts to allege, whether an agreement is acceptable, or what position a person should take.
Use current official versions.
California court forms can be revised. The California Courts form finder identifies current statewide forms and their effective dates. Local court websites can identify local forms and filing instructions.
Forms guide boundary
California Divorce Resources can explain what a form generally does and help organize a procedural checklist. It does not choose forms based on individualized facts, decide what someone should request, draft advocacy, determine legal rights, or certify that a packet is legally complete.