Free guide · statewide California flow

What should I expect in a California divorce?

The basic path is statewide. Your county can add local procedures along the way, but you do not need to learn 58 different divorce systems.

This is an educational map, not a prediction of exactly how long your case will take or which issues a judge will decide.

This map covers the regular petition-and-response process.

If your case was started jointly with FL-700 and FL-710, or you are using summary dissolution, the starting path is different. Use California Courts’ specific instructions for that process instead of treating the steps below as your filing roadmap.

Typical stage

Start the case

One person files the case. The filed papers then need to be served so the other person has notice and a chance to respond.

Petition and summonsFiling fee or fee-waiver requestService and proof of serviceA response, or no response

Build a starting or response packet

Typical stage

Share financial information

Financial disclosures are a separate part of the divorce process. They help both sides understand income, expenses, property, and debts before final decisions are made.

Disclosure formsIncome and expense informationAssets and debtsProof that disclosures were served

Open Money & Property

Optional side path

Handle things that cannot wait

Temporary orders can happen while the divorce is still pending. This is not a required stage in every case—it is a side path when something needs a court decision sooner.

Custody or parenting-time requestsChild or spousal supportAttorney-fee requestsOther temporary family-law orders

Understand temporary orders

Typical stage

Resolve the final issues

The case can move toward judgment in different ways depending on whether the other person responded and whether the two of you agree on the remaining issues.

No ResponsePossible default path. A judge still reviews and approves the requested judgment.

You reach an agreementPut the agreement in writing and use it as part of the final judgment process.

You still disagreeSettlement efforts may continue. Unresolved issues can ultimately be decided by the court.

Default if there was no responseWritten agreement if issues are resolvedSettlement efforts if issues remainHearing or trial if a judge must decide

See judgment & final steps

Typical stage

Submit judgment paperwork

Agreement alone does not finish the divorce. The final paperwork must be submitted, reviewed, and signed by the court.

Judgment paperworkRequired attachmentsAny local judgment/final-step requirementsCourt review and possible corrections

Check judgment readiness

Typical stage

Confirm when the divorce is final

A six-month period does not automatically divorce you. The signed judgment and the effective termination date control when marital status ends.

Signed judgmentNotice of entry of judgmentEffective termination datePost-judgment tasks if any

Review the final step

Where county differences matter

The road is statewide. Some of the turns are local.

Select a county to see examples of local procedure that may affect filing, custody services, hearings, settlement conferences, remote appearances, or other court steps.

California county

Choose a county when you want the local layer. The statewide flow above stays the same.

Official statewide source

Want to compare this map with California Courts?

California Courts describes the regular divorce process in four broad parts: start the case, share financial information, make decisions, and finalize the divorce.