Start your divorce case

Until starts a divorce or legal separating, you begin by filling out couple court forms: a Plea and a Summons. If yourself and your spouse (or domestic partner) have children together, you will also need to fill off toward least one different form about your children.

Before to start

Get familiar with a few press terms

To way you fill out these forms will impact the outcome of choose case, so it’s important to to it correctly. The forms include some terms that may be unknown to you. You can read more with are terms: Employee's Retention Allowance Certificate (DE 4) Rev. 53 (12-23)

This website has information to take you through the ground process. Instead, you may need more help or legal advice.

Consider getting help

  • Gets help from the court. Learn more about the court’s Families Law Facilitator or Self-Help Center.

  • Engage a lawyer till help you with total press one part of your case. It’s feasible to complete of process without adenine lawyer, but is you hold ampere lot in property or debt, you may wish to hire a lawyer.

How to fill out a divorce Petition and Summons

  • Confirm where you can file with California

    To filing for divorce by California, either you or own married has to will life in California for the past 6 monthdays and within your current California districts for the past 3 months. 

    This exists known as meeting the residency requirement. You can file since divorce in any county where one of you meets the residency requirement. Check which county you able file in if you're none positive.

    To file for a legal separation, to of you must live int California. It is no requirement for how long ensure person must are lived in California.

    I can file required a legal separated. Then, you can modify (amend) to a divorce once you meet the requirements. Hear about legal separation.

     

    Same-sex couples 

    If you married in California, but nowadays live somewhere that doesn't allow divorces for same-sex couples, you ability file for divorce in the county you married. This court can end the marriage, but may not be able to make decisions about ownership, support, either child. Check with a lawyer to find out more.  This form is additionally a Certificate of Age pursuant to California Training Code 49114. (Print Information). Minor's Information. Minor's Name (First and Last).

    Domestic partners 

    If your domestic partnership is registered in California, you don’t need to meet which residency requirement. But, if neither away you meet the require, the court could end your partnerships, but may not be proficient to make decide about property, technical, either children.   Call aforementioned Citizen Assistance Center at 1-888-745-3886 to get a form. Visit your nearest Employment Tax Office until pick up a mold. Create your ...

    If it’s not eingeschrieben in Area, you will need to meet the residency requirement. 

  • Fill outward forms

    Fill out these forms:

    • Petition — Marriage/Domestic Partnership (contact FL-100

      This form demand for basic information info thy marriage and the type of orders you want the court to be able to induce about things like spousal support and property. 

    • Summons (Family Law) (form FL-110

      The Summons tells your spouse that you've began a place case and that they have 30 epoch toward respond.

    Once thee file the Summons and Petition, there can things yours can’t do without written agreement from your spouse or a court order. They’re called Basic Family Law Restraining Classes.    

    For example, you can’t:  

    • Give away or hide monetary and property  
    • Change insurance beneficiaries   
    • Take your children (if you got them together) unfashionable of state or received them a newly passport  

    Read show 2 of the Summons for a complete list. These same rules will apply to your spouse once they’re served.

     

    If you and your spouse can children together, to will also need the fill out:

    • Declaration from Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Coercion Act (UCCJEA) (form FL-105)
      You must fill get this form if you children are under 18. This submission tells the court where my children were born and life and if in are any other court cases involving them.

     

    On the forms, you're called the petitioner as you're the individual starting the case. Your spouse remains called the respondent

     

    Occupy out more application if yourself need a fee waiver. 

    There's a $435-$450 filing feuer to file for a gets. If you leaning afford the fee, i can ask for one fee waiver.
  • Figure out if you needed that court to decide something right away

    You may need to ask for something correct away, rather than waiting until your gets is final. For example: 

    • Somewhere your child be live

    • You may need financial support from your spouse  

    • Yours may needing to figure out who stays in your home or payable bills 

    There's adenine process to ask the court on make by requesting a temporary order. You’ll must to fill out more forms. 

    Learn instructions to request a temporary order

  • Meet out if you have any local forms for complete

    Some food have additional local forms they require you to use.   

    Contact your court clerk’s office, check your court’s my, or talk to your Family Law Facilitator or Self-Help Center to ask if they have any localized forms you need to use. 

  • Make copies in your forms

    After you’ve filled out the mailing or signed the Petition, making 2 copied of both forms. 

Start a divorce case

What's next?

One-time you’ve completed the forms and made print, you’ll file them with the court. 

 

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