Starting a divorce in California is mostly paperwork and deadlines - and most of the pain comes from getting one small thing wrong: serving your own papers, filing in the wrong county, or guessing the date of separation. This free checklist puts the whole filing process on one printable sheet so you can check items off in the exact order they happen.

Download the California Divorce Filing Checklist (PDF) - free, no email required, prints on standard Letter paper.

What’s Inside the Checklist

The checklist covers the six phases of filing for divorce in California:

  1. Before you file - the facts you need in writing first: marriage date, place, and the single most important date in your case, the date of separation.
  2. Forms to complete - FL-100 (Petition), FL-110 (Summons), FL-105 (UCCJEA declaration if you have children under 18), CM-010 in many counties, and the FW-001/FW-002 fee waiver if you cannot afford the filing fee.
  3. Filing with the court clerk - which court, how many copies, the filing fee (about $435 in most counties), and your case number.
  4. Serving your spouse - who can serve, what documents they must hand over, and Form FL-115 (Proof of Service).
  5. Deadlines that run by themselves - the 30-day response window and the six-month rule of Fam. Code § 2330(a).
  6. The seven costliest mistakes - the ones that send cases back to square one.

Quick Answers Before You Download

How much does it cost to file for divorce in California? The first filing paper costs about $435 in most California counties (a few charge slightly more). Your spouse pays a separate first-appearance fee of about $435 when they file their Response. If the fee is a hardship, file Forms FW-001 and FW-002 to ask the court to waive it - approved, you file for free.

Can I file for divorce in California without a lawyer? Yes. California lets you represent yourself, and uncontested cases are routinely completed by self-represented people. Every form is free from the California Courts website, and every county court runs a free self-help center (family law facilitator) that reviews your paperwork.

How long does a divorce take in California? Six months and one day at the earliest - the clock starts when your spouse is served, not when you file. Nothing the court does can end the marriage before that date, but you can finish all the paperwork before it and submit your judgment early.

Do I have to prove my spouse did something wrong? No. California is a pure no-fault state. The only legal ground is “irreconcilable differences” (Fam. Code § 2310). Winning a divorce in California is about procedure, not blame.

After You File

Filing is step one of a longer road. When you’re ready for what comes next, these guides pick up where the checklist ends:

This checklist is general educational information, not legal advice. Laws and fees change - verify current requirements with your county superior court’s self-help center or a licensed California family law attorney.