The Complete California Divorce Roadmap: Every Step, Cost, and Form Explained
Divorce in California follows a specific legal sequence — and once you see the whole path laid out, each individual step stops feeling overwhelming. This is the master roadmap: every stage of a California divorce, in order, with a detailed guide linked at each step for when you’re ready to go deeper. Quick Answer: The California Divorce Process at a Glance Eligibility: 6 months of California residency, 3 months in your filing county Cost: \435 per filing fee (or \870 total if filed separately by both spouses) Minimum timeline: 6 months and 1 day from the date of service — or from the filing date if you use the new Joint Petition — regardless of how quickly you agree Core forms: FL-100, FL-110, FL-140, FL-142/FL-160, FL-150, FL-115 New in 2026: an optional Joint Petition (FL-700) lets fully-agreeing couples file together under one case Stage 1: Decide Your Approach Before filing anything, figure out whether you’re handling this yourself, with a mediator, or with an attorney — and get a realistic sense of what it will cost either way. ...