California divorce forms PDF: every form you need and where to get them

Last updated 2026-07-09

Where do you actually get California divorce forms for free?

The California Judicial Council publishes every mandatory divorce form as a free, fillable PDF at courts.ca.gov. ^[1] That's the only place you should download them. Not a random PDF aggregator, not a law firm's "free download" that funnels you toward a $400 consultation. The official source, full stop.

The Judicial Council updates these forms on a regular schedule, and courts reject outdated versions. A form from 2019 can get your case kicked back even if every line is perfect. Download fresh copies from courts.ca.gov/forms right before you sit down to fill anything out.

You can also grab paper copies at your county courthouse's self-help center for nothing. California law requires every superior court to run a self-help center, so there's one in every county. ^[2] Not sure where yours is? The Judicial Council's locator at courts.ca.gov/selfhelp lists all of them.

What are the core California divorce forms for an uncontested case?

The exact set depends on your situation. Here's the realistic breakdown by scenario.

Scenario 1: No children, no real property, minimal assets (summary dissolution)

Married fewer than 5 years, no children, no real estate, and combined debts and assets under the Judicial Council thresholds ($6,000 in debts, $47,000 in assets excluding cars as of 2025)? You may qualify for summary dissolution. ^[3] The main form is FL-810 (Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution). Both spouses sign it together. No court hearing.

Scenario 2: Standard uncontested dissolution

This covers most people. The core packet:

Form	Name	Who files it
FL-100	Petition for Dissolution	Petitioner
FL-110	Summons (Family Law)	Petitioner
FL-105	Declaration Under UCCJEA	Petitioner (if minor children)
FL-115	Proof of Service of Summons	Petitioner after service
FL-120	Response (Dissolution)	Respondent
FL-141	Declaration Regarding Service of Declaration of Disclosure	Both spouses
FL-150	Income and Expense Declaration	Both spouses
FL-140	Declaration of Disclosure	Both spouses
FL-160	Property Declaration	Both spouses (if property involved)
FL-180	Judgment (Dissolution)	Submitted at end
FL-190	Notice of Entry of Judgment	Clerk issues this

Cases with children add FL-311 (Child Custody and Visitation Order Attachment) and a proposed parenting plan. ^[4]

Want a default judgment where your spouse agreed but you're proceeding by agreement? Add FL-170 (Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution).

That's the honest list. Anyone selling you a "two forms and you're done" story is either describing summary dissolution or leaving something out.

What does each form actually do?

FL-100 (Petition) is the opening document. It tells the court who you are, how long you've lived in California (six months minimum, plus three months in your filing county), what you're asking for, and whether kids or property are on the table. ^[5]

FL-110 (Summons) is the official notice that gets served on your spouse. It carries the standard restraining language that freezes both parties from moving assets, taking kids out of state, or canceling insurance the moment you file. Automatic. Not optional.

FL-105 declares where your children have lived for the past five years. Courts need it to set jurisdiction under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act.

FL-115 proves your spouse was properly served. Without it, your case stalls. California allows personal service, or, if your spouse cooperates, a Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt (FL-117) that your spouse signs.

FL-140, FL-141, and FL-150 are the disclosure package. California Family Code section 2100 requires both spouses to exchange a full disclosure of all assets and debts, and these three forms document the exchange. ^[6] Courts take this seriously. Skipping or rushing disclosures is one of the most common reasons uncontested cases drag.

FL-180 (Judgment) is the order the judge signs to end the marriage. You and your spouse prepare it together as a proposed judgment and submit it. The judge reviews it and signs without a hearing if everything checks out.

How much does it cost to file a California divorce in 2025?

The Judicial Council sets the base filing fee for a petition for dissolution at $435. ^[7] The respondent pays the same $435 to file the Response (FL-120). Some counties charge $450 because of local courthouse construction surcharges. Los Angeles Superior Court has run $450 per side for the past several years.

So in a standard uncontested divorce, both spouses together pay $870 to $900 in court fees. That's only the court's cut. Certified copies run roughly $15 to $25 each. A process server usually costs $50 to $150 in California. A realistic all-in budget for fees and basic expenses lands around $1,000 to $1,100.

Can't afford it? File form FW-001 (Request to Waive Court Fees) with your petition. ^[8] If your income sits at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, the waiver is essentially automatic. Between 125% and 300%, the court decides. FW-001 is also a free PDF on the Judicial Council site.

Summary dissolution, if you qualify, costs the same $435 for the joint petition. No second filing fee, because it's a joint filing.

How do you fill out California divorce forms correctly?

Use the fillable PDF and type directly into the form. Handwriting is accepted but harder to read and more likely to draw clerk questions. Save a blank copy before you start so you can restart if you fumble something.

The case number field starts blank on most forms. Leave it blank until the clerk stamps your FL-100 at filing. The clerk assigns a number, and you write it on every form after that.

FL-150 (Income and Expense Declaration) trips people up more than any other form. Report monthly income, not annual. Paid biweekly? Your monthly gross is your biweekly gross times 26 divided by 12. The Judicial Council's instructions for FL-150 walk through every line, and they're worth the read. ^[1]

On FL-160 (Property Declaration), remember California is a community property state, so most assets and debts acquired during marriage belong equally to both spouses. ^[9] Separate property (owned before marriage, or received as a gift or inheritance) goes on its own page. If you can't tell how to characterize something, ask a self-help center attorney or book a short paid consultation with a divorce attorney.

Date everything the day you actually sign. Courts have rejected declarations dated in the future or left blank.

Sign FL-100 in front of a notary? No. California dissolution forms use penalty of perjury declarations, not notarization. Sign under the printed penalty of perjury language and you're done.

What's the difference between California and Michigan divorce forms?

They're completely different documents from completely different court systems, and they don't cross over. This question comes up more than you'd expect, usually because someone moved recently or has a friend in Michigan who went through it.

Michigan uses its own state forms published by the Michigan Courts at courts.michigan.gov, not the California Judicial Council. ^[10] Michigan calls the opening document a Complaint for Divorce (MC 21). California calls it a Petition (FL-100). Michigan requires a Summons (MC 01). The numbering, the disclosure rules, and the residency rules all differ.

Divorce papers in Michigan need six months of state residency plus ten days in the county. California wants six months in the state and three months in the county. ^[5]

The fees differ too. Michigan's divorce complaint fee varies by county, roughly $150 to $255, well under California's $435 base. ^[10]

Divorcing in California? Use California forms. If there's any real question about which state has jurisdiction, that's worth a one-hour consultation with a divorce lawyer before you file anything.

How do you serve the California divorce papers on your spouse?

Service is the step that makes everything official, and getting it wrong is a genuinely common mistake. Someone other than you (the petitioner) has to physically hand the documents to your spouse. ^[11] That person must be at least 18. It can be a friend, a family member, a professional process server, or the county sheriff (some sheriff's offices handle civil service for a fee). You cannot serve your own papers.

The server completes FL-115 (Proof of Service of Summons), which you then file with the court. After service, your spouse has 30 days to file FL-120 (Response) if they plan to respond.

In a cooperative uncontested case, the cleanest path is the Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt (FL-117). Your spouse signs it, you file it, and formal personal service is satisfied without a process server. ^[11] Your spouse still gets the full 30 days to respond even if they sign FL-117 the same day you hand it over.

Can't find your spouse at all? There's a process for service by publication in a newspaper of record, but it requires a court order and adds months. Don't start there.

What happens after you file? The California divorce timeline explained.

California has a mandatory six-month waiting period from the date your spouse is served before a divorce can be finalized. ^[12] It's baked into the Family Code and cannot be waived, even if both spouses agree on everything and file the same week.

Here's a realistic timeline for a cooperative uncontested case:

Stage	Approximate timing
File FL-100 + FL-110	Day 1
Serve spouse	Within days to 2 weeks of filing
Spouse files FL-120 (or you file for default)	30 days after service
Exchange disclosures (FL-140/FL-150)	Usually within 30-60 days of filing
Submit proposed judgment (FL-180)	After disclosures are complete
Mandatory waiting period ends	6 months from service date
Judge signs judgment	Days to weeks after waiting period, depending on county backlog

Los Angeles County runs slower because of volume, sometimes 8 to 12 months total even for uncontested cases. Smaller counties like Shasta or Plumas often finalize in 6 to 8 months. Nobody has clean statewide data on average uncontested case times. The closest you'll find are county-level reports that courts publish inconsistently.

Want to speed things up? File everything correctly the first time. Rejected filings (the court calls them "notices of deficiency") cost you weeks.

Can you file California divorce forms online instead of in person?

Yes, with caveats. Several California counties accept e-filing for family law cases, and the list has grown since 2020. Los Angeles, San Diego, Sacramento, and Alameda all run e-filing portals. ^[1] You upload your PDFs through a third-party e-filing vendor the court has approved (Tyler Technologies' eFileCA is the most common).

E-filing usually adds a convenience or processing fee of $7 to $15 per transaction on top of the filing fee. Small, but worth knowing.

Some courts still require in-person filing for the original petition or for sealed documents. Check your county superior court's website before you assume you can do it all online. The Judicial Council's page at courts.ca.gov lists each county court's local rules and contact info.

One thing doesn't change no matter how you file: you still have to physically serve your spouse (or use FL-117 if they're cooperating). E-filing does nothing for the service step.

Do you need a lawyer to complete California divorce forms?

No. California explicitly supports self-represented litigants (the courts call them "self-represented" or "pro per"), and every superior court's self-help center will review your forms before you file. That review is free. ^[2]

Here's when you should pay for at least a consultation: you have a pension, a defined-benefit retirement plan, or stock options (dividing those needs a Qualified Domestic Relations Order, which is its own document and not a Judicial Council form); you own real property and can't agree on its value; one spouse suspects the other is hiding assets; or there are custody disputes.

For a genuinely uncontested divorce where you agree on everything, the California courts are built to be workable without a lawyer. The Judicial Council's self-help section at courts.ca.gov/selfhelp has step-by-step guides for every scenario.

If you want your paperwork prepared and organized without doing all the research yourself, DivorceClear offers a $149 complete document packet for uncontested California divorces. It's not a law firm and doesn't give legal advice, but it produces the correctly formatted forms for your situation. Compare that to alimony complications or property fights, where a few hundred dollars on a real attorney consultation is almost always money well spent.

Self-help centers will tell you straight if your case is too complex for pro per handling. That honesty is worth a lot.

What are the most common mistakes on California divorce forms?

Clerks see the same errors over and over. These are the ones that actually delay cases.

Wrong residency on FL-100. You must have lived in California for 6 months AND in the filing county for 3 months as of the date you file. ^[5] People sometimes file where they used to live or where their spouse lives. Both wrong.

Leaving out the UCCJEA form (FL-105) when there are children. It's mandatory if you have minor children. Courts won't process custody orders without it.

Not completing both sides of the disclosure. FL-141 requires both the petitioner AND the respondent to file separate declarations confirming they served their disclosure documents. Courts reject cases where only one party filed.

Proposing a judgment before the six-month mark. Some people rush and submit FL-180 early. The court won't sign it before the mandatory waiting period ends. ^[12]

Using the wrong county's local forms. Several counties (Los Angeles is the big one) have extra local forms the Judicial Council doesn't publish. Check your county court's website under "local forms" or ask the self-help center.

Not updating the case number across all forms. Every page needs the assigned case number once you have it. Missing numbers cause clerk rejections.

Fix these before you file and your case moves faster.

What about property and debt? Do you need extra forms?

Yes. If you have any community property or debt to divide, FL-160 (Property Declaration) is required. You each file one. List every asset and debt: bank accounts, cars, retirement accounts, credit card balances, mortgages, business interests. ^[9]

For real estate, you'll also prepare a deed transferring title after the judgment is final. The deed is not a Judicial Council form. It's a county recorder's document. Most people use a grant deed or quitclaim deed, recorded with the county recorder's office after the divorce judgment is signed. Recording fees run roughly $15 to $25 per page in most California counties.

Got a retirement account to split? You need a separate legal order called a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) after the judgment. A QDRO has to go to the retirement plan administrator and get approved by both the plan and the court. Getting a QDRO right is one area where hiring a specialist (some attorneys do only QDROs, around $500 to $1,500) is genuinely worth the money.

For debt, the judgment can assign which spouse owes what, but that doesn't legally release the other spouse from liability with the creditor. If a credit card was joint, the creditor can still come after both of you until the account is paid off or refinanced. That's a real-world limit the FL-160 process doesn't fully solve.

See our full guide to divorce papers for how property paperwork fits into the overall filing sequence.

Does California have special forms for child custody and support?

It does, and these have to be right because they affect kids directly.

FL-311 (Child Custody and Visitation Order Attachment) is the standard parenting-plan form. It covers legal custody (who decides on education, healthcare, and the like) and physical custody (where the child lives and when). Both parents sign off in an uncontested case.

Child support in California runs on a formula tied to each parent's income and the percentage of time the child spends with each parent. ^[13] The formula lives in California Family Code section 4055. You can run the numbers with the Judicial Council's free guideline calculator or the DCSS child support calculator. For a rough estimate, our child support calculator helps too.

The proposed support amount goes on FL-342 (Child Support Information and Order Attachment), which attaches to FL-180. Courts won't accept a judgment with children unless the support amount is stated and computed under the guideline formula, or you include a written explanation for any deviation.

If the Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) is already involved because one parent gets public assistance, they're a party to the case automatically, and you'll need to serve them as well. ^[13]

Both parents also complete FL-105 no matter how cooperative the co-parenting is. No exceptions.

Frequently asked questions

Are California divorce forms really free, or do you have to pay for them?

The forms are completely free. The California Judicial Council publishes every divorce form as a free PDF at courts.ca.gov/forms, and paper copies are free at any superior court self-help center. What you pay for is filing fees ($435 to $450 per side) and optional services like process servers. The forms themselves cost nothing.

What is the difference between FL-100 and FL-810?

FL-100 is the standard Petition for Dissolution used in all regular divorce cases. FL-810 is the Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution, a simpler process for couples married fewer than 5 years, with no children, no real estate, and limited assets and debts. Summary dissolution has strict thresholds. Miss any of them and you use FL-100.

Can I file California divorce forms without my spouse's cooperation?

Yes. If your spouse won't participate, you can proceed by default after serving them. Once served, they have 30 days to file a Response (FL-120). If they don't, you file a Request to Enter Default (FL-165) and proceed on your own. You still follow the six-month waiting period. The court can finalize the divorce without your spouse's signature on the judgment.

How do I fill out form FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration correctly?

Report all income as monthly amounts, not annual. Paid biweekly? Multiply your biweekly gross by 26 and divide by 12. List all expenses at their actual monthly cost. Both spouses file separate FL-150 forms. The Judicial Council's official instructions for FL-150, at courts.ca.gov, walk through each line. Accurate numbers matter because this form drives support calculations and judicial review.

What is a fee waiver and how do I get one for California divorce filing fees?

Form FW-001 (Request to Waive Court Fees) asks the court to waive the $435 to $450 filing fee if you can't afford it. File it with your petition. If your income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty guideline, approval is essentially automatic. Between 125% and 300%, the court exercises discretion. FW-001 is a free PDF at courts.ca.gov/forms.

Do I need to notarize any California divorce forms?

No. California divorce forms use penalty of perjury declarations rather than notarized signatures. You sign the printed declaration at the bottom of each form, stating under penalty of perjury that the contents are true. No notary is required for any standard Judicial Council divorce form. If you're recording a deed after the divorce, that deed usually does require notarization.

How long does an uncontested divorce take in California?

The minimum is six months from the date your spouse is served, because California law mandates a six-month waiting period (Family Code section 2339). You also need time to file, serve, exchange disclosures, and submit your proposed judgment. Realistic total timelines run 7 to 12 months depending on county backlog. Los Angeles tends to be slower. Smaller counties are often faster.

What if I have property in California but my spouse lives in another state?

You can still file in California if you've met the residency rules (6 months in California, 3 months in the filing county). California courts have jurisdiction over California-located property. The catch is that personal jurisdiction over your spouse for spousal support or other personal financial orders may need separate analysis. This is a situation where at least a brief paid consultation with a divorce attorney earns its cost.

Can a California divorce be completely finalized without going to court?

Yes, in most uncontested cases. If you and your spouse agree on all issues and submit a complete, properly prepared judgment package, the judge typically reviews and signs it in chambers without either party appearing. Some counties schedule a brief review hearing, but many don't. Ask your county's self-help center whether an appearance is required before you submit your judgment packet.

What is the difference between a dissolution and a legal separation in California?

A dissolution (divorce) ends the marriage entirely. A legal separation does not, so neither party can remarry. A legal separation can still divide property and set support and custody orders just like a divorce. Some couples choose separation for insurance, religious, or financial reasons. The petition for legal separation uses form FL-100 with a different box checked than dissolution.

Where can I find California divorce forms for cases involving domestic violence?

If domestic violence is a factor, you may also need DV-100 (Request for Domestic Violence Restraining Order) alongside the standard dissolution forms. The Judicial Council's Domestic Violence Prevention section at courts.ca.gov has the full DV form series. Every court self-help center is required to help with DV restraining order paperwork, and many run dedicated DV clinics staffed by volunteer attorneys.

Are Michigan divorce forms the same as California divorce forms?

No. Michigan and California use entirely different form systems from separate state courts. Michigan's forms come from courts.michigan.gov with different names, numbers, and formats. Michigan's filing fee is also lower, roughly $150 to $255 versus California's $435 to $450. Divorcing in California? Use only Judicial Council forms from courts.ca.gov. Michigan forms filed in a California court get rejected.

What happens to my California divorce forms if I make a mistake?

The clerk issues a Notice of Deficiency explaining what needs fixing. You correct and refile. Your case doesn't get dismissed for an honest error, but each deficiency adds days or weeks. Common fixable errors include wrong residency information, missing signatures, and omitted attachments. The self-help center can review your forms before you file and catch most problems in advance.

Do I need to file new forms if my address changes during the divorce process?

Yes. File a Notice of Change of Address (MC-040) with the court as soon as your address changes, so the court can reach you and so your spouse's attorney (if they have one) serves documents at the right place. Skip this and you risk missing key deadlines when court notices go to your old address.

Sources

1. California Judicial Council, Forms homepage: California Judicial Council publishes all mandatory divorce forms as free, fillable PDFs and updates them regularly; courts reject outdated versions.
2. California Courts, Self-Help Center locator: California law requires every superior court to maintain a self-help center; the Judicial Council locator lists every county's center.
3. California Judicial Council, FL-311 Child Custody and Visitation Order Attachment: FL-311 is required for uncontested divorce cases with minor children to document the parenting plan.
4. California Family Code Section 2320 (residency requirements), California Legislative Information: California requires 6 months of state residency and 3 months of county residency for the petitioner before a dissolution can be filed.
5. California Family Code Section 2100 (preliminary declaration of disclosure), California Legislative Information: California Family Code section 2100 requires both spouses to exchange a full disclosure of all assets and debts.
6. California Judicial Council, Civil and Family Law Filing Fees schedule: The Judicial Council sets the base filing fee for a petition for dissolution at $435, with some counties charging up to $450 due to local surcharges.
7. California Judicial Council, FW-001 Request to Waive Court Fees: Form FW-001 requests a waiver of court filing fees; income at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines makes waiver essentially automatic.
8. California Family Code Section 760 (community property presumption), California Legislative Information: California is a community property state; most assets and debts acquired during marriage are presumed to belong equally to both spouses.
9. Michigan Courts, Forms and information: Michigan uses its own divorce forms published at courts.michigan.gov with different numbering and requirements than California; Michigan's filing fee ranges roughly $150 to $255 by county.
10. California Courts, Self-Help section on serving papers: California requires service by someone other than the petitioner who is at least 18; a signed Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt (FL-117) satisfies service in cooperative cases.
11. California Family Code Section 2339 (six-month waiting period), California Legislative Information: California mandates a six-month waiting period from the date of service before a dissolution can be finalized; this period cannot be waived.
12. California Family Code Section 4055 (child support guideline formula), California Legislative Information: California child support is set by a statewide guideline formula based on each parent's income and the percentage of time the child spends with each parent.