Agreement-based California divorce

How an Uncontested Divorce Works in California

Last updated August 2026

An agreed California divorce may begin with a joint petition or through the traditional Petition and Response route. Both paths still require financial disclosures, lawful written terms, judgment paperwork, and court review before the case is complete.

Process Overview

For spouses working toward a full agreement, the process generally has four parts: start the case through an available filing route, exchange required financial information, prepare the settlement and judgment package, and submit the completed papers for court review.

A joint petition changes how the case starts; it does not eliminate disclosures, the written agreement, judgment forms, court approval, or California's waiting-period rules.

At a Glance

Choose the appropriate filing route.
Exchange financial disclosures.
Draft the agreement and judgment package.
Submit the papers for court review.

Choose the Filing Route

Joint filing is now available, but it is not the only route and it is not appropriate for every matter.

Available since January 1, 2026

Joint Petition

Both spouses start the case together using Joint Petition—Marriage or Domestic Partnership (FL-700), along with the other opening forms required for that route.

Both spouses sign and file together as Petitioner 1 and Petitioner 2.
No separate service of an opening Petition is needed because both spouses jointly start the case.
The spouses must ultimately agree on all issues to finish through the joint-petition process.
If the joint route no longer fits, California Courts provides a revocation process that moves the existing case to the regular divorce process.

Established filing route

Traditional Petition and Response

This route may apply when a case has already been filed, when joint filing is not appropriate, or when the matter is proceeding through another uncontested posture.

One spouse files the Petition and related opening papers.
The filed papers generally must be properly served.
The other spouse may file a Response, or the case may follow another procedurally appropriate agreement-based path.
An existing traditional case does not need to be restarted solely because joint filing became available.

Stage 1

Start the Case

For a cooperative matter that qualifies, the joint petition allows both spouses to open one case together. The FL-700 identifies the marriage or domestic partnership and the issues intended for the final order. California Courts explains that filing jointly starts the case but does not itself finish the divorce.

Traditional filings remain available. For those cases, the opening Petition, filing, service, and any Response must match the actual procedural posture.

Official California Courts form

FL-700

Joint Petition—Marriage or Domestic Partnership

Used by both spouses or domestic partners to jointly start a divorce or legal-separation case.

View the official FL-700 form page

Stage 2

Exchange Financial Disclosures

Both spouses must exchange financial information. The disclosure process generally covers assets, debts, income, expenses, and supporting records such as pay information, tax returns, account statements, and title or loan documents.

California Courts currently instructs joint petitioners to share their financial information within 60 days after filing the joint petition. For the traditional route, its guidance states that the petitioner and respondent complete preliminary disclosures within 60 days after filing their respective Petition or Response. The documents and timing should be evaluated for the filing route and circumstances of the case.

Assets and debts

FL-142

Schedule of Assets and Debts

Used to organize property, accounts, vehicles, debts, and related values or balances. Other disclosure forms may be used where appropriate.

View the official FL-142 form page

Income and expenses

FL-150

Income and Expense Declaration

Used to report income, deductions, monthly expenses, and related supporting pay information.

View the official FL-150 form page

Stage 3

Prepare the Agreement and Judgment

The written settlement and judgment package can address lawful divorce-related terms that apply to the case, including:

Property
Debts
Spousal support

Child support
Child custody
Visitation or parenting time

Other appropriate dissolution terms may also be included. Agreement does not make every proposed term enforceable: the disclosures must be completed, the language must comply with applicable law, and the requested orders remain subject to court approval.

Final orders

FL-180

Judgment

FL-180 contains the first pages of the final orders. Depending on the case, additional forms, attachments, notices, and the signed agreement may also be required.

View the official FL-180 form page

Court Review and the Effective Date

Difference between signing, submitting, court approval, and the effective end date of marital status
Milestone	What it means
Signing the agreement	The spouses approve the written settlement terms. Signing alone does not enter a court judgment.
Submitting the judgment	The completed judgment package is delivered to the court for review under the county's accepted filing procedures.
Court approval	The judge reviews the requested orders and supporting paperwork. Corrections or additional documents may be required before approval.
Effective end of marital status	The date marital status terminates is stated in the entered judgment or notice. It may be later than the signature or approval date because the statutory minimum must also be satisfied.

Court review practices and processing times vary by county. No single turnaround estimate applies to every court.

How Representation Is Defined

Representation is defined separately for each matter. An attorney-client relationship begins only after conflict checks, scope confirmation, and a signed engagement agreement. That agreement—not a joint meeting or this website—identifies the client and the attorney's responsibilities.

A spouse should not assume the attorney represents them unless the signed engagement agreement says so. A spouse who is not represented may choose to consult independent counsel before signing an agreement.

Official California Courts References

Ready to Move an Agreed Divorce Toward Judgment?

If you and your spouse agree, or are close to agreement, use the intake to describe your filing stage and the terms that remain to be documented.

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