California Divorce Forms: Every Judicial Council Form You Need, Step by Step
California family law · Last reviewed September 29, 2026
California divorces run on statewide forms written by the Judicial Council. Every superior court accepts them, and they can be downloaded from the California Courts website. Some courts add local forms or cover sheets, so check your county court's website too.
The forms you need depend on your path. This page lists them in the order you'll use them. Each link goes to the form's official page, which has the current PDF and instructions.
Always download forms fresh from the court site. Forms are revised regularly (several divorce forms changed in 2025 and 2026), and courts reject out-of-date versions.
1. Starting the case
Standard petition (one spouse files, the other is served):
| Form | Title | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| FL-100 | Petition—Marriage/Domestic Partnership | Always, to start a divorce, legal separation or annulment |
| FL-110 | Summons | Always; it contains the automatic restraining orders |
| FL-105 | Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) | If you have minor children together |
| FW-001 | Request to Waive Court Fees | If you can't afford the $435 filing fee |
| FW-003 | Order on Court Fee Waiver (Superior Court) | Filed with FW-001 for the judge to sign |
Joint petition (both spouses file together, since January 1, 2026):
| Form | Title | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| FL-700 | Joint Petition—Marriage or Domestic Partnership | To start the case together |
| FL-710 | Summons—Joint Petition | Filed with FL-700 |
| FL-700-INFO | Information Sheet for Joint Petition for Dissolution or Legal Separation | Optional instructions |
| FL-720 | Notice of Revocation of Joint Petition | Only if one spouse leaves the joint track |
Summary dissolution (short marriages with few assets; see the limits):
| Form | Title | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| FL-810 | Summary Dissolution Information | Both spouses must read it before filing |
| FL-800 | Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution | To start the case together |
| FL-825 | Judgment of Dissolution and Notice of Entry of Judgment | After six months, to finish |
| FL-830 | Notice of Revocation of Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution | Only if a spouse backs out |
2. Serving your spouse (standard petition only)
| Form | Title | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| FL-115 | Proof of Service of Summons | Filed by the person who served your spouse |
| FL-117 | Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt | If you serve by mail and your spouse signs and returns it |
You cannot serve the papers yourself; another adult who is not a party must do it. The methods come from the general civil rules the site hosts in full: personal service (CCP § 415.10), substituted service (§ 415.20), mail with acknowledgment (§ 415.30), mail to a spouse outside California (§ 415.40), and publication by court order (§ 415.50).
3. Responding
| Form | Title | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| FL-120 | Response—Marriage/Domestic Partnership | To respond within 30 days of service |
| FL-130 | Appearance, Stipulations, and Waivers | Instead of a Response, when you agree and want the case to proceed as uncontested |
4. Financial disclosure (both spouses)
Each spouse must serve a preliminary declaration of disclosure within 60 days of filing their petition or response. These papers go to your spouse, not the court; only the proof of service is filed.
| Form | Title | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| FL-140 | Declaration of Disclosure | The cover sheet |
| FL-142 | Schedule of Assets and Debts | Everything you own and owe (or use FL-160) |
| FL-160 | Property Declaration | An alternative to FL-142 |
| FL-150 | Income and Expense Declaration | Your income, deductions and monthly expenses |
| FL-141 | Declaration Regarding Service of Declaration of Disclosure and Income and Expense Declaration | Filed with the court to prove you served your disclosures |
| FL-144 | Stipulation and Waiver of Final Declaration of Disclosure | If you both agree to waive the final disclosure |
The Judicial Council has proposed an overhaul of FL-150 for 2027. Use whatever version the court site shows when you download it.
5. Temporary orders (if you need them)
| Form | Title | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| FL-300 | Request for Order | To ask for temporary custody, support, property control or attorney's fees |
| FL-311 | Child Custody and Visitation (Parenting Time) Application Attachment | With FL-300, to propose a parenting schedule |
| FL-330 | Proof of Personal Service | To prove personal service of papers after the summons |
| FL-335 | Proof of Service by Mail | To prove mailed service of papers after the summons |
Temporary orders are not available in a joint petition case without first revoking it.
6. Finishing: default or uncontested
| Form | Title | When you need it |
|---|---|---|
| FL-165 | Request to Enter Default | If your spouse didn't respond within 30 days |
| FL-170 | Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution or Legal Separation | Your sworn proof, filed with the judgment |
| FL-180 | Judgment | The judgment itself |
| FL-190 | Notice of Entry of Judgment (Family Law—Parentage—Custody and Support) | Tells both spouses the judgment was entered and when the marriage ends |
Attachments to the judgment, as your case requires:
| Form | Title |
|---|---|
| FL-341 | Child Custody and Visitation (Parenting Time) Order Attachment |
| FL-342 | Child Support Information and Order Attachment |
| FL-343 | Spousal, Domestic Partner, or Family Support Order Attachment |
| FL-345 | Property Order Attachment to Judgment |
| FL-192 | Notice of Rights and Responsibilities Regarding Child Support |
Many couples attach a written marital settlement agreement instead of, or along with, the order attachments. Some courts provide their own judgment checklists; ask your court's self-help center to review your packet before you submit it.
An overview of the whole process
The Judicial Council's FL-107-INFO, Legal Steps for a Divorce or Legal Separation, is a two-page map of the standard process. It was last revised in 2015, before the joint petition existed, so read it alongside the joint petition information above.
Frequently asked questions
What forms do I need to file for divorce in California?
For a standard case: FL-100 (Petition) and FL-110 (Summons), plus FL-105 if you have minor children and FW-001 if you need a fee waiver. For a joint case since 2026: FL-700 and FL-710. For summary dissolution: FL-800, after reading FL-810.
Where can I get California divorce forms for free?
From the California Courts self-help website, which hosts every Judicial Council form for download. Your county court's self-help center can give you paper copies and help filling them out.
Can I file my divorce forms online?
It depends on your county. The court's self-help guide lists filing "Online (called e-filing) if your court allows e-filing," along with filing in person or by mail. Check your court's website.
What is form FL-180?
It is the Judgment, the document the judge signs to end your marriage (or legal separation) and decide property, support and custody. It is filed with attachments or a settlement agreement, and it states the date your marital status ends.
Do I file my financial disclosure forms with the court?
No. You serve the Declaration of Disclosure (FL-140), Schedule of Assets and Debts (FL-142) and Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150) on your spouse. You file only form FL-141, which proves you served them.
Where these sections live
- California Courts: divorce forms
- Family Code § 2104 — Preliminary declaration of disclosure
- Code of Civil Procedure § 412.20 — The summons
- Code of Civil Procedure § 415.10 — Personal service
- Code of Civil Procedure § 415.30 — Service by mail with acknowledgment
- Code of Civil Procedure § 415.50 — Service by publication