To file an uncontested divorce in California without an attorney, one spouse files a Petition (form FL-100) and Summons (FL-110) in the Superior Court of the county where either spouse lives, serves the other spouse, exchanges financial disclosures, and then submits a signed judgment packet — usually including a Marital Settlement Agreement. The divorce cannot be finalized until at least six months and one day after the other spouse is served. Self-prepared document preparation starts at $249, plus a court filing fee of about $435.
Key Takeaways
- Uncontested = you agree: An uncontested (no-fault) divorce means you and your spouse agree on property, debts, support, and custody, so no trial is needed.
- Start with FL-100 + FL-110: The Petition and Summons open your case; in Los Angeles you also file a Family Law Case Cover Sheet.
- Serve, then disclose: Your spouse must be served, and both sides exchange financial disclosures (income, assets, and debts).
- Six-month clock: California requires a minimum six-month waiting period from the date of service before the divorce is final.
- Cost: From $249 for flat-fee document preparation, plus about $435 in court filing fees (fee waiver available if you qualify).
Most divorces in California are self-prepared — meaning most couples do not hire an attorney. When both spouses agree on the terms, an uncontested divorce is largely a paperwork process: the right Judicial Council forms, filled out correctly, filed in the right order, and served properly. The hard part is not the law; it's getting every box and every attachment right so the court doesn't reject your packet.
This guide walks through the entire process for Los Angeles County. If you'd rather have it done for you at a flat fee, our divorce document preparation service prepares and files everything for you — but remember, we are a registered legal document assistant, not a law firm, and we cannot give legal advice.
Before You Start: Do You Qualify for an Uncontested Divorce?
An uncontested divorce is the right path when both of these are true:
- You meet California's residency requirement — one spouse has lived in California for at least 6 months and in the filing county for at least 3 months.
- You and your spouse agree (or expect to agree) on how to divide property and debts, and on spousal support, child support, and custody if they apply.
California is a no-fault state, so you do not have to prove wrongdoing. The legal reason for divorce is simply "irreconcilable differences." If your spouse won't participate at all, you may still be able to proceed by default — see the FAQ below.
The Forms You'll Need to Start
Every California divorce begins with the same core forms. These are the ones that open your case:
| Form | What it does |
|---|---|
| FL-100 — Petition | Starts your dissolution case and lists every issue you want the judgment to decide. |
| FL-110 — Summons | Formally notifies your spouse a case has started, and triggers automatic restraining orders (ATROs) that protect property while the case is open. |
| FL-105 — UCCJEA Declaration | Required only if you have minor children; gives the court the information it needs before making custody or visitation orders. |
| LASC FAM 020 — Family Law Case Cover Sheet | A Los Angeles Superior Court local form that tells the court which district and courthouse should handle your case. |
Tip: The current Judicial Council forms are free to download from the California Courts website (for example, FL-100). Always use the newest version — courts reject outdated forms. If you'd rather not track down and complete each one, we prepare the full set for you.
Step by Step: The Uncontested Divorce Process
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File the Petition and Summons
Complete FL-100 and FL-110 (plus FL-105 if you have children), and file them with the Los Angeles Superior Court along with the Family Law Case Cover Sheet. Pay the first-appearance filing fee (about $435) or file a fee waiver (FW-001) if you qualify. The clerk assigns your case number.
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Serve your spouse
Your spouse must be personally served with a copy of the Summons, Petition, and blank Response forms by someone 18 or older who is not you. Service is proven with a Proof of Service of Summons (FL-115). If your spouse cooperates, they can instead sign a Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt (FL-117). The six-month clock starts on the date of service.
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Exchange financial disclosures
Both spouses must exchange preliminary financial disclosures — an Income and Expense Declaration and a list of assets and debts. You then file a Declaration Regarding Service of Disclosure (FL-141) to tell the court the disclosures were served. In many uncontested cases, spouses sign a Stipulation and Waiver of Final Declaration of Disclosure (FL-144) to skip the final exchange.
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Reach your written agreement
Put your agreement in writing as a Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) covering property division, debts, and — if applicable — spousal support, child support, and custody. Child support must follow California's Guideline (Dissomaster) calculation. The MSA must use the correct legal wording and be attached to the judgment.
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Prepare and submit the judgment packet
Assemble the final packet: Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution (FL-170), the Judgment (FL-180), a Notice of Entry of Judgment (FL-190), your MSA, and — if the other spouse never responded — a Request to Enter Default (FL-165). If both spouses participate, an Appearance, Stipulations, and Waivers (FL-130) lets the court approve your agreement without a hearing. Submit the packet to the court for the judge's signature.
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Wait out the six months and receive your judgment
The court cannot finalize your divorce until at least six months and one day after your spouse was served. Once that period passes and the judge signs the Judgment, you'll receive the Notice of Entry of Judgment (FL-190). Your marriage is legally dissolved as of the date stated in the judgment.
Every Judicial Council Form in a Los Angeles Dissolution
Not every case uses every form — most uncontested cases use only a handful. Here's the full list so you know what may come up. For a deeper walkthrough of each one, see our Divorce Forms Checklist.
| Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| FL-100 | Petition — Marriage/Domestic Partnership |
| FL-105 | UCCJEA declaration (cases with children) |
| FL-110 | Summons |
| LASC FAM 020 | Family Law Case Cover Sheet (LA local form) |
| FL-115 | Proof of Service of Summons |
| FL-117 | Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt |
| FL-141 | Declaration Regarding Service of Disclosure |
| FL-144 | Stipulation and Waiver of Final Declaration of Disclosure |
| FL-165 | Request to Enter Default |
| FL-170 | Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution |
| FL-130 | Appearance, Stipulations, and Waivers |
| FL-180 | Judgment |
| FL-190 | Notice of Entry of Judgment |
What It Costs
A self-prepared uncontested divorce has two separate costs: the document preparation and the court's fees.
- Document preparation: Our flat fee starts at $249, with payment plans available.
- Court filing fee: About $435 for the petitioner's first appearance (and again for the responding spouse if they file a Response). A fee waiver (FW-001) is available if you meet the income guidelines.
By comparison, an attorney-handled uncontested divorce commonly runs $1,200 to $4,000 or more. That's why most California couples handle uncontested cases without a lawyer.
Filing was rejected? One mistake on the paperwork can get your whole packet bounced. If your Los Angeles County divorce was rejected, we can fix the errors for a flat fee and get it finalized. We've handled thousands of family law cases over 23 years — including a lot of rejection cleanups.
How We Help — From Start to Finish
Whether you're just starting, fixing rejections from the court, or need a Marital Settlement Agreement written up, we prepare and file every form, tell you when and where to file, explain how long each step takes, and help you serve your spouse correctly. We're a registered legal document assistant with 23 years of Los Angeles County family law experience — not a law firm, so we don't give legal advice, but we handle the paperwork so you don't have to.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an uncontested divorce cost in Los Angeles in 2026?
Our flat fee for uncontested divorce document preparation starts at $249. Separately, the Los Angeles Superior Court charges a first-appearance filing fee of about $435 for the petitioner (and again for the responding spouse if they file a Response). A fee waiver (form FW-001) is available if you meet the court's low-income guidelines. So a self-prepared uncontested divorce typically costs a few hundred dollars in total, versus $1,200 to $4,000+ for an attorney-handled uncontested case.
Do I need a lawyer to get divorced in California?
No. Most divorces in California are self-prepared, meaning most couples do not use an attorney. If your divorce is uncontested — you and your spouse agree on property, support, and custody — you can complete it yourself or with a legal document assistant. A registered LDA like us prepares and files the Judicial Council forms for you at a flat fee, but we are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice.
How long does an uncontested divorce take in California?
California has a mandatory six-month waiting period. Your divorce cannot be finalized until at least six months and one day after the date your spouse was served with the Summons and Petition (or filed a Response), whichever is first. Even when spouses agree on everything, the court will not enter the judgment before that date. Court processing backlogs in Los Angeles can add several more weeks.
What is the difference between a default and an uncontested divorce?
In a true default, the responding spouse never files a Response, and you ask the court to enter their default (form FL-165) and grant a judgment based on your Petition or a written agreement. In an uncontested case, both spouses participate and sign a written settlement agreement so no trial is needed. Both avoid a courtroom fight, and both still require the six-month waiting period. We can prepare either type.
What if my divorce paperwork was rejected by the court?
Rejections are common when forms are filled out incorrectly, boxes are missed, or the judgment packet is incomplete. If your Los Angeles County filing was rejected, we can review the rejection notice, correct the errors, and resubmit for a flat fee so your divorce can be finalized. Fixing rejections is one of the most common reasons people come to us.
Can you prepare our Marital Settlement Agreement?
Yes. When you and your spouse have already decided how to handle spousal support, child support, custody, and the division of assets and debts, we prepare a complete Judgment Packet that includes your Marital Settlement Agreement with the correct legal wording and the right boxes checked on the required forms. Getting the MSA accepted by the Los Angeles Superior Court is where many self-filers get stuck.