File for Divorce in California, Without a Lawyer.
If you and your spouse can ultimately agree on the major issues, our guided interviews help you prepare and organize the required California court forms without attorney representation.
This service may be a good fit if:
- You and your spouse are willing to cooperate.
- You intend to reach a full agreement.
- You want structured guidance through California court forms.
- You prefer predictable flat pricing.
This service may not be appropriate if:
- There is active conflict or safety concerns.
- One party refuses to participate.
- You or your spouse need attorney representation in court.
- You or your spouse currently has attorney representation.
How It Works
Take the Eligibility Quiz
Confirm you qualify for our services.
Create Your Account
Set up your private, secure account.
Complete Guided Interviews
Answer plain-English questions about your situation.
Download Your Court-Ready Forms
Review, edit, and file with confidence.
Want extra support? You can add a form review or consultation service, or attend our in-person Divorce Clinic.
How our online divorce service packages work
U Do It Legal provides four low-cost divorce service packages designed for self-represented litigants completing a California Dissolution of Marriage (divorce) case. Prepare your court forms by answering straightforward questions about your situation using our guided interview software. Work through your case stage by stage with our à la carte packages, or get the best value with the Complete Case package that covers the full process from start to finish. Note: our software currently accommodates Dissolutions of Marriage only and is not built for Dissolutions of Domestic Partnership.
Complete Divorce Case
Full process, start to finish
- Full guided workflow, start to finish
- Petition, disclosures, and judgment included
- Step-by-step filing and service instructions
- Save and return to your progress anytime
File Your Divorce Petition
Start your case
- Prepare your divorce petition (standard or joint)
- Fee waiver application included if needed
- Step-by-step filing instructions
- Available for one or both spouses
Financial Disclosures
Property Declaration and Income and Expense forms
- Declaration of Disclosure forms (Preliminary or Final)
- Property and income/expense schedules
- Can be filed alongside or after your petition
Finalize Your Divorce
Default or Uncontested Judgment with Written Agreement (Stipulation for Judgment)
- Final judgment paperwork with written agreement
- For default or uncontested cases
- Requires completed petition and disclosures
Wondering about Stage 4? Once your Stage 3 paperwork (final judgment) is submitted, Stage 4 — the court's review and sign-off after your mandatory 6-month waiting period — happens automatically. There's no additional package needed for that step.
Prefer In-Person Support? Attend a Divorce Clinic
In-Person Divorce Clinic — South Bay & Greater Los Angeles
We also offer a flat-rate Family Law Clinic in Los Angeles for people who want guided support using the software plus live review.
Our Divorce Clinic sessions cover one case stage per session — choose from petition preparation, financial disclosures, or judgment building. Full case (start-to-finish) sessions are not available through the clinic format. Multiple sessions may be booked separately.
- Guided software access
- Form review
- Limited-scope consultation
- Small-session structure
- LocationTorrance, California
- What's IncludedAccess to UDIL's guided software · Hands-on support to prepare your court forms and attachments for filing · Final form review with attorney
- FormatPrivate sessions, scheduled in advance · Flat rate / One-time payment
Common Questions
An uncontested divorce generally means both spouses ultimately agree on all major issues in the case, including property division, debt allocation, support (if any), and parenting arrangements (if applicable). Instead of asking a judge to decide disputed issues, the parties work toward a written agreement and submit the required court forms for review. In California, this type of divorce still requires proper filing, disclosures, and court approval, but it does not involve a trial over contested issues. Our guided software is designed specifically for cooperative cases where both spouses intend to reach a full agreement.
If you have minor children, your divorce will also need to address child custody, visitation, and child support. Cooperative couples can include agreed-upon parenting and support arrangements as part of their stipulated judgment. Our guided workflow includes these considerations.
Community property and debt division are part of the divorce process in California. Cooperative couples can address these issues through a written agreement. Our guided interviews walk you through the disclosures and agreement language commonly used to document those arrangements.
The court reviews your paperwork and agreement before entering a final judgment. As long as the required forms are complete, disclosures are exchanged, and the agreement meets California's legal standards, the court will typically approve an uncontested package. Our software helps ensure you're submitting the right forms in the right order.
No. U Do It Legal provides legal information and guided document preparation software. We do not provide legal advice or attorney representation.
Yes. Our standard petition package supports a single petitioner filing. The joint petition package is for couples filing together.
Not necessarily. In a standard petition, only the petitioner needs an account to start. In a joint petition, both spouses participate.
Depends on the package. A complete uncontested divorce typically includes: FL-100 (Petition), FL-110 (Summons), FL-141/142 (Disclosures), FL-150 (Income & Expense Declaration), FL-170 (Declaration re: Default or Uncontested), FL-180 (Judgment), and applicable attachments.
Yes. California law expressly permits self-represented litigants in divorce cases. Our software is designed to help you navigate that process correctly.
Understanding the Process
What Is a Divorce (Dissolution of Marriage)?
A divorce—formally called a "dissolution of marriage"—is the legal process of ending a marriage in California. Even when spouses agree on all issues, the court must still review required paperwork before entering a final judgment. A California divorce may involve decisions about: Division of community property and debt · Child custody and visitation (if applicable) · Child support · Spousal support · Financial disclosures. In cooperative cases, spouses may resolve these issues by agreement rather than litigation.
What is a Stipulated Judgment?
A stipulated judgment is an agreement between the parties to a case that settles a case.
What Is an Uncontested Divorce?
An uncontested divorce generally means both spouses ultimately agree on all major issues in the case, including property division, debt allocation, support (if any), and parenting arrangements (if applicable).
What's the difference between a "standard" petition and a "joint" petition?
In a standard petition, one spouse files and serves the other. In a joint Petition filing (forms FL-700, FL-710, and attachments), both spouses file for divorce together as co-petitioners. This means that they are already aware of the action and have agreed to the process, effectively eliminating the need for formal service of process.
What are Financial Disclosures?
California law requires each spouse to exchange Preliminary Declarations of Disclosure within 60 days of their first filing. These generally include: Property Declaration for Separate, Community, and Quasi-Community Property (FL-160) · Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150) · Declaration Regarding Service (FL-141). Disclosures are typically exchanged, not filed, before final judgment paperwork is submitted.
Key Milestones in a California Divorce
Mandatory Waiting Period
California has a mandatory six-month waiting period before a divorce can become final. Begins on the date the respondent is served (standard petition) or the date a joint petition is filed.
Response Deadline (Standard Petition Only)
The responding spouse has 30 days after service to file a response. If no response is filed, the case may proceed by default.
Preliminary Financial Disclosures
Each spouse must exchange disclosures: FL-160, FL-150, FL-141.
Finalization
A divorce becomes final when the court signs the judgment and the six-month waiting period has passed. This is Stage 4 of the process, which the court processes after the Stage 3 paperwork is submitted, with no additional UDIL package required.
Common Orders in a California Divorce
Division of Community Property
Orders determining how assets and debts acquired during marriage are allocated between spouses. California is a community property state, which generally means community property is divided equally unless the parties agree otherwise.
Child Support Order
Court-ordered payments, typically made by a noncustodial parent to the other parent for support of their minor child or children.
Separate Property Confirmation
Orders confirming that certain assets or debts belong to one spouse individually. This may apply to property acquired before marriage or after separation, or by gift or inheritance.
Spousal or Domestic Partner Support Order
Court-ordered recurring payments from one spouse (or registered domestic partner) to the other to maintain the marital standard of living.
Child Custody and Visitation
Orders outlining legal custody (decision-making authority) and physical custody/parenting time arrangements for minor children. Custody orders remain in effect until modified by a new court order.
Name Change Restoration
Orders restoring a spouse's former name, if requested.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
Consider Hiring a Lawyer (Full Representation) if:
- There is ongoing conflict, fear, or a major communication breakdown
- One spouse won't participate or won't share information
- You expect disputed custody, support, or property issues
- Your finances are complex (business ownership, significant assets/debt, retirement division concerns)
- You anticipate court hearings, motions, or trial
Cost expectation: Full representation is typically billed hourly, which can make total cost harder to predict—especially if disputes escalate.
Consider Using Guided Divorce Software if:
- You and your spouse intend to reach a full agreement
- You want structured, step-by-step guidance through California court forms
- You prefer a flat-fee approach with clearer cost expectations
- You're comfortable moving forward without attorney representation
- Your goal is to prepare accurate paperwork and submit an uncontested package for court review
Cost expectation: Guided software is usually priced as a flat fee, which can offer more predictability when the case is cooperative.
Consider a Limited-Scope Consultation (Included in Our Divorce Clinic) if:
- You plan to self-represent but want targeted legal input
- You want an attorney to review a draft agreement or identify risks
- You have specific questions you don't want to guess on
A Simple Rule of Thumb: If your divorce is cooperative and you're focused on completing the required California forms correctly, you may not need full attorney representation. If you expect disputes—especially about custody or finances—it's usually worth speaking with a lawyer before you file. If you believe your case is amicable, start with our eligibility quiz—we'll help you confirm fit and route you to the right package.
U Do It Legal provides legal information and guided document preparation software. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice or representation.
Ready to get started?
Take the free eligibility quiz to find out which package fits your situation.