The key points
- Use FL-700 and FL-710 to begin together.
- The spouses are Petitioner 1 and Petitioner 2.
- There is no initial service of process.
- The earliest divorce date is 6 months and 1 day after filing.
What changes when you begin together
A joint petition is signed and filed by both spouses. It uses Joint Petition, Marriage or Domestic Partnership (FL-700), and Summons, Joint Petition (FL-710). Read Information Sheet for Joint Petition (FL-700-INFO) before choosing the route.
There is no need for one spouse to serve the initial papers on the other. Both are participating at the start. If you have children under 18 together, FL-105 also belongs in the opening set.
You do not need every final detail settled before filing, but you need a full agreement to finish through the joint process. If you expect unresolved issues or need temporary orders, get help about the standard process instead.
Confirm the fee before making a cost comparison
The current California Courts joint petition page lists $870 as the filing fee. Confirm the exact total and any local requirements with the clerk. Do not assume a joint filing costs only the standard fee for one spouse’s petition.
If either spouse cannot afford court fees, follow the fee waiver instructions. If both need a waiver, each completes a request. Ask the clerk how the court handles the fees when only one spouse qualifies.
Paid document preparation and filing provider charges are separate expenses. The cost guide explains the categories without promising that the joint route will save a particular amount.
The work that still comes after filing
Preliminary financial disclosures remain required. The set includes FL-140, FL-150, and FL-142 or FL-160, with FL-141 recording service of the disclosure documents.
The final agreement needs to address all issues, including property, debts, support, and any children. The judgment package can include FL-170, FL-180, FL-190, the agreement, and required attachments.
Filing together does not waive the minimum waiting period. FL-700-INFO identifies the earliest divorce date as 6 months and 1 day after filing. The court must still enter a judgment. See the timeline explanation before calculating dates.
If one spouse wants to leave the joint process
Either spouse can revoke the joint petition before the judgment is final. The catalog includes Notice of Revocation of Joint Petition (FL-720). The case then moves into the standard procedure rather than simply disappearing.
Petitioner 1 and Petitioner 2 have different amended-paper instructions. FL-100 or FL-120 may be involved depending on the person and the step. Follow the current official instructions, including service and any requested orders.
California Courts also explains that temporary orders cannot be requested while keeping the joint procedure. If interim custody, support, or other orders are needed, ask the self-help center or a lawyer about the correct next step.
Joint petition and summary dissolution are different
The FL-700 route is not the same as summary dissolution. Summary dissolution uses FL-800 forms and has additional eligibility conditions involving marriage length, children, pregnancy, property, debt, and support.
A description of one route should not be used as an instruction for the other. In particular, do not assume that every couple who can begin with a joint petition qualifies for summary dissolution.
Read the official qualification instructions before selecting a summary packet. If the standard process is the appropriate option, the filing roadmap explains the opening papers and later steps.
Check every summary dissolution condition before selecting FL-800
Summary dissolution is a different route from FL-700. The California materials identify these conditions, in addition to the applicable residency rule:
- The marriage lasted less than 5 years, measured under the official instructions using the date of separation.
- No minor children together and neither spouse is pregnant.
- No owned or leased real estate, with an exception for a home rental whose lease ends within 1 year of filing.
- Less than $7,000 in qualifying debts, with car loans excluded under the instructions.
- Less than $57,000 in qualifying community property and less than $57,000 in each person’s separate property.
- Both waive spousal support and sign a property agreement.
- Both read the required information booklet and satisfy its full conditions.
Use the FL-810 worksheets for valuation and the specific vehicle exclusions. Do not omit pensions or retirement interests simply because they are not cash in a bank account. The financial thresholds can change, so check the current official booklet rather than relying on a saved checklist.
FL-800 is the Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution. FL-810 is the information booklet, and FL-825 is its Judgment and notice. FL-830 is used to revoke the summary petition during the permitted period. Summary dissolution still has a 6-month filing-based wait. Follow the full official process rather than combining it with FL-700 forms.
Common questions
Do we need a complete settlement before filing jointly?
California Courts says the opening petition can list issues you intend to resolve. You must have a full agreement to finish on the joint route. If you cannot reach one, the case needs to change to the standard process.
Does either spouse need to be served at the start?
The joint petition is signed and filed together, so it does not use initial service of process. If the joint process is revoked and amended papers are filed, service requirements can apply at that stage.
Does filing jointly remove financial disclosure?
No. Preliminary financial disclosure remains part of the process. An agreement and the judgment package also remain necessary. The joint petition changes the beginning of the case, not all later obligations.
What happens if one spouse changes their mind?
Either spouse can revoke the joint procedure before the judgment is final. The case continues under the standard process with the required amended papers and service. Read the current instructions before taking that step.
Is this the same as a summary dissolution?
No. Summary dissolution has its own FL-800 documents and stricter qualification rules. A joint petition under FL-700 is a separate route. Check the correct court instructions for the process you plan to use.
Official California references
Requirements and forms can change. Check the current instructions and your local court’s requirements. This page is not an attorney-reviewed legal opinion.