The six-month rule
The earliest a marriage can be terminated is six months after the respondent is served or appears, whichever comes first. This is a floor, not an estimate — an uncontested matter can still take longer if paperwork is incomplete.
Contested matters involving custody, support or significant property routinely take considerably longer, and the six-month figure is the source of most unrealistic expectations.
The basic sequence
Petition filed and served. Response filed, or default taken if none comes. Financial disclosures exchanged — this step is mandatory and cases stall here more than anywhere else. Negotiation or mediation. Judgment, by agreement or after hearing.
Temporary orders for support or custody can be sought early and run alongside the main process.
Residency and where to file
California requires a period of residence in the state and in the county before a dissolution can be filed. Filing in the wrong county, or too early, wastes the filing fee and the time.
Los Angeles County Superior Court handles family law at designated locations rather than at every courthouse — check which one covers your area before preparing anything.
Financial disclosure is not optional
Both parties must exchange declarations of income, expenses, assets and debts. Judgments have been set aside years later over deliberately incomplete disclosure. Do it properly the first time even when it is tedious.
Confirm residency and the correct filing location
Both are threshold requirements.
Prepare and file the petition
Official Judicial Council forms are available free from the court's own site — always use the current version.
Serve the other party properly
Service must follow the rules; defective service is the most common early failure.
Exchange financial disclosures
Preliminary disclosures are required of both parties.
Resolve or litigate the issues
Mediation is available and is usually faster and cheaper than a contested hearing.
Submit the judgment
The paperwork itself is a substantial task and is where self-represented filers most often need help.