Petition—Marriage/Domestic Partnership
Starts an ordinary divorce, legal separation or annulment case and identifies the issues and orders requested.
California divorce forms by stage and purpose.
All California courts use the same basic Judicial Council forms, but counties may require additional local documents. Always use the current form revision and its instructions.
Source record reviewed: 2026-11-03 · Page updated: 2026-11-03 · Not attorney-certified legal advice
OPENING AND RESPONSE
Forms that establish participation
Summons (Family Law)
Notifies the other spouse of the case and important standard restraining orders and response information.
UCCJEA declaration
Provides required child residence and other-case information when minor children are involved.
Proof of Service of Summons
Records how and when eligible service actually occurred. The server—not the petitioner—completes the service facts.
Response
Allows the respondent to state positions and requests. Child cases may also require FL-105.
Fee-waiver request and order
FW-001 asks the court to waive covered fees; FW-003 records the court’s decision.
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES
Exchange documents and court-filed proof are different.
Declaration of Disclosure
Cover sheet for the financial information shared with the other spouse. It is signed and exchanged, not ordinarily filed.
Income and Expense Declaration
Reports income and expenses and usually includes recent income proof.
Assets and debts
Lists property and obligations or provides property declarations. Selection depends on the current instructions.
Declaration Regarding Service of Disclosure
Tells the court the disclosure documents were served. This is the disclosure-related proof filed with the court.
COMPLETION
Common final-stage forms
Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution
Supplies facts supporting a default or uncontested request.
Judgment
The court order that contains the final terms and marital-status decision. Attachments may be required.
Notice of Entry of Judgment
Gives notice of the entered judgment and records the marital-status termination date.
Support, property and parenting orders
Child custody, child support, spousal support and property terms generally require the appropriate attachment forms.
PRIMARY SOURCES
Verify with the official source
Rules, forms, fees and local procedures can change. These links are the controlling starting points; the explanations on this site are preparation guidance, not a substitute for the current source.
- California Courts — Divorce forms ↗Official source
- California Courts — Start-divorce forms ↗Official source
- California Courts — Fee waiver ↗Official source