Petition
Identifies the case and the issues the petitioner asks the court to address. The requests, child facts and property/support sections need the person’s own decisions and accurate information.
Official FL-100 →California divorce papers: blank forms and a fictional example.
Use these examples to understand the purpose and layout of the forms. The names below are fictional. A sample is not a completed packet for your case, and a box selected in another person’s case should not decide your own request.
Source record reviewed: 2026-11-05 · Page updated: 2026-11-05 · Not attorney-certified legal advice
BLANK OFFICIAL REFERENCES
See the original pages before using an example.
The pictures are layout references from bundled official templates. Always use the current form revision and complete instructions linked by the court. The Summons contains important notices and restrictions; it is not only a cover page.
FICTIONAL ILLUSTRATION
Which facts transfer into a form caption?
This example shows ordinary factual entries only. It does not choose a filing county, legal request, support position, property classification or parenting arrangement for you.
| Field | Fictional illustration | What to verify in your case |
|---|---|---|
| Petitioner | Alex Sample | The actual legal name of the person starting the selected procedure |
| Respondent | Jordan Example | The other party’s actual legal name; keep labels consistent |
| Marriage date | June 12, 2015 | The actual date, using reliable records |
| Filing county | No county assumed | Residence, venue and branch assignment must be checked separately |
| Case number | Blank for an unassigned new case | Use the real number for an existing case; do not copy a sample number |
| Signature and signing date | Blank in the illustration | The proper person reviews and completes the required execution |
WHICH DOCUMENT DOES WHAT?
Opening papers, disclosures and the final order are separate.
Summons
Provides the court-case notice, response information and important restrictions. Check court and clerk completion fields rather than inventing an issuance event.
Official FL-110 →Child-jurisdiction information
The child-related declaration asks for the history and other cases relevant to custody jurisdiction. A child’s current address alone does not complete the form.
Official FL-105 →Notice of Entry of Judgment
This is a later court notice. It is not the petition and is not proof that a sample or downloaded document ended the marriage. Read the actual entered judgment and its status date.
Official FL-190 →UNCONTESTED DIVORCE FORMS
Agreement still needs the correct procedure.
“We agree” does not determine whether the regular, joint-petition or summary route applies. Review the current eligibility instructions, the agreement’s treatment of every required issue and the financial-disclosure requirements. A single-petitioner opening sample should not replace a joint or summary packet.
Financial disclosure documents, proof that disclosure was actually exchanged, service papers and judgment documents also have different roles. Some papers are exchanged privately, while others go to the court. The California form guide explains those categories and links the official starting points.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Questions people ask before filing
Can I copy a completed divorce-paper sample I found online?
A sample may use the wrong procedure, outdated wording, another county’s local forms or requests that do not match your facts. Use it to recognize a field’s purpose, then answer from your own records and review the current official instructions.
Are these sample pages ready to file?
The images are blank references and the table is fictional. Neither is a filing packet. Review all original pages, local supplements, applicable requests, declarations, signatures and the court’s submission requirements.
Do I use the same papers in Los Angeles and Orange County?
Both use statewide forms, while branch assignment and required local documents can differ. Check each county’s official resources, including the Los Angeles filing locator guide or Orange County guide.
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 — Fill out the opening forms ↗Official source
- California Courts — Petition FL-100 ↗Official source
- California Courts — Summons FL-110 ↗Official source
- California Courts — Child-jurisdiction declaration FL-105 ↗Official source
- California Courts — Notice of Entry of Judgment FL-190 ↗Official source
- California Courts — Statewide divorce-form guide ↗Official source