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California Joint Petition Divorce Online
File Together, No One Gets Served

California’s new joint petition lets you file as equals on one form. Court-ready documents for $149 — not $5,000+ in attorney fees.

See if you qualify — takes about a minute

Have you or your spouse lived in California for at least 6 months?

YesNo / not sure

Question 1 of 5 · Free · No account needed

CA Judicial Council forms · All 58 counties · Start your paperwork in ~15 minutes · Court-ready or we fix it free

https://mutualfile.com/dashboard
Your Divorce Journey · 4 phases
Start here — takes ~15 min
Answer questions together, we do the rest.
Document PreparationCompleted
Complete the interview and review your court-ready documents.
3/3
FilingUp Next
Take your court-ready documents to the courthouse — with step-by-step filing instructions for your county.
0/2
AgreementPending
Unlocks after Filing
0/3
Final JudgmentPending
Unlocks after Agreement
0/2
Your dashboard tracks every step —
so you always know what's next.
CA Judicial Council formsCourt-ready documents for filing256-bit encryptionCourt acceptance guarantee

Five steps from first question to final judgment

MutualFile breaks divorce into calm, manageable steps — so you can move forward with confidence.

1
1
Answer simple questions
We guide you step-by-step (like TurboTax), in plain English. The first section takes about 15 minutes, and most couples finish the whole interview in about an hour — together or separately, in one sitting or several.
2
2
We generate your documents
Your answers become court-ready forms — every petition, disclosure, and filing your case requires. No legal drafting on your end.
3
3
Invite your spouse
Your spouse gets their own login to work through agreements together — discuss terms, review proposals, and align on the details, all inside the app. Filing solo? Skip this step entirely.
4
4
File with the court
When you're ready, download your court-ready forms and file them with your county court. We give you step-by-step filing instructions — where to go, what to bring, and what the court charges.
5
5
Get your final judgment
California requires a 6-month wait — we track your deadlines so your case doesn’t stall.

Two ways to file. One platform built for both.

California gives couples two ways to start a divorce. The right one depends on where you and your spouse are in your agreement — not on how complicated your situation is.

File Together — The Cooperative Path

Using California's new Joint Petition law (SB 1427, effective January 2026)

The best way to end a marriage is with as little conflict as possible. California's new Joint Petition process lets both of you file as equals, together, from day one.

This path is right for you if:
  • You and your spouse have agreed on the big things
  • Both of you are willing to file together from day one
  • Neither of you wants to "serve" the other — no process server, no $79-plus service fee
  • You want the 6-month clock to start the day you file, not weeks later when someone is served
No petitioner. No respondent. No one gets "served." You file as two equals.
See if you qualify

File Separately — The Standard Path

Using the standard Petition & Response (FL-100 / FL-120)

Sometimes one spouse is ready before the other, or an agreement hasn't been reached yet. The standard path starts the process without requiring both of you to agree upfront.

This path is right for you if:
  • You and your spouse haven't reached a full agreement yet
  • You need to formally serve your spouse to start the legal clock
  • Your spouse is unresponsive or uncooperative
  • You want to file now and negotiate later
Even on this path, the goal is still a mutual agreement. Most uncontested divorces end without a court hearing.
See if you qualify
Answer 5 questions and we’ll tell you which path fits →

Free, no account needed. You can switch paths later if your situation changes.

Pay as you go, step by step

No big upfront cost. You pay only for the stage you’re on.

One price per stage, and every stage is listed below. Every form that stage requires is included — no premium tier waiting at the end, no per-form charges. The only cost we don’t set is the court’s own filing fee, and we show that too.

Free to start
Start your case
No credit card required
FREE
  • Complete the guided interview
  • Invite spouse digitally
  • Personalized checklist
  • Case setup & document hub
  • AI catches missing fields and formatting errors
Get started free
File your petition
Court-ready documents generated for you
$149
Per stage
+ court filing fees
No Monthly Fees — No Auto-Renewals, Ever
  • Court-ready petition or response
  • Step-by-step filing instructions for your county
  • AI reviews your answers for consistency and completeness
Get started free
Finalize your divorce
Wrap up your divorce with confidence
$149
Per stage
+ court filing fees
  • Financial disclosures (FL-140, FL-150, FL-160)
  • Settlement agreement
  • Final judgment forms
  • AI double-checks your final forms against court requirements
Get started free

Estimated total: ~$298 (MutualFile fees only) · Compare to $5,000–$12,000+ with attorneys.

  • * You file at the courthouse yourself, so you pay nothing beyond the court's own filing fee.
  • * Court filing fees vary by county (e.g. ~$435 in California).

Court filing fees are separate and vary by county. MutualFile does not provide legal advice.

Why couples choose MutualFile

See how MutualFile compares to hiring a divorce attorney.

Divorce attorneysMutualFile
Cost$5,000–$12,000+From $149 + county court filing fees
CollaborationFiltered through attorneys — at $400/hrWork through agreements together, in-app
ClarityUnpredictable timelineAlways know what's next
ExperienceStressful, adversarialCalm and structured
ControlLawyer-managedYou stay in control
Risk reversalNone — hourly billing continuesCourt-ready guarantee + we’ll make it right
See if you qualify — free

Takes about a minute · No account needed

A couple sitting side by side at their kitchen table, each working on a laptop with their divorce paperwork between them

This is hard. We built MutualFile to make at least the paperwork part easier.

The paperwork part, made calmer.

Take the first step — it’s freeView pricing
What you get
Everything you need to move through the process with calm structure.
  • Always know exactly what to do next — no guesswork, no wondering whether you missed a form
  • No awkward texting your ex about paperwork — you each have your own login and handle it in the app
  • Your spouse only sees what you’re both working on together. Everything else stays between you and the court
  • Every document organized and ready the moment you need it
  • Only the steps California courts actually require — nothing padded, nothing skipped
Our guarantees
  • Court-ready guarantee — if the court rejects your paperwork due to an error in the forms we generated, we fix and regenerate them free
  • Here to help — not happy with your documents? Contact us and we’ll do our best to make it right. Court filing fees and third-party costs are non-refundable.
Our promise to you

Court-Ready Guarantee

Every document MutualFile generates is built from official California Judicial Council forms and validated against current court requirements, so what you take to the courthouse is court-ready. If any court rejects your paperwork due to a MutualFile error, we'll correct it and regenerate your documents at no extra cost.

If you're not happy with your documents, contact us and we'll do our best to make it right. Court filing fees and third-party costs are paid directly to courts and process servers and are non-refundable.

A woman at her kitchen table closing a folder of completed divorce paperwork
Court-Ready Guarantee
Court-ready or we fix it free
Here to Help
Not happy? We'll do our best to make it right.

FAQ

Quick answers to the questions people ask most.

What’s the difference between the joint and standard paths?
The joint petition (FL-700) lets both spouses file together on one form — no one gets “served.” Each spouse still pays their own court appearance fee. The standard path (FL-100/FL-120) starts with one spouse filing a petition and the other responding. Both paths lead to the same result: a final divorce judgment. The joint path requires upfront agreement; the standard path lets you start now and negotiate as you go.
Can we switch from the standard path to the joint path?
Not directly — the joint petition must be started jointly from the beginning. But if you start on the standard path and later reach full agreement, you can proceed to an uncontested judgment together without a court hearing. Most couples on the standard path still reach agreement before the case is finalized.
What if we agree on most things but not everything?
Start on the standard path. You can continue negotiating while the case is active — MutualFile gives both spouses a shared workspace to work through agreements together. Most uncontested divorces reach agreement well before any hearing is needed.
What if my spouse won’t cooperate?
The standard path is designed for this. You file the petition, your spouse is served, and they have 30 days to respond. If they don’t respond, the case can proceed by default — MutualFile guides you through every step of that process.
Is MutualFile a law firm?
No. MutualFile is a self-help legal document service — we give you the tools to complete your own California divorce forms, step by step. We don’t provide legal advice. If your situation is complex, we’ll tell you when speaking to an attorney makes sense.
How long does a divorce take in California?
California has a 6-month minimum waiting period. On the standard path the clock starts when the respondent is served; with a joint petition it starts when you file. Most couples finish the interview in about an hour, together or separately, and you can stop and come back anytime. Timing can vary based on your situation.
Do both spouses need an account?
On the joint path, yes — both spouses have separate accounts and each must review and approve all documents. On the standard path, only the filing spouse needs an account, though your spouse can have one if they want to participate in the collaboration features.
Do I need to go to the courthouse?
Yes — you file your completed forms with your county court yourself, either in person or through your county’s own e-filing portal where one is offered. MutualFile prepares every form your case requires and gives you step-by-step filing instructions for your county: what to print, how many copies to bring, where to go, and what the court charges in filing fees.
What if the court rejects my paperwork?
If any California court rejects forms generated by MutualFile due to an error on our part, we’ll fix the issue and regenerate your corrected forms at no extra cost, so you can refile. If you’re not happy with your documents, contact us and we’ll do our best to make it right — court filing fees and third-party costs are non-refundable as they’re paid directly to courts and process servers.
What are financial disclosures and do I need them?
Yes — California requires both spouses to exchange financial disclosures regardless of which path you’re on. These include forms like FL-140, FL-150, and FL-160. MutualFile guides you through completing each one and makes sure nothing is missing before you file.
View all FAQs

Take the first step — it’s free

Begin your paperwork in minutes, and invite your spouse when you’re ready.

Start free — no lawyer neededSee pricing →

No credit card required.

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