How Much Does an FL-700 Divorce Cost in California?

The cost of a California joint petition (FL-700) divorce comes down to two separate buckets: the court's filing fees, which go to your county, and any preparation help you choose. Let's break both down — and clear up a common misconception about what a joint petition actually saves.

1. Court filing fees

California courts charge a first-appearance fee for each spouse. That fee is set locally, and in most counties it runs about $435 to $450 per person.

Here's the part people get wrong: a joint petition does not eliminate the second fee. Both spouses are still appearing before the court, so you should budget for both — roughly $870 total across the two of you. Some counties (for example, those with a local courthouse-construction surcharge) charge $450 rather than $435. Always confirm the current amount with your county court before you pay, because these figures are set locally and change.

A joint petition doesn't dodge a fee — it dodges the process server. The savings come from skipping service, not from paying the court once.

2. What a joint petition saves

Compared with a traditional FL-100 filing, the joint petition removes real costs:

• No process-server or sheriff fees — because there's no service of process.
• No proof-of-service paperwork and the follow-up it requires.
• No delay costs — the six-month clock starts the day you file, so you're not paying to wait for service to complete.

3. Fee waivers

If paying the filing fee would be a hardship, California offers a fee waiver. Two things to know for a joint petition:

• The waiver is assessed per spouse — each of you files your own request and qualifies based on your own income.
• One spouse qualifying does not automatically waive the other's fee.

4. Preparation cost

You can prepare the FL-700 yourself using the court's forms and instructions for free, or use a service to do the heavy lifting. MutualFile's guided document preparation starts at $199 — you start for free with no credit card, and you only pay when you're ready to file. You then file the completed, court-ready forms with your county yourself.

Putting it together

| Cost | Traditional (FL-100) | Joint Petition (FL-700) | |---|---|---| | Court filing fees (both spouses) | ~$870 total | ~$870 total | | Process server / service | Additional cost | $0 | | Proof-of-service filing | Sometimes | None | | Preparation (MutualFile) | From $199 | From $199 |

For a fuller look at every line item in a California divorce, see our guide to how much a divorce costs in California.

MutualFile is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Court fees are set by the courts and are subject to change — confirm current amounts with your county.

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