FL-700 Joint Petition: How to File It Online & Fill It Out

Form FL-700 (Joint Petition—Marriage or Domestic Partnership) is the document that starts a California divorce filed together. It's the centerpiece of the state's new Joint Petition process under SB 1427, effective January 1, 2026, which lets couples who agree the marriage should end file as equals — no "petitioner vs. respondent," and no one gets served.

This guide covers exactly what the FL-700 is, who signs it, the forms that travel with it, and how to file it with your county court.

What is Form FL-700?

The FL-700 replaces the traditional FL-100 Petition for couples who file jointly. Instead of one spouse petitioning and the other responding, both spouses sign a single FL-700 as Petitioner 1 and Petitioner 2.

| | FL-100 (Traditional) | FL-700 (Joint Petition) | |---|---|---| | Who files | One spouse (the petitioner) | Both spouses together | | Roles | Petitioner vs. Respondent | Petitioner 1 & Petitioner 2 — equals | | Service of process | Required — the other spouse must be served | None — filing together replaces service | | Companion summons | FL-110 (served) | FL-710 (filed, never served) | | Available since | Always | January 1, 2026 (SB 1427) |

Filing the FL-700 does everything the old petition-and-service sequence did, in one collaborative step — including starting California's mandatory six-month waiting period the moment you file. (Deciding between the two paths? See our FL-700 vs. FL-100 comparison.)

What the FL-700 asks for

The FL-700 captures the same core facts a traditional petition does, just from both spouses at once:

• Identifying information for both Petitioner 1 and Petitioner 2
• Residency — at least one spouse must meet California's residency requirement (6 months in the state, 3 months in the filing county)
• Date of marriage and date of separation — the date of separation matters financially, so get it right
• Minor children of the relationship, if any
• What you're asking the court to decide — dissolution, and the issues you'll resolve by agreement (property, support, custody)
• Both signatures, which is what makes the filing "joint"

The forms that go with the FL-700

The FL-700 is rarely filed alone. A complete joint petition packet typically includes:

• FL-710 — Summons—Joint Petition. A summons you never serve; it exists to switch on the standard automatic restraining orders that protect both spouses' finances the instant you file.
• FL-105 (UCCJEA) — required only if you have children under 18.
• Financial disclosures — the FL-142 Schedule of Assets and Debts and FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration. California requires these even in a joint petition; they are exchanged between spouses, not skipped.
• FL-700-INFO — an optional information sheet the court provides to explain the process.

MutualFile assembles all of these from a single guided interview, so you're not cross-referencing form instructions by hand.

FL-700 filing instructions

Once the FL-700 and its companion forms are complete and signed by both spouses:

1. Make copies. File the original plus the copies your county requires (usually one set per spouse). Your court's clerk website lists the local copy count.
2. File with the superior court in the county where either spouse meets the residency requirement. Many California counties accept in-person, mail, or electronic filing — check your county's rules.
3. Pay the filing fee (see below) or submit a fee-waiver request.
4. Keep your endorsed-filed copies. The file-stamp date is the day your six-month clock starts.
5. Complete and exchange financial disclosures, then prepare your final judgment package once you've reached agreement and the waiting period has run.

Because a joint petition has no service step, you skip proof of service entirely — one of the biggest sources of delay in a traditional filing.

How much does an FL-700 divorce cost?

There are two costs to separate: the court's filing fee and any preparation help.

• Court filing fees. California courts charge a first-appearance fee for each spouse — generally about $435 to $450 per person, set locally by your county. A joint petition does not eliminate the second fee: both spouses are still appearing before the court, so budget for roughly $870 total. Confirm the current amount with your county before you pay. A fee waiver is available per spouse if you individually meet the income requirements.
• Preparation. You can complete the FL-700 yourself using the court's forms and instructions, or use a service. MutualFile's guided document preparation starts at $199 — you start for free, and you file the finished forms with the court yourself.

For a full line-by-line breakdown, see how much an FL-700 divorce costs.

Can you file the FL-700 online?

"FL-700 online" usually means one of two things:

• Preparing the form online. Yes — MutualFile prepares your FL-700, FL-710, and disclosures from a guided interview so you download a court-ready, signature-ready packet.
• E-filing with the court. Whether the court accepts the FL-700 electronically depends on your county. Some California superior courts support electronic filing for family law; others require paper. MutualFile gives you step-by-step instructions for how your county accepts filings.

MutualFile is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. If your case involves domestic violence, a spouse you can't locate, or genuinely contested assets, consider talking to a licensed family-law attorney.

Start your FL-700

Both spouses answer a guided interview, MutualFile generates your FL-700 and every companion form, and you get filing instructions for your county court.

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See the full Joint Petition overview →