California’s new joint petition
File for divorce together. No one gets served.
Work through the forms together, with separate logins and one shared case. Free to start — $149 only when you’re ready to file.
- Official California court forms
- Two private logins
- Nothing filed until you both approve
Takes 1 minute · No credit card
How it works
- 1
Start on your own · about 15 minutes
Answer plain-English questions about your marriage, property, and finances. Free, no credit card. Stop anytime and pick up later.
- 2
Invite your spouse
They get their own private login on the same case. For shared decisions (who keeps what, support, custody), either of you can propose an answer or request a change until you both agree.
- 3
Get your court-ready forms
We prepare your joint petition and your financial disclosure forms from your answers. You both review and approve before anything is filed.
Built for both of you
Most online divorce services give one person a form to fill out. MutualFile gives you both a seat at the table.
One of you gets it started
Answer the questions on your own time. It takes about 15 minutes, and you don’t need your spouse there.
Invite your spouse
They get their own private login and see the same case, with every answer you filled in.
Review and request changes, line by line
Something doesn’t look right? Either of you can request a change right on the form. No phone calls, no lawyers going back and forth.
Nothing is filed until you both approve
Your forms are ready to file only when you’ve both said yes.
Who keeps the 2019 Honda CR-V?
Alex
Jordan asked a question “Does the car loan go with it? There’s about $8,300 left.”
Waiting on Alex
Who pays the Visa card balance?
Split 50 / 50
Jordan requested a change “Can we do 60/40? I kept more of the furniture.”
Waiting on Alex
Joint savings account
Balance $12,400
Split 50 / 50
Alex requested a change “Can I take $1,500 first for my new apartment deposit, then split the rest?”
Waiting on Jordan
Your court-ready packet
- FL-700 Joint Petition
- FL-710 Summons (Joint Petition)
- FL-105 UCCJEA, when you have children
- Filing instructions for your county
Clear pricing
Document preparation
$149
No subscription. No renewal fees.
- Prepared divorce forms
- Separate logins for both spouses
- Shared agreement workspace
- County filing instructions
Free to start. Pay when you’re ready.
Court fees are separate
Paid directly to the court, not to MutualFile.
Fee waivers may be available if you qualify.
Court-Ready Guarantee
If we make an error in your forms, we’ll fix it at no extra cost.
From couples who’ve filed
Real experiences from people who filed with MutualFile.
“Spent less than $200 on MutualFile and skipped the lawyers entirely. The checklist kept us from getting overwhelmed, and by the time we walked into the courthouse every form was already filled out and ready to hand over.”
“Honestly, we were both losing sleep over the paperwork, but MutualFile kept things surprisingly chill. It was a huge relief having our own logins—we could just fill out our own stuff separately without breathing down each other's necks.”
“We kept putting it off because we figured it'd be this whole drawn-out thing, but we literally knocked it out over two nights. Being able to both log in and see the same dashboard meant we didn't have to keep texting each other 'did you do your part yet?'”
“I was terrified of messing up the paperwork, but the site basically filled out all the stuff for us based on our answers. We didn't get a single rejection from the court—everything went through perfectly the first time.”
Frequently asked questions
Do we need an attorney?
No. MutualFile is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm. We prepare the official California forms from your answers and give you step-by-step filing instructions for your county. If your situation is complex, we’ll tell you when speaking with an attorney makes sense.
Who is eligible?
One of you must have lived in California for at least 6 months and in the county where you file for at least 3 months, and you both want to file together. The joint petition is available in all 58 California counties. Answer a few quick questions and we’ll tell you whether it fits.
Does the joint petition skip the 6-month waiting period?
No. California still requires a minimum six months before a divorce becomes final. With a joint petition the clock starts the day you file, because there is no one to serve and no waiting for a response.
What if we disagree?
You can still start. Each of you reviews every form and can request a change line by line, and nothing is filed until you both approve. If you can’t agree on the important things, the standard petition path is available instead, and a mediator or attorney can help with the parts you can’t settle.
Can I start without my spouse?
Yes. Answer the first questions on your own and invite your spouse when you’re ready. They get their own private login to the same case, and nothing is shared with them until you send that invite.
What forms are included?
The joint petition packet: FL-700 Joint Petition, FL-710 Summons (Joint Petition), and FL-105 if you have children together, plus filing instructions for your county court. Financial disclosures and the final judgment forms come in the finalization stage.
Is my information secure?
Yes. Your data is protected with 256-bit encryption. Each spouse has a private login, and your spouse only sees what you’re working on together. Nothing is shared until you send the invite.
What if we can’t afford the $870 court fee?
California courts offer fee waivers based on income or public benefits. If you qualify, MutualFile points you to the right waiver forms during the process. Confirm eligibility and the current amount with your court.
Ready to see if you qualify?
Begin your paperwork in minutes, and invite your spouse when you’re ready.