File for Divorce Online in Modoc County, California

Contact the Modoc County Superior Court directly for the latest information on electronic filing availability for family law cases.

Modoc's website has no e-filing page, and its local rules (eff. July 1, 2024) have no e-filing rule. The Self-Represented Resources page links to sharpcourts.org and california.tylerhost.net/SRL with video instructions, but it does not say Modoc accepts filings through them. Local Rule 2.12 permits direct fax filing in civil, probate and family law by counsel and unrepresented parties to (530) 233-6500 at $1.00/page. Faxes received after 5:00 pm are deemed filed the next court day, and fee-bearing documents need a prior payment arrangement or a faxed check.

MutualFile prepares your Modoc divorce forms so they are court-ready, then walks you through exactly how to submit them — whether you e-file through an EFSP, file in person, or file by mail. You file with the court yourself; we make sure the paperwork is complete before you do.

The process in Modoc follows standard California divorce procedure:

1. File the Petition (FL-100) and Summons (FL-110) with the Modoc County Superior Court
2. Serve your spouse with the filed documents
3. Exchange financial disclosures (FL-140, FL-142, FL-150)
4. Spouse has 30 days to respond after being served
5. Reach a settlement agreement or proceed through court proceedings
6. Submit the Judgment (FL-180) for the court to review and sign
7. The 6-month waiting period must pass before the divorce is final

For a full walkthrough, see our step-by-step California divorce guide.

Joint petition: $435 or $870 in Modoc?

$870 — and that is the total for your case, not per spouse. A joint petition (FL-700) for dissolution or legal separation filed with the Modoc County Superior Court carries one combined $870 fee that covers both spouses' appearances, in place of the separate Petition and Response fees in a traditional filing. If one spouse later revokes the joint petition, the schedule says no additional first-appearance fee is due from either of you. The $435 figure applies only to a joint petition for summary dissolution, a separate short-marriage procedure with strict eligibility limits. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify.

Source: Judicial Council Statewide Civil Fee Schedule (effective Jan 1, 2026).

Fee waivers in Modoc

No local fee-waiver page. The Self-Help Center attorney (by appointment) and the statewide self-help guide are the court's listed resources for help with forms. Modoc court fee-waiver information.

See our full California divorce cost breakdown for more details.

Modoc County handles family law cases at the courthouse in Alturas. Court review times vary; check modoc.courts.ca.gov for current estimates.

California has a mandatory 6-month waiting period. In a traditional divorce it runs from the date your spouse is served; in a joint petition (SB 1427) it runs from the date you file, because there is no service step. Either way this is the legal minimum — no divorce can be finalized before this period passes, regardless of how quickly you complete your paperwork.