File for Divorce Online in San Mateo County, California

The San Mateo County Superior Court accepts electronic filing (e-filing) for family law cases through approved Electronic Filing Service Providers (EFSPs). If you are representing yourself, e-filing is optional — you can still file on paper.

Mandatory for attorneys in family law since January 21, 2020; self-represented litigants are encouraged but not required. Any EFSP on the Odyssey eFileCA list (odysseyefileca.com/service-providers.htm) can be used. Documents received 12:00 a.m.-11:59:59 p.m. on a court day count as filed that day. Some documents must be filed on paper (e.g., most ex parte motions other than DVPA, writs, abstracts of judgment).

San Mateo court e-filing page and approved providers

MutualFile prepares your San Mateo 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 San Mateo follows standard California divorce procedure:

1. File the Petition (FL-100) and Summons (FL-110) with the San Mateo 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 San Mateo?

$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 San Mateo 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 San Mateo

The court's divorce self-help page directs low-income filers to FW-001 and FW-003. The Family Law Facilitator helps with starting a divorce, including these forms. No separate local fee-waiver procedure is published. San Mateo court fee-waiver information.

See our full California divorce cost breakdown for more details.

San Mateo County handles family law cases at the Hall of Justice in Redwood City. Processing times are typically 5–10 business days. Check sanmateocourt.org 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.