Recommended Steps to Completing a Divorce (Summary Dissolution)

1. Complete the Worksheet for Determining Value of Separate Property. Give one copy to your spouse and keep one copy for your records.
2. Complete the Worksheet for Determining Value and Division of Community Property. Give one copy to your spouse and keep one for your records.
3. Complete the Worksheet for Determining Community Obligations and Their Division. Give copy to your spouse and keep one for your records
4. Fill out an Income and Expense Declaration (form FL-150)
5. Type or print your Property Settlement Agreement if you have any property or debts to divide. Both of you must date and sign it. Make two extra copies.
6. Fill out a Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution of Marriage (form FL-800). Both of you must sign and date this petition. Make two extra copies of this form. (This form starts the process) (These forms must be signed in California or in a state that authorizes this procedure).
7. Make three sets of forms by gathering together a copy of your Property Settlement Agreement and a copy of your Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution of Marriage (form FL-800)
8. Make one extra copy of a blank Request for Judgment, Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage, and Notice of Entry of Judgment (form FL-820). (This is the form you need to complete the process). Each of you should keep one copy for future use.
9. Make one extra copy of a blank Notice of Revocation of Petition for Summary Dissolution (form FL-830). (This is the form you would need to STOP the process). You may wish to use it during the waiting period if you change your mind and want to stop the process. You should keep one copy.
10. Bring all of your copies to the superior court clerk's office Los Angeles Superior Court Locations, California Superior Courts by County
11. Pay the superior court clerk's filing fee
12. Put your copies of all the documents in a safe place.
13. Wait for six months
14. After the waiting period, if you decide to go through with the dissolution and neither spouse has stopped it by filing the revocation form, fill out a Request for Judgment, Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage, and Notice of Entry of Judgment form (FL-820) and make two extra copies of the completed forms.
15. Bring all copies to the superior court clerk, along with two pre-addressed and stamped envelopes (envelopes should be large enough for the documents and have plenty of postage). One must be addressed to you and the other to your spouse.

On the Day that the copies of the Request for Judgment, Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage, and Notice of Entry of Judgment are mailed to you:

Your Summary Dissolution is final and your marriage has ended;

The agreements you made in your Property Settlement Agreement are binding ­ (you will then own the property assigned to you, and you will have to pay the bills assigned to you);

Except for those agreements, you have no further obligations to each other;

You are legally free to remarry.