Court forms (free, official)

All California Judicial Council forms are free to download from the California Courts website. The most commonly used in divorce cases:

  • FL-100 — Petition for Dissolution The form that opens a divorce case. Filed by the petitioner. Form
  • FL-110 — Summons Issued with the petition; gives notice to the respondent. Form
  • FL-120 — Response Filed by the respondent within 30 days of being served. Form
  • FL-105 — Declaration Under UCCJEA Required when the case involves children — establishes the child's residence history. Form
  • FL-142 / FL-160 — Schedule of Assets and Debts Disclosure of all community and separate property and debts. Disclosure
  • FL-150 — Income & Expense Declaration Detailed financial statement, required for support calculations. Disclosure
  • FW-001 — Request to Waive Court Fees For low-income filers. Waives filing fees and many other court costs. Fees
  • FL-180 — Judgment The final order ending the marriage and resolving issues. Form

Browse all California Judicial Council forms →

Court Self-Help Centers

Every California Superior Court has a Self-Help Center. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they can help you understand which forms you need, how to fill them out, and what the procedural rules are. For people without an attorney, this is the single most underused resource in California family law.

  • California Courts Self-Help Statewide portal with guides, forms, and FAQs. Free
  • Local court Self-Help Centers Find your county court online for in-person help and clinics. Free
  • Family Law Facilitator Each county has a facilitator who specifically helps with support and parentage cases. Free

Finding an attorney

  • California State Bar — Find Legal Help The Bar's official referral resource, with links to certified lawyer referral services in every region. Referral
  • Certified Family Law Specialists Attorneys certified by the State Bar's Board of Legal Specialization in family law — a meaningful credential. Specialist
  • Local legal aid organizations For low-income parties: Bay Area Legal Aid, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Legal Aid Society of San Diego, and many others. Low-cost

DIY and online services

  • Hello Divorce California-focused online divorce service with tiered plans, including a low-cost DIY option and packages with attorney support. Online
  • It's Over Easy Online divorce platform handling document preparation and filing. Online

Mediation and collaborative process

  • Southern California Mediation Association Directory of family law mediators across Southern California. Mediation
  • Collaborative Practice California Statewide directory of collaborative-trained attorneys, financial professionals, and child specialists. Collaborative

Financial and emotional

  • Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) Financial professionals trained specifically in divorce financial planning. Useful for high-asset cases or pension valuation. Finance
  • Therapy & support Most California therapists list family transitions as a specialty. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy has a Find a Therapist directory. Wellness
A note on co-parenting tools

OurFamilyWizard, TalkingParents, and AppClose are widely used apps for tracking custody schedules, expenses, and communication. Some California courts order their use in high-conflict cases. They preserve a record of communications, which has both protective and disciplinary effects on tone.