Getting a divorce in California Getting a divorce takes at least 6 months. There are 4 major parts of the process and they are the same for couples who are married and for those in a domestic partnership. ​ It's the same process to get a legal separation. But, there isn't a required 6-month waiting period.
In general, it can take a minimum period of six months to finalize a simple and uncontested California divorce. Contested divorces in California can take anywhere from a year to several years, depending on the complexity of the case and the number of issues that need to be resolved.
This is typically known as a contested divorce and is normally done with the help of an attorney. A settlement, signed by both parties, must be submitted to the court. Once the settlement is filed, there is a mandatory six-month waiting period before the court finalizes the divorce.
In general, it can take a minimum period of six months to finalize a simple and uncontested California divorce.
An uncontested divorce can be wrapped up as quickly as six weeks to three months.
Tells the court that you had the other party served legal papers by mail. Lists the papers that were served and tells when and where the papers were served, as well as who served them.
An uncontested divorce is much faster and cheaper than traditional divorce—spouses can often use a DIY solution like an online divorce service. They do, though, also have the option of getting professional help.