California family law covers dissolution of marriage and registered domestic partnership, legal separation, nullity (annulment), parentage actions, custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, and restraining orders entered inside a family case. Our role is document preparation at your direction — we cannot give legal advice but we prepare every standard FL- and FW- form accurately and on time.
Dissolution of marriage — the standard path
- Petition (FL-100). Either spouse files. California is a no-fault state; "irreconcilable differences" is the default reason.
- Summons (FL-110) issues automatic temporary restraining orders preventing major asset transfers, removing children from the state, and changing insurance beneficiaries.
- Service. Respondent is personally served (FL-115).
- Response (FL-120). Respondent has 30 days to file. Without a response the court can grant a default after the 6-month waiting period.
- Financial disclosures (FL-140 + FL-142 or FL-160 + FL-150). Both parties exchange preliminary disclosures within 60 days of petition and final disclosures before judgment.
- Negotiation / mediation / trial. Most cases settle. Disputed cases proceed to short cause or long cause trial.
- Judgment (FL-180 + FL-190). Court enters judgment. Status (single) effective 6 months and 1 day after service.
Forms we prepare
- FL-100 — Petition (Marriage / Domestic Partnership)
- FL-105 / UCCJEA — Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction Act (required when minor children are involved)
- FL-110 — Summons (Family Law)
- FL-115 — Proof of Service of Summons
- FL-117 — Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt
- FL-120 — Response (Marriage / Domestic Partnership)
- FL-140 — Declaration of Disclosure
- FL-141 — Declaration Regarding Service of Declaration of Disclosure
- FL-142 — Schedule of Assets and Debts
- FL-150 — Income and Expense Declaration
- FL-160 — Property Declaration
- FL-180 / FL-190 — Judgment and Notice of Entry of Judgment
- FL-300 — Request for Order (temporary orders, modification, contempt, etc.)
- FL-311 — Child Custody and Visitation Attachment
- FL-341 — Child Custody and Visitation Order Attachment
- FL-330 — Proof of Personal Service
- FW-001 / FW-003 — Fee waiver request and order
What we do not do
We do not negotiate settlements on your behalf, draft custom marital settlement agreements that require legal analysis of community-property characterization, or represent you at hearings. Many family-law cases settle by stipulation that we can prepare in the standard form (FL-130, FL-180 attachments). Contested custody cases with high conflict, complex community-property issues, or domestic-violence allegations benefit from a licensed family-law attorney — we can refer you.
Statutory authority: California Family Code §2330 (petition for dissolution); §3010-3032 (custody jurisdiction); §3040-3041 (custody factors); §4055 (statewide uniform child support guideline); §4320 (spousal support factors); §2104-2107 (disclosure requirements); §297-299.6 (registered domestic partnerships). California Rules of Court 5.50-5.435 (family law rules).