Learn the difference between uncontested and contested divorce in California,
Dina Haddad
May 18, 2026
Get California Online Divorce Forms for $49.99/month– Limited Time Offer!
Get California Online Divorce Forms for $49.99/month– Limited Time Offer!
Online Divorce
Divorce smartly without a lawyer. Save yourself $10,000+.
Dina Haddad
Founder & Attorney Mediator
I’m Dina Haddad, a family law attorney-mediator in California. I’m so tired of couples not having a process that’s easy to complete their divorce. They are getting lost, wasting time and money, and beyond frustrated with their results.That’s why I created The Complete Divorce. I took my successful mediation practice and condensed it into an affordable and winning program.
Many Californians are unable to file for a divorce in their court due to the cost. Fortunately, low-income individuals who qualify will be able to request that the courts waive their filing costs.
Even so, preparing a self-represented divorce requires a great deal of planning, and filling out the proper divorce forms incorrectly could cause delays.
With The Complete Divorce, you can complete all the required documents needed for an Uncontested California divorce for as little as $49.99 per month.
This is significantly less expensive than hiring an attorney and paying thousands of dollars. Start your cheap divorce with extraordinary fast support.
Modernizing California Divorce
Complete your divorce without a lawyer.
Move forward with peace of mind and avoid court rejections through our fully-assisted DIY divorce program. This program is founded and led by California divorce expert, Dina.
A “No Money Down” divorce does not mean the entire divorce process will be free. It represents two cost-saving methods. As long as they qualify, both parties may petition the Court to have all or some of the initial costs waived by the State of California through its Fee Waiver Program.
In addition, most non-contentious couples who choose to pay attorneys fees can complete their own divorce documents using low-cost online self-serve platforms.
A good option is The Complete Divorce (TCD) that offers cheapest divorce with extraordinary support for uncontested and amicable couples, E-filers, people seeking divorce without lawyers, Self-representation individuals, and those who want to do their entire divorce without a court.
When considering whether or not to grant a fee waiver request, most California courts follow these three paths:
File all your divorce documents, such as your Form FL-100 (Petition for Dissolution of Marriage), and your Form FW-001 (Request to Waive Court Fees) with the Superior Court Clerk in the county in which you have filed your case.
Submitting the fee waiver request with your initial divorce paperwork will help prevent you from having to pay filing fees up front while the court is reviewing your application.
California has made its fee waiver process an expression of its intent to ensure that limited financial means are not a barrier to those who qualify for access to the courts, so they can resolve their family law issues.
To apply for a fee waiver, you must complete Form FW-001. The court will then issue Form FW-003 approving, denying, or requesting additional information on your fee waiver.
If approved, the fee waiver will waive all filing fees and some other potential court costs associated with your case, reducing your overall divorce cost in California.
There isn’t a free divorce option available in California. However, there are multiple ways to limit how much you pay for your overall divorce cost. These include:
The California Court Fee Waiver is the most common option for people who cannot afford the filing fee for obtaining a divorce in the State of California. Upon approval of Form FW-001 (Application to Waive Court Filing Fees), a qualified applicant can file his/her divorce case without having to pay the initial filing fee.
Depending on the specifics of the applicant’s case, if approved, the waiver may also be applicable to some additional costs incurred as part of the divorce proceeding, such as filing motion fees, certified copy fees, court-appointed interpreter fees, court reporter fees under limited circumstances, and/or other court services that are eligible to be waived.
However, the Court Fee Waiver does not automatically waive costs associated with hiring a private process server or other non-court-related expenses.
To qualify for this service, an applicant must complete Form FW-001, provide financial documentation as required, and file Form FW-001 along with his/her original divorce paperwork at the Clerk’s Office of the Superior Court.
A summary dissolution is California’s streamlined divorce process for couples with simple financial situations who meet all eligibility criteria. This type of divorce requires far less paperwork than a regular divorce, and the couple will jointly use Form FL-800 (Joint Petition for Summary Dissolution) when submitting the documents.
Prior to submitting the joint petition, both spouses must review the information in Form FL-810 (Summary Dissolution Information), which provides the court’s official requirements guide for the entire process.
For qualification purposes, all of the following are required:
As opposed to a traditional divorce where there is one party designated as the “Petitioner” and another as the “Respondent,” in a summary dissolution, the two parties jointly sign and submit the Joint Petition. This results in reduced paperwork and often eliminates the need for formal service.
As previously stated, although the general court filing fee is typically the same for a summary dissolution as for a traditional divorce, if eligible, some couples can completely waive this cost.
The Complete Divorce can assist couples who qualify in preparing all necessary documents, including organizing their agreement on the division of their property, and in following the procedure established by the court.
Every county in California has a superior court with Self-Help Centers and Family Law Facilitator Offices that help people without attorneys.
Self-Help Centers were created to serve self-represented (Pro Se) litigants by providing general information on how the courts operate, reviewing documents to determine if they are complete, and explaining the filing process.
Note that they will not be able to act as your representative in court, engage in negotiations with opposing counsel, nor offer specific legal advice related to your case.
Some examples of Self-Help Centers in California are:
The most likely time you would use these services is when the parties in your divorce are likely to reach an agreement regarding the terms of their divorce. Most Self-Help Centers provide assistance at no cost; however, the costs associated with filing in the courts will still need to be paid unless you qualify for a court-issued Fee Waiver.
Many people find it more helpful to use The Complete Divorce to create their own divorce paperwork while also seeking assistance from the Self-Help Center. This allows them to create accurate documents and seek guidance on how to navigate the court system without hiring a private attorney.
Mistakes can cause delays in the processing of an uncontested divorce, as well as additional costs, even though you are entitled to file for a court fee waiver. Therefore, understanding California’s filing requirements and financial disclosure guidelines is essential for protecting your rights and completing your uncontested DIY divorce on time.Mistakes can cause delays in the processing of an uncontested divorce, as well as additional costs, even though you are entitled to file for a court fee waiver. Therefore, understanding California’s filing requirements and financial disclosure guidelines is essential for protecting your rights and completing your uncontested DIY divorce on time.
Before filing your papers for divorce, use Form FW-001 as part of your filing documents, rather than paying the filing fee when you first file. If you are approved for a fee waiver, the court will issue Form FW-003, which will state whether it approves, denies, or requires additional documentation to support your request.
California spouses are obligated to act in a fiduciary capacity throughout the divorce process. Under California Family Code § 2100, each party has an obligation to provide full disclosure of all assets (including digital assets), liabilities, income, and expenses.
Intentional concealment of community property can result in serious penalties for the party who hides assets. If a party commits fraud, oppression, or malice by hiding assets, the court can grant 100% of the hidden community property to the opposing party pursuant to California Family Code section 1101(h).
If you had assets prior to getting married, document them with statements from the banks where the money is held, documentation for investments, etc., and establish when and how the assets were purchased. These steps will help you identify what constitutes separate property and reduce the risk of you “commingling” assets during the marriage.
Prior to submitting your final judgment packet, create a reasonable budget for yourself based on what you anticipate to be your living expenses post-dissolution. Evaluate your projected housing costs, your mortgage obligations, your tax obligations, your insurance obligations, your support obligations, and any other anticipated recurrent monthly/annual obligations.
Ensure that the terms of your property division and settlement are financially feasible after the dissolution of marriage. By completing this evaluation prior to submission of your judgment package, you can eliminate any potential financial problems you might experience from the divorce cost and after the divorce has been finalized.
The Complete Divorce (TCD) is an independent online document preparation company and has no affiliation with the California Courts. Rather than spending thousands on an attorney for an uncontested divorce, users can use TCD’s guided automation system to generate their own California divorce papers for a monthly fee of $49.99.
The Complete Divorce also permits unlimited edits, allowing couples to modify their FL-100 Petition or Judgment Packet as many times as they need. You also have access to a secure, shared workspace where both spouses can access all materials needed to prepare the paperwork, along with video tutorials that provide step-by-step instructions and flowcharts to assist with completing it.
You do not have to choose between paying thousands of dollars for an attorney and going it alone through a do-it-yourself divorce.
If you are willing to follow the court’s self-help resources in California, some or all of the free alternatives listed above might provide you with everything you need.
If you would like additional help with preparing the paperwork for your divorce, The Complete Divorce is available as an inexpensive option ($49.99/month). With TCD, you get unlimited edits, 24-hour/day online access, a secure shared work space, and assistance with preparing your documents. Start your cheap divorce and extraordinary support you need to confidently complete your divorce.
With The Complete Divorce, the goal is for you to feel confident about completing your uncontested California divorce while keeping costs under control.
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An uncontested divorce is generally less costly than a contested one. In addition, both spouses must meet the Summary Dissolution requirements to complete their divorce more quickly.
You will need to fill out Form FW-001 along with your divorce petition to ask for a court fee waiver. Once approved, the court may waive your filing fees. There are many free self-help centers and family law facilitators who will provide you with some procedural assistance.
You should apply for a court fee waiver. You can also seek free help from your local court’s self-help center, as well as use an affordable document preparation company (if your divorce is uncontested).
Fill out a form for a California court fee waiver. Take advantage of your local county’s self-help center for free advice. A cheap document prep service can also help reduce your total divorce costs.
Learn the difference between uncontested and contested divorce in California,
California’s uncontested divorce is most affordable, fast and friendly. It’s
Most California couples hiring a divorce lawyer don’t actually need