In mediation, you and your spouse work with a mediator
Dina Haddad
March 16, 2023
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.
In California, many couples wonder: do I really need a divorce lawyer if we agree on everything? Generally speaking, no. The State of California does provide spouses with the option to file an uncontested divorce, without the assistance of a lawyer.
Couples in California have several options, such as doing it themselves (DIY) by filing their own divorce papers or using The Complete Divorce’s fully automated and supported divorce process, which provides forms, document review, workshops, and expert advice.
Although, as stated previously, couples who have simple divorce cases usually don’t require an attorney, divorces that involve children, assets, or conflict could potentially require legal representation.
If you do decide to go with a DIY method and make errors on your divorce papers, there is a high possibility of rejection from the courts, delayed processing time, and stress. As Dina says, “How you divorce matters”. Begin your California divorce today for $49.99 with our expert-led program.
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.
DIY (do-it-yourself) divorce is a divorce alternative where couples manage a divorce by themselves. In California, this means spouses who wish to act as their own lawyers (pro per) in Family Court can do so.
The process of filing for a do-it-yourself divorce will save you money; however, you are still responsible for all aspects of the case, including completing the required documents, making timely disclosures, meeting deadlines, and reaching agreement(s).
While many people find DIY divorce to be helpful for uncontested, amicable divorces and/or summary dissolution cases, the risk of making legal errors exists, which could result in significant delays or even further complications.
Generally, a DIY (do-it-yourself) divorce is ideal if both parties agree on ALL major issues. In
other words, you have agreed on property division, support, parenting arrangements, etc. As such, each party will need to prepare and file the necessary court forms, exchange financial disclosures, and satisfy California filing requirements.
Additionally, the DIY process works better when both spouses are willing to cooperate, be transparent, and have few to no disagreements that would require Legal Intervention or court involvement.
In a DIY divorce, the costs are generally limited to filing fees, which vary depending on where you live. Attorney retainers and lawyer fees are typically avoided.
Many courts offer free or low-cost forms and assistance for individuals representing themselves. A DIY divorce may be your best option if you have very few assets, no children, no debts, and completely agree on all aspects of the divorce.
Learn more about divorce costs in California.
A DIY divorce gives the couple total control over the entire process. You decide the timeline, prepare the paperwork yourself, and negotiate terms directly.
Without attorneys acting as intermediaries, decisions can be made faster. That being said, errors on forms or missing documents can result in the court rejecting filings, thereby adding weeks or months to the overall process and requiring corrections.
Learn More: How long divorce takes in California?
A DIY divorce works best when parties can work together to reach an agreement. This approach is also most effective when parties want to save money or have simpler situations like short marriage or simple finances.
Furthermore, couples who are organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable handling their own legal paperwork are often the most successful candidates for this type of self-managed divorce process.
More and more younger couples are choosing to do their divorce online given their comfort with online processes like The Complete Divorce.
The largest risks associated with a DIY divorce are filing errors, incomplete disclosures, missed deadlines, and poorly drafted agreements. Even small mistakes can lead to rejected filings and future disputes.
Fortunately, The Complete Divorce helps reduce this risk through structured guidance, review of your prepared paperwork, educational workshops, and expert-led support. With Dina’s guidance, couples can rest assured that documents are complete, accurate, and court-ready.
| Aspect | DIY Divorce | Hiring a Divorce Lawyer |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce Cost | Lowest cost, primarily filing fees and document preparation expenses | Higher cost due to retainers, hourly rates, and legal representation |
| Divorce Attorney Required? | No. You may represent yourself as Pro Per | Yes, attorney handles legal representation |
| Speed | Can move quickly when both spouses cooperate | Often depends on attorney schedules and case complexity |
| Risk of Error | Higher if parties do not use quality DIY programs | Lower due to professional oversight |
| Control on Divorce | Full control over decisions and settlement terms | Attorney manages much of the process and strategy |
| Paperwork Handling | Spouses prepare and file documents themselves, most of which can now be done online | Attorney prepares, reviews, and files documents |
| Comfort & Flexibility | Flexible and self-directed, but requires effort and research | More support and legal guidance throughout |
| Best For | Cooperative spouses who can reach agreement, want to save money, or have simpler finances or short marriages | Cases involving children, significant assets, disputes, or domestic violence |
Attorneys represent clients during the divorce proceeding, create all the necessary documentation, settle for a negotiated agreement (if possible), and advocate for your rights.
While technology and artificial intelligence continue to facilitate the creation of divorce documents, there will always be instances where attorneys will be needed.
The areas in which attorneys would typically be required include complex issues related to property values, business interests, child custody, domestic violence, and more.
However, for many cooperative couples, guided divorce services, such as The Complete Divorce, now handle many of the administrative tasks previously handled by attorneys.
Attorneys are the most expensive divorce option because they often require a retainer and bill by the hour for their time spent preparing documents, negotiating terms, and attending court appearances. Also, attorneys’ fees can exceed $35,000 in complex cases.
Furthermore, attorneys can often introduce complexities into what could have been a simpler dissolution of marriage by requiring procedural steps, filings, and negotiations that were unnecessary prior to their involvement.
The speed at which an attorney handles a case usually depends on their schedule and workload. Attorneys draft documents, communicate with opposing counsel, and advise on how to proceed legally on your behalf.
This provides the client with some degree of protection, but it also means that a great deal of the divorce process is outside the client’s control. Even a “simple” divorce could take longer if the parties’ communication and/or scheduling becomes a bottleneck.
If either of you has children, substantial amounts of property/assets, businesses, or if there are other serious legal issues present in your divorce, then an attorney is usually the best person to hire.
If one of you is significantly more financially capable than the other, then having a trained attorney advocate for you is also recommended. Also, anytime there is potential for domestic violence or coercion present, you should have an attorney working with you to preserve your rights and dignity.
DIY divorce without a lawyer can be risky. Many times, California courts reject divorce forms because they are filled out incorrectly, causing delays and frustration.
Although a court will accept unfair agreements or divisions that are wrong, parties should make sure they understand what they are agreeing to in their MSA.
It’s common for self-representing parties to make financial mistakes, such as having retirement accounts that remain undivided, home equity overlooked, or community property misclassified under Family Code 2550.
Another mistake is thinking that “we agree on everything, we don’t need help.” This creates issues in the future. For example, when drafting a Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA), you can fail to adhere to legal best practices and end up with a rejected document.
In this case, The Complete Divorce provides expert strategy videos, divorce webinars, and high-quality resources like checklists and flow charts,to ensure that each document prepared is up to standard and ready for submission at a fraction of the cost of hiring a lawyer.
Read More: Can You Get a Divorce without a Court?
DIY divorce or hiring a lawyer? It depends on how complex your situation is.
While simple cases are often handled successfully through DIY divorce, the potential for errors in documentation or agreements that could lead to time-consuming, expensive delays or future litigation exists. While hiring a lawyer provides some legal protection, it is typically the most expensive divorce option.
Structured online divorce solutions provide California’s cooperative divorcing couples with a balanced alternative between affordability, guidance, and accurate information. Start your divorce today if you want to use a supported, yet affordable process.
Related: The Types of Divorce in California
No. In California, you do not have to hire a divorce attorney to get divorced. You can file for divorce on your own and finalize your divorce by completing the appropriate forms and having each spouse sign a Marital Settlement Agreement approved by the Courts.
Yes. Many couples begin their divorce on their own and then hire an attorney when they cannot come to an agreement on some of the divorce details. Once you have begun your divorce proceedings, you will still be able to hire an attorney at any time during this process.
A cheap uncontested divorce in California can cost as little as the court filing fees 5,000, depending on how simple the case is, and whether there are any legal professionals involved like divorce attorneys. . Complex matters require expertise and so will cost significantly more.
What Happens If My Spouse Hires a Lawyer but I Don’t?
You can still represent yourself in the divorce. Nevertheless, it’s important to still know what your rights are in terms of financial disclosure, and the terms of any proposal your ex-spouse makes prior to signing anything.
Getting legal advice before you sign your agreement could save you money down the road. Watching our Navigating Divorce courses will give you the insight towards family law and custody principles you need to represent yourself.
California premier divorce program.
Making California divorce simple and lawyer-free.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2000+ divorced without a lawyer.
In mediation, you and your spouse work with a mediator
In California, ending a marriage doesn’t have to mean conflict,
Community and Separate Property in a California divorce can pose