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By law, the earliest is six months and one day from the date of filing the Petition or appearance by the respondent, whichever occurs first. Depending on the issues in your case, the case itself may take longer to finish. Call an attorney for more in-depth information.

First, you, or your spouse, must satisfy the residency requirements to file your case. Either you or your spouse must have lived in the county you are filing in for at least three (3) months and in California for at least six (6) months. If you satisfy these two requirements, then you may file your Petition and Summons with the family division at your local courthouse to start your case. For further information, please visit the Self-Help Center at your local courthouse or contact an attorney.

Unfortunately, no. California is a “no fault state” – the courts do not care why you are getting a divorce, only that you are.

Legal separation, under the law, is when you have an actual judgment from the court saying you are legally separated. All your assets, debts, support, and custody issues will have been finalized. However, your marital status will not be terminated. If you have a new person in your life and want to get married, you will need to get a divorce. Simply living separate from your spouse is not legal separation. For further information, please visit the Self-Help Center at your local courthouse or contact an attorney.

Unlike divorce, there is no time requirement. Whenever your judgment for legal separation is filed is when you are legally separated.

Yes. You can only get a legal separation if both parties agree to it. If one spouse wants a divorce, then you can only get a divorce.

There are two methods, depending on what you qualify for: 1) summary dissolution or 2) regular divorce. For further information, please visit the Self-Help Center at your local courthouse or contact an attorney.

Yes. The only difference is that you and your partner do not have to satisfy the residency requirement. So long as your domestic partnership was registered in California, you can terminate via divorce process.

No, you can terminate both in one case. Just make sure to indicate on your papers that you are ending both your domestic partnership and your marriage.