California requires a mandatory 6-month waiting period from when the divorce petition is served. The absolute minimum is 6 months — but most divorces take 9–18 months due to negotiation and court scheduling. An uncontested divorce where both parties agree on everything can move through in 6–8 months. Contested divorces involving property disputes or custody can take 2–3 years.

California is a community property state: most assets and debts acquired during marriage are owned 50/50 by both spouses, regardless of whose name is on them or who earned the money. This includes income earned during marriage, real estate bought during marriage, retirement accounts accrued during marriage, and most debt. Property you owned before marriage, or received as a gift or inheritance, is typically your separate property.

California courts decide custody based on "the best interests of the child." There are two types: legal custody (who makes decisions about health, education, welfare) and physical custody (where the child lives). Both can be sole or joint. Courts strongly favor both parents being involved. If you and your spouse agree, you can create your own parenting plan that the court will typically approve.

Spousal support is money one spouse pays to help the other maintain a similar standard of living. California courts consider length of marriage, standard of living, each spouse's earning capacity, and other factors. For marriages under 10 years, support is typically half the marriage length. For marriages over 10 years, it may continue indefinitely. It's not automatic — you must request it, and a judge decides.

You are not legally required to have a lawyer in California. For simple uncontested divorces with no children and minimal shared assets, many people handle it themselves. However, for anything involving children, significant assets, a business, retirement accounts, or if your spouse has an attorney — you should seriously consider legal representation. Even a single consultation ($300–500) to review your agreement is almost always worth it.

If bought during marriage, it's community property in California — you each own 50%. Your options are: (1) sell and split the proceeds, (2) one spouse buys out the other and refinances in their own name, or (3) continue co-owning temporarily (common when children are involved). If one spouse owned the home before marriage, it may be separate property, though any value increase during marriage may be partially community property.