When someone decides to end a marriage, one of the first questions they ask is: “How long will this take?”
In California, the answer depends on your situation. Some divorces move quickly. Others take months—or longer.
Here’s a simple breakdown of what controls the timeline and what you can expect.
1. The Mandatory 6-Month Waiting Period
California has a strict rule:
No divorce can be finalized in less than six months.
The six months start from the day the other spouse is served with divorce papers, not from the day you file.
This waiting period applies even if:
You both agree on everything
You have no children
You have no property to divide
The divorce is completely uncontested
It’s California’s cooling-off period, designed to ensure both spouses have time to review decisions before ending the marriage.
2. The Real Timeline Depends on Your Case
The mandatory six months is the minimum.
The actual timeline depends on how smoothly the case moves.
Here are the most common situations:
A. Uncontested Divorce (Fastest)
Timeline: ~6 to 12 months
An uncontested divorce means:
You agree on property division
You agree on child custody
You agree on support
You agree on everything else
These cases mainly involve paperwork and waiting for the court to finalize the judgment.
Most of the time goes toward:
Preparing forms
Serving documents
Completing financial disclosures
Submitting the final agreement to the court
If both spouses cooperate, these cases finish closest to the six-month minimum.
B. Mediated Divorce
Timeline: ~6 to 18 months
Mediation helps couples reach an agreement without going to court.
The timeline depends on:
How many issues need resolving
How much both spouses are willing to compromise
The mediator’s schedule
Mediation is usually faster than litigation, but slower than uncontested if the issues are complicated.
C. Contested Divorce (Longest)
Timeline: 1 to 3 years
A contested divorce happens when spouses can’t agree on:
Custody
Child support
Spousal support
Property division
Who keeps the home
Anything else
These cases require:
Multiple court hearings
Discovery (exchange of documents, financial records, etc.)
Possibly depositions
Negotiations
Trial (if no settlement is reached)
Los Angeles County courts are busy, so scheduling alone can extend the case.
3. What Can Delay a Divorce in California?
Several factors can add months—or years—to the process.
Common delays include:
Court backlog
One spouse refusing to cooperate
Hidden or missing financial documents
Disputes about children
Complex assets (real estate, businesses, retirement accounts)
Domestic violence or restraining orders
Spouses changing attorneys mid-case
Scheduling conflicts with experts (evaluators, accountants, etc.)
The more complicated the issues, the more time the case takes.
4. What Can Make a Divorce Move Faster?
While nobody can speed up the mandatory six-month waiting period, you can shorten the rest of the process.
To keep things moving:
Respond to requests quickly
Prepare documents early
Be honest in financial disclosures
Stay open to compromise
Use mediation or negotiated agreements
Avoid unnecessary court motions
Keep communication focused and respectful
The biggest time-saver is avoiding courtroom battles whenever possible.
5. What If My Spouse Won’t Respond?
If one spouse ignores the divorce papers, the case doesn’t stop.
After a deadline passes, the court can move forward with a default divorce.
Default divorce timeline:
Usually 6 to 12 months, depending on paperwork and service dates.
6. Summary of California Divorce Timelines
7. Final Thoughts
In California, the only fixed part of the divorce timeline is the six-month waiting period. Everything else depends on cooperation, complexity, and whether disputes need court intervention.
If both spouses stay organized and open to agreement, the process can be manageable—even predictable.
If the case involves conflict, it naturally becomes longer.
Understanding the steps ahead helps you stay prepared, reduce stress, and make better decisions throughout the process.
