How to Respond to Divorce Papers in California
Being served with divorce papers does not mean the divorce is final or that you have to agree to anything. It means your spouse has started the process. You have 30 days to respond. If you do not respond, the court may grant your spouse everything they asked for — without hearing from you.
What you were served with
You were handed or mailed a Summons (FL-110) and a Petition (FL-100). The FL-100 is your spouse's filing — it says what they want: how property should be divided, what should happen with custody, whether they're asking for support. The FL-110 Summons contains automatic restraining orders that are now in effect on both of you — neither of you can take children out of state, cancel insurance, or dispose of assets without the other's written agreement or a court order.
Your deadline
You have 30 days from the date you were served to file a response. That date is on the Proof of Service form. Do not miss it. If you do, your spouse can ask the court to enter your default — meaning the case proceeds without you and the court decides based only on what your spouse asked for.
The form you need to file
File FL-120 — Response to Petition for Dissolution. This is your formal answer to what your spouse filed. You go through each item they requested and agree or disagree. You also state what you are asking the court to do. Filing FL-120 preserves your right to be heard. Not filing it waives that right.
Financial disclosure
Both parties in a California dissolution are required to exchange financial disclosures. You will need to complete FL-140 (Declaration of Disclosure), FL-142 (Schedule of Assets and Debts), and FL-150 (Income and Expense Declaration). These are served on your spouse — not filed with the court, except for proof of service.
What happens after you respond
After you file and serve your FL-120, both parties have entered their positions. The case moves toward either a negotiated settlement or a trial. If you and your spouse agree on everything, you can submit an uncontested judgment package. If you disagree, the court schedules hearings to resolve each issue.
Filing fee
Filing FL-120 costs $435 to $450 depending on your county. Fee waivers are available — file FW-001 if you cannot afford the fee.
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