How to E-File Your Divorce Paperwork in California

E-filing opens your divorce case without a courthouse trip. Below is a clean, plain-English walkthrough based on the Odyssey eFileCA system many California family courts use—plus tips to avoid common rejections and what to do right after you click “Submit.”

Who this guide is for

• You’re filing for divorce (dissolution) in California, and your county accepts e-filing for family cases.
• Your case is just getting started (first filing to open a new case).
• You want practical, screen-by-screen guidance—no jargon.

If your court doesn’t accept e-filing for family cases, you’ll file by mail or in person. Some California courts currently not accepting e-filing include: Alpine, Amador, Del Norte, Humboldt, Inyo, Kern, Lake, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, and Tuolumne. Always confirm with your court before you start.

What you’ll need before you start

• Forms (PDF, legible, signed where required)
• Petition—Marriage (FL-100)
• Summons (FL-110)
• If you have kids: UCCJEA (FL-105)
• Any county-specific forms (your court’s website lists them, or you will get them when you use our Hello Divorce DIY software)
• Payment method set up in Odyssey (for filing fees/processing fees)
• Case details (your and your spouse’s full legal names, addresses you’re using, children’s info if applicable)
• Optional: Fee Waiver Request (FW-001) if you can’t afford filing fees
• File-ready PDFs: No passwords, clear scans, standard page size, and helpful filenames like FL-100_Petition.pdf.

Step-by-step in Odyssey eFileCA

1) Create or sign in to your Odyssey account

Register for an individual filer account if you don’t already have one, then sign in.

2) Add a payment account

Click the dollar-sign icon (or “Payment Accounts”) and set up your card/ACH. You’ll select it at checkout.

3) Start a New Case

Choose Family as the case category and Dissolution (divorce) as the case type. If you have minor children, select the option that reflects that.

4) Pick the right court location

Select the family court branch that matches your forms. If your county doesn’t allow e-filing for family law, stop here and plan to mail or file in person.

5) Enter party information

Add yourself as Petitioner (check “I am this party” if applicable). Add your spouse as Respondent. If you have minor children, add them when prompted.

6) Upload each filing separately

For each document, select the correct filing code/type and upload one PDF:

• Petition (FL-100)
• Summons (FL-110)
• UCCJEA (FL-105) if you have kids
• Local/County forms (as required)

Double-check names, case type, and filing descriptions match your documents.

7) Review, save, and proceed to fees

Confirm each upload is attached to this new case, then continue to fees. Select your payment account, review the estimated total, and submit.

8) Watch for two system emails

Submission confirmation: You filed successfully to the clerk.

Acceptance or rejection: After review (often 1–3 business days), your filing is either accepted (“conformed” copies available) or rejected with a reason.

If rejected: Fix the stated issue (wrong court location, missing signature, incorrect filing code, unreadable scan, missing UCCJEA, etc.) and resubmit.

What happens after you file (service)

E-filing opens your case. It does not serve your spouse.

You must serve the filed Summons and Petition outside the portal and then file your Proof of Service:

• Personal service: Any adult 18+ (not you) hand-delivers the papers. Use Proof of Service of Summons (FL-115).
• By mail with signed acknowledgment: Mail the papers and include Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt (FL-117); your spouse signs and returns it, then you file the acknowledgment.

Check your court’s rules for timing and permitted methods, and keep copies of everything you file and serve.

Fees and fee waivers

• You’ll pay the court filing fee plus small e-filing/convenience fees in Odyssey.
• If you cannot afford the fees, submit Request to Waive Court Fees (FW-001) with your initial filing; you’ll get a decision from the court.

Tips to avoid common rejections

• Names and details match across all documents (including middle names, suffixes, and addresses used on forms).
• Correct court and case type selected.
• Include UCCJEA (FL-105) if you have minor children (most rejections happen here).
• Readable, unlocked PDFs with required signatures (wet or e-signature where allowed).
• Right filing codes (don’t label a Petition as a “Proposed Order”).
• Local forms included if your county requires them.

After acceptance: what to expect

• Download conformed copies from Odyssey (stamped/accepted).
• Complete service and file your proof.
• Track your case in Odyssey and follow any clerk instructions that arrive by email.

Need support?

Hello Divorce can walk you through each step, help you complete/verify forms, file for you, and plan your service strategy—so you don’t lose time (or sleep) over fixable errors. We also offer on-demand legal and mediator support if questions come up.