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Divorce in Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County divorce follows California's statewide process, but with its own courthouse assignments, mandatory local forms, and custody mediation rules. As of January 1, 2026, SB 1427 allows qualifying couples to file a single Joint Petition (Form FL-700) for one shared $435 filing fee — eliminating the need to serve your spouse entirely.
Quick answer
Divorce in Los Angeles County follows California's no-fault process: file at the Superior Court courthouse assigned to your zip code, exchange financial disclosures, and wait the mandatory six-month period. If you and your spouse agree on all terms, SB 1427's 2026 Joint Petition (Form FL-700) lets you file together for a single $435 fee with no formal service required. Custody disputes trigger mandatory free mediation through Family Court Services.
Los Angeles Superior Court — where to file
Unlike some large counties that give you a choice, Los Angeles assigns your courthouse by zip code. Your zip code as the filing spouse determines which district handles your case. Use the LA Superior Court Filing Locator to confirm your courthouse before you prepare any paperwork.
| Courthouse | Address | Area served |
|---|---|---|
| Stanley Mosk (Central) | 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles 90012 | Central Los Angeles |
| Santa Monica | 1725 Main St., Santa Monica 90401 | Westside zip codes |
| Pasadena | 300 E. Walnut St., Pasadena 91101 | San Gabriel Valley |
| Norwalk | 12720 Norwalk Blvd., Norwalk 90650 | Southeast L.A. County |
| Pomona | 400 Civic Center Plaza, Pomona 91766 | East San Gabriel Valley |
| Lancaster | 42011 4th St. W., Lancaster 93534 | Antelope Valley |
E-filing is available through the court's portal at lacourt.org/efiling for most family law filings, including the new Joint Petition under SB 1427. If you're unsure which courthouse to use, the Family Law Call Center at Stanley Mosk can assist: (213) 633-6363.
The 2026 joint petition: how SB 1427 changes things
Before 2026, even the most amicable divorces in California required one spouse to formally serve the other with legal papers — a process that cost money, added a layer of formality, and could feel adversarial at the start of an otherwise cooperative process.
What SB 1427 means for Los Angeles County couples
Effective January 1, 2026, couples who agree on all terms — property, support, and if applicable, custody and parenting — can file a Joint Petition for Dissolution using Form FL-700. One filing fee of $435 is shared between both spouses. Formal service on your spouse is eliminated entirely.
This is available to all California couples regardless of marriage length, asset complexity, or whether children are involved — as long as both parties can sign off on a complete written agreement. Hello Divorce's Los Angeles filing guide walks through the joint petition step by step.
If full agreement isn't possible right now, the traditional separate petition process is still available. One spouse files the FL-100 Petition, the other receives formal service and has 30 days to respond with a FL-120. Hello Divorce handles both paths.
Local rules unique to Los Angeles County
California's divorce law is uniform statewide, but Los Angeles County has three procedural rules that catch people off guard when they try to file on their own.
The FAM-020 cover sheet
Every new family law filing in L.A. County requires Form FAM-020 (Family Law Case Cover Sheet and Certificate of Grounds for Assignment to District). This is a county-specific local form — not a Judicial Council form — and it's required alongside the FL-100 or FL-700. It routes your case to the correct district courthouse based on your zip code. Forget it, and your filing will be returned.
Mandatory custody mediation through Family Court Services
If your divorce involves a custody or visitation dispute that can't be resolved between you and your spouse, mediation through the court's Family Court Services is required before a judge will hear the issue. This service is free and available at five courthouse locations across the county. Before attending, both parents must complete the "Our Children First" online orientation at lacourt.org. Plan ahead: scheduling lead times can stretch several weeks at busy courthouses. For more on how California courts evaluate parenting arrangements, see Hello Divorce's guide to child custody in California.
Fee waivers
If the $435 filing fee creates a hardship, file Form FW-001 (Request to Waive Court Fees) at the same time as your petition. The court considers your income, monthly expenses, and whether you receive any public assistance. Approval eliminates the initial filing fee and can waive other court costs that arise during the case.
What makes Los Angeles County different
Los Angeles County handles more divorce filings than almost any jurisdiction in the country. Volume means courthouses can be busy, and procedural errors — filing at the wrong location, omitting the FAM-020, or missing a disclosure deadline — create delays that are frustrating and preventable.
High home values are also a defining feature of divorce here. A significant share of Los Angeles divorces involve real estate purchased partly before marriage, which can trigger the Moore-Marsden calculation — a legal doctrine that determines how much of a home's equity belongs to the community versus the spouse who owned it before the marriage. Getting that characterization right before you negotiate matters. Hello Divorce's guide to property division in California covers the Moore-Marsden calculation in detail.
Property note
If either spouse owned a home before marriage and the two of you made mortgage payments during the marriage, the community may have a pro-rata ownership interest in the property's appreciation — even if title was never changed. This is the Moore-Marsden doctrine, and it's especially relevant in high-appreciation L.A. markets. Don't negotiate your home's equity division without understanding it first.
For a full breakdown of what divorce costs in Los Angeles County — including filing fees, mediation, attorney rates, and how Hello Divorce compares — see the Los Angeles County divorce cost guide.
Where to go next
Each guide below goes deeper on a specific part of your Los Angeles County divorce. Start with whichever topic is most pressing for your situation.
| Los Angeles County divorce cost Filing fees, attorney rates, mediation costs, and what the 2026 joint petition saves you. | How to file for divorce in Los Angeles County Step-by-step guide through residency, forms, filing, and final judgment — including the SB 1427 joint petition. | |
| Child custody in California Legal vs. physical custody, the best interests standard, and how L.A. Family Court Services mediation works. | Property division in California Community vs. separate property, the Moore-Marsden calculation, and dividing retirement accounts. |
If you're weighing whether to handle your divorce online or hire a traditional attorney, Hello Divorce's comparison of online divorce vs. hiring a lawyer lays out the full cost, timeline, and fit differences honestly.
Ready to move forward with your Los Angeles County divorce?
Hello Divorce handles the paperwork, court filings, and process guidance for the county's busiest jurisdiction. Start online or talk to a coordinator first — either way, there's no pressure and no billing clock.
Schedule your free 15-minute callLos Angeles County court resources
Official links to Los Angeles Superior Court family law pages, filing tools, and mediation services. All links go directly to court or government sources.
- Los Angeles Superior Court — Family Law Division
- LA Superior Court Filing Locator — find your courthouse by zip code
- Family Court Services — Custody Mediation Appointment Request
- LA Superior Court E-Filing Portal
- Judicial Council Form FW-001 — Request to Waive Court Fees
- California Courts Self-Help: Divorce (statewide)
References & further reading
Sources cited in this article and recommended for further reading.
- 1. Superior Court of Los Angeles County. "Family Law Division." — Official portal for L.A. County family law procedures, local forms, courthouse locations, and FAM-020 filing requirements. Superior Court of Los Angeles County, 2026. Accessed March 2026.
- 2. Superior Court of Los Angeles County. "Family Court Services — Mediation Appointment Request." — Describes the mandatory mediation requirement for custody and visitation disputes, the online family resolution alternative, and the "Our Children First" orientation prerequisite. Superior Court of Los Angeles County, 2026. Accessed March 2026.
- 3. Khan, Athar A. "How to Initiate a Divorce in Los Angeles County." — Practitioner overview of L.A. County-specific filing requirements, including the FAM-020 cover sheet, e-filing options, and service of process rules. AK Law, February 2026. Accessed March 2026.
- 4. Hello Divorce. "How much does divorce cost in Los Angeles County?" — Detailed cost breakdown including 2026 filing fees, attorney hourly rates, mediation costs, and how the SB 1427 joint petition reduces total expense. hellodivorce.com. Accessed March 2026.
- 5. Hello Divorce. "How to file for divorce in Los Angeles County." — Step-by-step filing guide covering residency requirements, Form FAM-020, the traditional FL-100 petition, and the 2026 SB 1427 joint petition process. hellodivorce.com. Accessed March 2026.