What Most People Don't Know...
95% of divorces never go to trial. Most never even need a courtroom.
The image most people have of divorce — lawyers, judges, courtrooms — applies to a tiny fraction of cases. If you and your spouse can agree on the terms, you don't need a judge to hear your case. You just need a judge to sign off on your agreement.
And in California, that judge doesn't have to be the court's judge.
Under Article VI, Section 21 of the California Constitution, a qualified attorney can be appointed as a private judicial officer — with the exact same legal authority as a sitting superior court judge. The result is identical. The timeline is not.
.png)
A Private Judge Available Directly For You
Certified Family Law Specialist
One of the most demanding designations in California family law. Our Private Judge has held it for over a decade.
Designated CA Private Judge
Formally appointed under CA Constitution Article VI §21. Our Private Judge signature carries the same legal authority as a sitting superior court judge.
16+ Years in California Family Law
Litigator. Firm founder. Legal entrepreneur. She's seen every complexity this process can produce.
Founder, Hello Divorce
Built the country's leading online divorce platform because she believed the process could be better. This service is what that belief looks like at the finish line.
Why Californians choose a private judge.
Speed
Public court hearings are scheduled months out. With a private judge, your documents can be reviewed and signed within 24–48 hours of submission. California's courts have a 6+ month backlog. That's someone else's problem now.
Confidentiality
Public courtrooms mean public records. Financial disclosures, settlement terms, and custody details stay private when proceedings go through a private judicial officer. Only the final judgment enters the public record.
Expertise
Our Private Judge has spent their entire career in family law. She knows MSAs, complex asset division, support orders, and parentage judgments — and she catches drafting issues before they become court rejections.
Legal authority — identical to the court
A private judge's signature carries the same legal weight as a sitting superior court judge. The judgment is enforceable, appealable under the same standards, and admissible in all subsequent proceedings. This isn't a shortcut. It's the same destination, faster.
Not sure where you stand? Ask Hallie our DivorceGPT
Hallie is Hello Divorce's AI assistant, trained exclusively on Hello Divorce's knowledge base. She can walk you through whether your documents are ready, what forms you still need, and exactly what to expect from the private judge process — any time of day.
You don't have to figure this out alone.
Speak with our team to learn more about our Private Judge offering.
