Divorce in San Diego
Where your case is filed and who helps.

The court's divorce page explains each case type, from summary dissolution to dissolution, legal separation and nullity, and links to step-by-step filing instructions. Family Court Services lists offices at the Central, East County, South County and North County courthouses.

San Diego allows electronic filing in family law cases for both attorneys and self-represented litigants, through the Odyssey eFileCA system. The court's Electronic Filing Requirements (Family) document lists what cannot be e-filed, and the court links to an online Guide and File interview that can prepare divorce petitions and responses.

The Family Law Facilitator's Office is staffed by attorneys, paralegals and clerks who help self-represented people at no cost through walk-in help, workshops and remote assistance. It does not help parties who have an attorney of record, and its staff do not represent anyone.

Where custody or visitation is disputed, the case is set for child custody recommending counseling before the hearing (Family Code §3170). If parents agree, the agreement goes to the court; if not, the Family Court Counselor makes a recommendation to the court.

Counseling sessions with a Family Court Counselor are held in person or virtually and last about 1.5 to 2.5 hours. The FLF also offers a Dissolution of Marriage Workshop video and suggests reviewing the Judicial Council divorce self-help website before drafting forms.

Before filing, one spouse must have lived in California for six months and in the county for three months (Family Code §2320). The earliest a divorce can become final is six months after service or the respondent's appearance (Family Code §2339). Statewide Judicial Council forms apply in every county.