What Happens If Your Spouse Doesn’t Respond to Divorce Papers in LA?

I’m Tim Blankenship with Divorce661. If you’ve filed for divorce in Los Angeles County and your spouse ignores the paperwork, you don’t have to wait forever — the case can still move forward. In this article I’ll walk you through the timeline, the forms, what the court expects, and how to complete a divorce by default so you can finalize things even when the other party won’t participate.

Quick overview

• Your spouse has 30 calendar days to file a response after being properly served.
• If they don’t respond, you can ask the court to enter a default against them.
• To proceed by default you must file Form FL-165 (Request to Enter Default) and submit a complete default judgment package, including financial disclosures and the terms you want the court to approve.
• There is typically no hearing required — the court reviews your paperwork and can approve the judgment if it complies with California law.

How the timeline works

Once you file your divorce and properly serve your spouse with the filed documents, the 30-day response window begins. That’s 30 calendar days — not business days. If your spouse files a response within that period, the case becomes contested and proceeds accordingly. If they do nothing, you can proceed by default.

What is a default divorce?

A default divorce is a way to finalize a dissolution of marriage when one spouse fails to respond. It allows the filing spouse to ask the court to enter a judgment based on the paperwork and terms they submit. The absent spouse does not need to participate for the court to grant the divorce, but the proposed terms must be legally proper and reasonable.

How to enter default (Form FL-165)

To start the default process you must file Request to Enter Default (Form FL-165) with the court. This form notifies the court that the other party failed to respond within the 30-day window and that you are asking the court to proceed without them.

Basic steps to enter default

1. Confirm proper service was completed and the 30-day period has passed.
2. Complete and file Form FL-165 (Request to Enter Default).
3. Prepare and file your financial disclosures and other required documents.
4. Assemble and file the default judgment package containing the terms you want the court to adopt.
5. Wait for the court to review and approve the judgment.

What paperwork you must file for a default judgment

A default judgment package should include everything the court needs to enter final orders. Typical items include:

• Request to Enter Default (FL-165)
• Judgment (with the proposed terms for property division, spousal support, child support, custody/parenting time if children are involved)
• Marital Settlement Agreement or proposed orders explaining how assets and debts are divided
• Financial disclosures — Income and Expense Declaration, and any required supporting documents
• Other local forms required by the Los Angeles Superior Court

What the court will look for

The court’s job is to ensure that the proposed judgment complies with California law. Even if the other spouse doesn’t participate, the judge will not approve terms that are unfair or unsupported by the paperwork. Reasonableness and legal compliance are crucial.

Examples of issues the court may scrutinize:

• Whether property and debts are divided fairly and clearly assigned
• Whether child support is calculated correctly and in children’s best interests
• Whether custody/parenting time orders are appropriate and clear
• Whether spousal support requests have supporting financial information

Real client example

One of our clients was stuck because her spouse ignored every notice, assuming silence would delay the divorce. We filed the request to enter default, prepared the judgment documents, and submitted everything to the court. Within weeks the case was approved, and the client was divorced without ever needing the spouse’s signature.

Why working with experienced help matters

Default divorces simplify the process in one sense — you can proceed without the other party — but they require careful paperwork and legal know-how. Incorrect forms or unsupported requests can delay approval or result in denied provisions. At Divorce661 we specialize in default and uncontested divorces in Los Angeles County and handle everything from service to the final filing so your case moves smoothly.

Next steps and resources

If your spouse hasn’t responded and you want to move forward, here are practical next steps:

1. Confirm proper service and that 30 calendar days have passed.
2. Gather financial documents and complete required disclosures.
3. Prepare Form FL-165 and a complete default judgment packet.
4. Consider consulting a qualified service like Divorce661 to review and file the paperwork correctly.

To schedule a free consultation visit: divorce661.com

Conclusion

Ignoring divorce papers doesn’t stop the process. In Los Angeles County you can proceed by default after the 30-day response period by filing Form FL-165 and submitting a complete default judgment package. The court will review your submissions and can finalize the divorce without the other spouse’s participation — provided your requests are reasonable and comply with California law.

If you need help preparing the paperwork or want a clear plan to finish your divorce quickly and legally, reach out at divorce661.com. We handle default and uncontested cases in Los Angeles so you can move forward without unnecessary stress.