How to Speed Up Your Divorce Process in Los Angeles County
Hi, I’m Tim Blankenship from Divorce661. If you’re going through a divorce in Los Angeles County and want it done fast, clean, and with as little stress as possible, this guide is for you. In this article I’ll walk you through practical steps you can take right now to move your case forward quickly, avoid common delays, and have everything finalized as soon as California law allows.
Quick outline
- Understand California’s six-month waiting period
- File and serve immediately to start the clock
- Complete financial disclosures early
- Draft and sign a Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA)
- Prepare and submit a correct judgment package for court review
- How Divorce661 helps fast-track your case
Understanding California’s six-month waiting period
First things first: California has a mandatory six-month waiting period before a divorce can be final. That waiting period begins on the date your spouse is served with the petition or the date they file a response. You cannot shorten this statutory clock.
What you can control is everything else. The goal is to have all paperwork, disclosures, and agreements completed well before that six-month date so the only thing left is time itself.
File and serve immediately
“One of the best ways to keep things moving is to file and serve immediately.”
Don’t wait. As soon as the petition is filed and a case number is issued, serve your spouse right away so the six-month clock starts. In amicable cases, we often have the response filed the same day we file the petition—skipping service and starting the countdown immediately.
- File the petition and related opening documents the same day you decide to move forward.
- Serve the respondent promptly (or arrange an agreed response if the case is amicable).
- Confirm the date the clock starts so you can plan other tasks around it.
Complete financial disclosures as soon as possible
Financial disclosures are mandatory in California divorces and are one of the top reasons cases stall. Both spouses must exchange complete disclosures before a judgment can be submitted.
Common disclosure documents include:
- Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure (or later, a final exchange)
- Schedule of Assets and Debts
- Income and Expense Declaration
- Supporting documents (pay stubs, tax returns, account statements)
Completing these early removes a major bottleneck. At Divorce661, we help clients gather and prepare these disclosures quickly so they don’t hold up the rest of the case.
Draft and sign your Marital Settlement Agreement
The Marital Settlement Agreement (MSA) is the document that spells out how property, debt, support, and other issues are resolved. The sooner you and your spouse reach agreement and sign the MSA, the sooner we can prepare the judgment package for the court.
- Be clear and comprehensive—cover property, debt allocation, spousal/child support if applicable, and implementation details.
- If you can agree on terms early, you avoid hearings and contested motion delays.
- Signatures from both parties allow us to submit a settlement-based judgment to the court for approval.
Prepare and submit a correct judgment package
If the judgment package is prepared correctly, Los Angeles County can approve it within just a few weeks. Accuracy matters—incorrect forms, missing signatures, or incomplete disclosures will create delays.
Key tips for a fast court review:
- Double-check that all required forms accompany the judgment package.
- Include proof of completed disclosures and all signed settlement documents.
- File electronically (e-filing) when possible to speed processing.
Real client example
We recently helped a couple file their entire divorce, complete disclosures, sign their agreement, and get their judgment approved—all within six weeks. Now they’re simply waiting out the mandatory six-month clock with everything else already done. Their divorce is essentially finished, they just need the statutory time to pass.
How Divorce661 helps you fast-track your case
At Divorce661 we specialize in fast, flat-fee divorce services designed to keep your case moving. Here’s what we do to speed things up:
- 100% remote filing and court communication
- Flat-fee pricing with no hidden costs
- E-file all documents and handle court correspondence
- Prepare disclosures, MSAs, and judgment packages correctly the first time
- Eliminate common mistakes that cause costly delays
Action checklist: Fast-track your Los Angeles County divorce
- Decide to move forward and file the petition immediately.
- Serve your spouse or arrange an agreed response to start the six-month clock.
- Complete and exchange financial disclosures right away.
- Negotiate and sign a Marital Settlement Agreement.
- Prepare a complete, correct judgment package and submit it for court review.
- Confirm approval and wait out the six-month statutory period.
Conclusion and next steps
If you want to speed up your divorce in Los Angeles County, focus on what you can control: file and serve quickly, finish disclosures early, and get your settlement agreement signed. With the paperwork handled correctly, the court can approve your judgment in a matter of weeks—then it’s only the six-month statutory waiting period left.
If you’d like help moving your case forward, visit divorce661.com to schedule a free consultation. We’ll guide you through filing, disclosures, and preparing a judgment package so you can move on with your life sooner, not later.
