What Happens After Filing for Divorce in Contra Costa?
I’m Tim Blankenship with Divorce661. If you’ve just filed for divorce in Contra Costa County, congratulations on taking the first step — now let’s talk about what happens next and how to keep your case moving without unnecessary delays.
Overview: Filing Is Only the Beginning
Filing your petition and summons starts the process, but it doesn’t finalize anything. After filing, the court assigns a case number and returns your filed copies. From that point, there are several required steps you must complete before the court will approve a final judgment.
Step 1 — Service: Make Sure Your Spouse Is Properly Notified
Before anything else can proceed, your spouse must be served with the filed petition and summons. Service is a legal requirement — you can’t move forward until it’s done correctly.
- If your spouse cooperates: They can sign a Notice of Acknowledgement of Receipt, which is the easiest path.
- If they don’t cooperate: Someone over 18 who is not a party to the case must personally serve them. Many people hire a professional process server or the sheriff’s department to complete this step.
- Proof of service: Once service is completed, file the proof of service with the court so the case can progress.
Step 2 — Exchange Preliminary Financial Disclosures (Mandatory)
After service, both parties are legally required to exchange preliminary financial disclosures. This is not optional — the court requires these disclosures before it will approve any final judgment.
What to include in disclosures:
- Income information (pay stubs, recent earnings)
- Monthly expenses and budgets
- Assets (bank accounts, retirement, real estate, vehicles)
- Debts and liabilities (credit cards, loans, mortgages)
- Recent tax returns and account statements (helpful and often requested)
Failing to provide complete disclosures is a common reason cases stall. The court reviews these to make sure property division, support, and other issues are handled fairly.
Step 3 — If You Agree: Prepare and Submit Your Final Judgment
If you and your spouse reach agreement on all terms (property division, support, custody if applicable, etc.), the next step is to prepare your final judgment package. This typically includes:
- The signed settlement agreement (marital settlement agreement or judgment documents)
- All required supporting documents and disclosures
- Any local court forms required by Contra Costa County
In Contra Costa County these documents must be submitted either in person or via e-filing. The court will review your submission for completeness and accuracy before granting approval. If anything is missing or incorrect, the court will request corrections, which causes delays.
Common Roadblocks & How to Avoid Them
Some of the most common reasons a divorce stalls after filing:
- Service not completed or proof of service not filed
- Financial disclosures missing or incomplete
- Final judgment paperwork incomplete or lacking required signatures
- Failure to follow local filing or e-filing procedures
Simple proactive steps can prevent these delays: serve promptly, gather and exchange full financial documentation, and verify all forms and signatures before submission.
Real Client Example
We recently worked with a client in Contra Costa who had filed correctly but didn’t understand the financial disclosure and final judgment steps. Their case stalled for months because the court was waiting on required disclosures and settlement documents. We stepped in, completed the missing pieces, and got their divorce finalized quickly — no more months of uncertainty.
Documents Checklist (Helpful at a Glance)
- Filed Petition and Summons with case number
- Proof of service or Notice of Acknowledgement
- Income records (pay stubs, tax returns)
- Bank, investment, retirement statements
- Mortgage and loan statements
- Signed settlement agreement (if applicable)
- Any county-specific forms required for Contra Costa
How Divorce661 Can Help
At Divorce661 we guide you through every step after filing — from service to disclosures to final judgment. We handle the details so nothing gets missed, and we offer a flat-fee, mostly online process for amicable divorces in California. If you’ve already filed and feel stuck, we can take over the next steps and get your case back on track.
Next Steps
If you’ve filed for divorce in Contra Costa County and need help completing service, preparing financial disclosures, or submitting your final judgment, schedule a free consultation at Divorce661. We’ll review your situation, identify any missing pieces, and help finalize your divorce the right way — without the guesswork or unnecessary delay.
“We make sure nothing gets missed so your divorce moves forward efficiently and without frustration.” — Tim Blankenship, Divorce661
