How to Get a Fast Divorce in Riverside County
I’m Tim Blankenship with Divorce661. If you’re filing for divorce in Riverside County and want it done as quickly as possible, the good news is: it can be. California requires a six-month waiting period before a divorce is legally finalized, but that doesn’t mean the paperwork and court approvals need to drag out. Here’s a practical, step-by-step guide to moving your Riverside divorce through the system as fast as legally allowed.
How California’s 6‑Month Waiting Period Works
One thing to understand up front: California law mandates a minimum six-month waiting period before a divorce can be finalized. That waiting period begins not when you file, but when your spouse is formally served or when your spouse files a response.
The six-month clock starts the day your spouse is served or files a response.
Because of that rule, the goal is to complete everything else before that six-month mark expires. If your documents are prepared and approved early, you simply wait out the clock and receive the final judgment as soon as the date arrives.
Step-by-Step: How to Speed Up Your Divorce in Riverside County
Here’s the process I use with clients who want to move fast and minimize delays.
- File the petition and serve your spouse immediately.Start the process as soon as you’re ready. Timely service triggers the six‑month clock, so do it quickly and correctly to avoid unnecessary setbacks.
- Exchange financial disclosures without delay.Financial disclosures (income, assets, debts, expenses) are a required step. Don’t wait—exchanging these early keeps issues from stalling settlement and court approval.
- Negotiate and draft a Marital Settlement Agreement if you’re in agreement.If both parties agree on division of assets, support, and other issues, we draft a clear Marital Settlement Agreement. That agreement forms the basis of your judgment package.
- Prepare and submit the judgment package immediately.In Riverside County we eFile everything. A complete, accurate judgment packet submitted via eFiling gets reviewed by the court much faster than incomplete or manually filed paperwork.
- Make accuracy a priority.Court clerks approve well‑prepared packets quickly. Mistakes, missing signatures, or inconsistent numbers are common causes of delays—so double‑check everything before filing.
Real Client Example: Done in Under 30 Days (But Still Waited the 6 Months)
We recently helped a Riverside couple who wanted to finalize everything fast. We filed the petition, served the spouse, exchanged disclosures, and submitted the judgment package—all in under 30 days. The court approved their paperwork early. Their only remaining step was the mandatory six‑month waiting period before the judgment could be entered.
This is exactly how to get the process moving quickly: do the work up front so the court can review and approve long before the waiting period ends.
Why eFiling and County Practices Matter
Riverside County’s eFile system speeds up intake and review. Electronic filing reduces errors from physical paperwork, gets documents to the right desk sooner, and often results in approvals within a few weeks when the packet is complete and accurate.
Because county practices differ, leaning on a team familiar with Riverside’s procedures helps avoid pitfalls and unnecessary rounds of corrections that add weeks or months to your case.
Tips to Avoid Common Delays
- Provide complete and accurate financial disclosures (don’t omit accounts or debts).
- Use clear, agreed-upon language in your Marital Settlement Agreement to avoid ambiguity.
- Confirm signatures, dates, and notarizations are all present before submitting paperwork.
- Keep communication open and cooperative—amicable cases settle and finalize faster.
How Divorce661 Helps You Move Fast
At Divorce661 we specialize in fast, flat‑fee divorce services for amicable couples in California. Here’s what we handle for you:
- Full document preparation from start to finish
- Flat‑fee pricing with no surprise bills
- No required court appearances for uncontested matters
- Fast, accurate eFiling in Riverside County
We focus on thorough, accurate paperwork so the court can approve your judgment packet as quickly as the law allows.
Conclusion — Move Quickly, But Respect the Process
You can complete the substantive work in your divorce long before the six‑month waiting period ends. File and serve promptly, exchange disclosures immediately, negotiate a clear Marital Settlement Agreement, and eFile a complete judgment packet. Do those things well and Riverside County will often approve your case within weeks—then you simply wait for the mandatory six‑month date to pass.
If you want to move fast and avoid avoidable delays, schedule a free consultation with me at Divorce661. Visit https://www.divorce661.com to get started and find out how quickly we can finalize your Riverside divorce.
