Can You Get a Divorce in Los Angeles Without an Attorney?

Hi, I’m Tim Blankenship from Divorce661. One of the most common questions I hear is: Can I get divorced in Los Angeles without hiring an attorney? The short answer is yes—if your case is amicable and you and your spouse are in agreement, you can complete the entire divorce process without stepping into a lawyer’s office or a courtroom.

Do you need an attorney to file for divorce in California?

California law does not require you to hire an attorney to start or complete a divorce. The court system is designed to be accessible to the public, and many people successfully finish their divorces without legal representation—especially in uncontested cases where both parties agree on the major issues.

That said, not needing an attorney doesn’t mean the process is automatic. You still must follow the rules and file paperwork correctly. Mistakes can delay your case or lead to rejected documents.

What is an uncontested divorce?

An uncontested divorce (sometimes called an amicable divorce) means you and your spouse agree on the key matters: property division, spousal support (if any), and child custody/support (if applicable). When both parties sign a settlement agreement and the required forms are completed, the court can usually finalize the divorce without hearings.

Step-by-step: How to get divorced in Los Angeles without an attorney

Below is a straightforward roadmap for completing an uncontested divorce in Los Angeles County without hiring a lawyer.

1. Prepare the initial court forms

• Petition for Dissolution: The paperwork that starts the case.
• Summons and local forms required by Los Angeles Superior Court.
• Financial disclosure forms if you have community property or children (these are required even in many uncontested cases).

2. File the forms with the court

File your initial forms with the Los Angeles Superior Court. Many contested and uncontested cases can be e-filed, but you must follow local filing rules and include all required documents to avoid rejection.

3. Serve your spouse properly

After filing, the petition must be properly served on your spouse. Proper service is critical—improper service can void the process and cause delays. Service can be done by a third-party process server, sheriff, or by mail in certain situations, following California rules.

4. Exchange financial disclosures

California requires parties to exchange full financial disclosures (income, assets, debts). Even if you both agree, these disclosures help the court review your settlement and ensure fairness, especially where support or child-related issues are involved.

5. Draft and sign a final settlement agreement

When you both agree, prepare a written marital settlement agreement that details division of property, support arrangements, and custody/visitation if relevant. Both parties should sign the agreement, and it should be incorporated into the judgment package submitted to the court.

6. Submit a complete judgment package

Submit the signed settlement, Judgment, and any other required documents to the court. The court will review the package for completeness and compliance. If everything is in order, the judge can sign the final judgment.

7. Wait for finalization

California has a mandatory waiting period of six months from the date the respondent (your spouse) is served before the court can enter a final judgment. Even if both parties agree, the court cannot finalize the divorce before this statutory waiting period ends.

Common mistakes that delay or derail an uncontested divorce

• Incomplete or incorrectly filled forms—missing signatures, dates, or required attachments.
• Improper service—using the wrong method or failing to prove service to the court.
• Failing to exchange required financial disclosures.
• Submitting an incomplete judgment package or agreement that doesn’t follow court requirements.
• Assuming you can bypass the statutory waiting period.

When you might still want an attorney

If your case involves complex property division, high net worth assets, contested child custody, domestic violence, or significant disputes over support, an attorney is usually advisable. An uncontested, amicable case is where the no-attorney option works best.

How Divorce661 can help

At Divorce661 we offer a flat-fee, full-service divorce solution tailored for amicable couples in California who want to avoid attorney fees but still have their case handled correctly. Here’s what we handle for you:

• Preparation and filing of all court forms
• Handling proper service and proof of service
• Exchanging and organizing required financial disclosures
• Drafting a final settlement agreement
• E-filing with Los Angeles Superior Court so you never have to go to court

We recently helped a couple who had been quoted nearly $7,000 by an attorney for an uncontested divorce. They came to us instead and we handled their entire case start to finish for a flat fee—no court appearances, no surprises, and they saved thousands.

Conclusion and next steps

If your divorce is amicable and you want to avoid expensive attorney fees, you can absolutely get divorced in Los Angeles without a lawyer—provided you follow the process correctly. If you want help ensuring your paperwork is done right the first time, visit Divorce661.com to schedule a free consultation. We’ll walk you through the process and can handle everything remotely, quickly, and affordably.