Confidential Divorce™ in California

How the judgment and separate agreement fit together

The court judgment and related papers

The judgment records the court’s orders. The papers submitted to the court must include the information and attachments required for your case. A separate agreement does not allow required terms to be left out of the court papers.

We cannot promise a shorter judgment, a particular filing structure or fewer financial details in the public record. Court records are generally public unless the law makes them confidential or a court orders them sealed.

The separate settlement agreement

Our contract calls this document a Separate Settlement and Confidentiality Agreement, or SSCA. It records terms that you and your spouse direct us to prepare. Both spouses must sign it.

Whether a separate agreement can remain outside the court file depends on the documents, the issues in the case, applicable law and court requirements. An agreement is not automatically exempt from filing because it is labeled private or confidential. The court may require the agreement or its terms to be filed, and the agreement may need to be disclosed later.

A licensed California attorney can explain the effect of proposed terms, filing requirements and enforcement. Fast Divorce® does not decide those legal questions for you.

Court requirements still apply

Depending on your case, the judgment papers may need to address marital status and the effective date, custody and visitation, child or spousal support, property orders, a requested name restoration and other required findings or orders.

This is a general description, not a rule about where each term belongs. A public judgment can contain meaningful personal and financial information. Choosing the upgrade does not change what the court requires.

Details you may need to provide

Your written directions and supporting information may address:

• Bank accounts, investments, retirement interests, debts and payment arrangements.
• Real estate, mortgage and transfer details, vehicles, business interests and personal property.
• Property values, equalizing payments, buyouts and payment schedules.
• Tax arrangements, support terms or confidentiality clauses you have chosen with any legal advice you need.

These are examples of information that may arise in a matter. They are not a list of terms that can be kept out of court records or a promise that every related service is included. Retirement-plan orders, title transfers and other additional work follow their own requirements and your signed service scope. Ask a licensed attorney about legal choices before directing us.

A separate agreement may need to be disclosed

An agreement may need to be provided in an enforcement dispute, a later court proceeding, a property sale or refinancing, a tax inquiry, or an estate or probate matter. An attorney, accountant or other professional assisting you may also need to review it.

These examples do not mean the agreement starts out exempt from filing. Ask a licensed attorney about the filing and disclosure requirements for your documents and circumstances.

What to know about public divorce records

Public access does not necessarily mean every document can be downloaded online. Court records made confidential by law and records sealed by court order are subject to different access rules.

Some protections apply in ordinary cases, with or without this upgrade. Court rules generally require protection of Social Security and financial account numbers in public filings. Preliminary financial disclosures are ordinarily exchanged between spouses rather than filed. Other financial documents may have to be filed, and a court can order disclosure documents filed.

Confidential Divorce™ does not replace these ordinary requirements or create confidentiality for your case or financial information.

Is this available for your matter

The upgrade is available only with Complete Divorce™ and is optional. It is never preselected. It is not offered with Super Fast Divorce®.

A separate agreement requires both spouses’ participation and signatures. If your spouse is not participating or the terms are disputed, that can prevent this work from going forward.

Before accepting the upgrade, we review your application, participation, preliminary facts and the requested work to confirm that we can provide it within our document-preparation role. This administrative review is not legal advice about whether the arrangement is right for you.

Your disclosure duties do not change

You must provide complete and accurate financial information and comply with any disclosure duties that apply to your case. The upgrade does not waive those duties or permit withholding information from your spouse or the court.

Ask a licensed California attorney about disclosure requirements, any applicable exception or waiver, and the consequences of incomplete or inaccurate disclosures. Fast Divorce® cannot decide whether a legal exception or waiver applies to you.

What we do and what we do not do

We prepare and organize documents from your specific written directions, deliver drafts through your Client Portal and coordinate filing and service within your Complete Divorce™ contract and applicable requirements.

We do not choose terms, negotiate between spouses, recommend a legal strategy or advise whether an agreement is fair, enforceable or in your best interest. We cannot promise court acceptance or a private, confidential or sealed divorce result.

How the process works

1. Choose Complete Divorce™ and request the upgrade.

   Use the Complete Divorce™ application to request review. Contact our team if you want information about the optional Confidential Divorce™ upgrade. The initial application does not collect payment or confirm acceptance. We review the requested work and explain any separate upgrade selection, required records and payment instructions before you decide whether to proceed.

2. We review the request.

   We confirm the requested work is within our service scope. We may ask for missing information, accept the upgrade or decline it and refund the upgrade fee.

3. Review the rider and client guide.

   If accepted, you receive the Handling Acknowledgment and Election rider and companion guide through the Client Portal. Read both and sign the rider before SSCA preparation begins.

4. Give us your written directions.

   After the signed rider is returned, complete the directions task provided through your Portal. You supply the decisions and terms. Get legal advice first if you are unsure about a legal choice.

5. Review and approve the drafts.

   We prepare the agreement and related judgment paperwork within the accepted scope and post drafts to the Portal. Submit requested changes together under the revision terms of your Complete Divorce™ agreement.

6. Sign the final documents.

   Both spouses sign the SSCA. Required court papers are prepared for submission with the rest of your divorce paperwork. All submissions remain subject to court requirements and acceptance.

Common questions

When to talk to a lawyer

Speak with a licensed California attorney before giving us directions if you need help choosing terms, understanding your rights, deciding whether support can be changed later, or evaluating an agreement’s fairness or enforceability.

Legal advice is especially relevant when you have questions about businesses, trusts, retirement interests, stock options, property in other jurisdictions, tax consequences, or a spouse who has legal representation. You can ask an attorney whether a limited consultation or document review is available.