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FILE TOGETHER. UNDERSTAND THE WHOLE ROUTE.
FileTogether™
FL-100 or FL-700?
A clearer picture before you begin.
One person starts a regular case. Both spouses start a joint case. Either way, the opening petition is only the beginning.
FileTogether™ is Fast Divorce’s name for its joint-petition document support within an accepted Super Fast Divorce® or Complete Divorce™ service. The court calls the starting route a joint petition . It is not a third priced package or a different court procedure.
01
Start
02
Disclose
03
Agree
04
Judgment
Use this guide to understand the differences, gather useful records, and ask better questions. It does not choose a legal route, forms, rights, or agreement terms for you.
Inside: Compare the routes · Fees and signatures · Financial disclosures Preparation checklist · Sources and human help
Fast Divorce, Inc. | fastdivorce.com | (818) 610-3392 | hello@fastdivorce.com. 20944 Sherman Way, Suite 101, Canoga Park, CA 91303. Los Angeles County LDA No. 2024240911; expires November 16, 2026. Not a law firm. No legal advice. You represent yourself. FD-FILETOGETHER-GUIDE-2026-09-09-U03. Presentation September 9, 2026. Sources checked September 5, 2026. © 2026 Fast Divorce, Inc.
Compare the starting routes
01 / THE BIG PICTURE
Two ways to start.
Different openings. The divorce still requires more than a petition. [1, 2, 4, 6, 9]
REGULAR CASE · FL-100
JOINT CASE · FL-700
Who starts and responds
FL-100: One spouse files the petition. The other receives the required opening papers and generally has 30 days after service to respond.
FL-700: Both spouses sign and file the joint starting papers. Both appear by filing; no separate response is required just to start.
Notice at the beginning
FL-100: The opening papers must be served as required. A later default request may be possible if no response is filed; it is not automatic.
FL-700: The joint filing supplies notice of the opening papers to both spouses. Later steps still have service requirements.
The minimum divorce date
FL-100: At least six months generally runs from service of the summons and petition or the respondent’s appearance, whichever is first.
FL-700: FL-700-INFO gives the earliest divorce date as six months and one day after the joint petition is filed.
What still follows
FL-100: Required disclosure, the appropriate agreement or other resolution, and judgment paperwork remain. A regular case can also finish by agreement.
FL-700: Required disclosure, a written agreement and judgment paperwork remain. Filing together does not mean the court has finished the divorce.
Do not add 30 days to six months as a rule. The response deadline and minimum divorce waiting period are different rules. Neither route promises a completion date. You need the court’s entered judgment and its marital-status termination date.
Fast Divorce, Inc. | fastdivorce.com | (818) 610-3392 | hello@fastdivorce.com. 20944 Sherman Way, Suite 101, Canoga Park, CA 91303. Los Angeles County LDA No. 2024240911; expires November 16, 2026. Not a law firm. No legal advice. You represent yourself. FD-FILETOGETHER-GUIDE-2026-09-09-U03. Presentation September 9, 2026. Sources checked September 5, 2026. © 2026 Fast Divorce, Inc.
Court fees and notarization
02 / COSTS AND SIGNATURES
Know the distinctions.
Court costs are separate from Fast Divorce service fees. A shared filing does not mean one spouse’s fee covers the other. [3, 5, 7]
FL-100: filing and responding
The petitioner pays the applicable first-paper fee unless waived. A response or other first appearance can trigger a separate fee for the other spouse. Under item 103 of the statewide fee schedule, a defaulted spouse’s agreement alone does not trigger that first-paper fee.
FL-700: both appearances
The 2026 statewide schedule lists a $870 joint-petition base fee covering both first appearances. Check applicable local additions and each spouse’s fee-waiver position. The court decides waivers. Court waivers do not waive Fast Divorce service fees.
A defaulted spouse’s signature
Section 2338.5 requires notarization of the defaulted spouse’s signature on a marital settlement agreement or stipulated judgment. That does not mean every agreement in every FL-100 case must be notarized.
Not an automatic no-notary promise
Both joint petitioners have appeared, so the default-specific rule does not apply merely because they use FL-700. Separate documents or applicable court requirements can still call for notarization. Check the exact documents.
Ask for a complete cost picture. Separate the service price, court fees, approved outside costs, and any work beyond the accepted scope. No comparison here promises that one legal route is cheaper or faster for your case.
Opening papers are not the finish line
FL-700 and FL-710 are the joint opening papers. FL-700-INFO separately describes the agreement and judgment package, including FL-130, FL-170, FL-180 and FL-190, disclosure compliance and required attachments. The exact documents depend on the case and current requirements. [1]
Fast Divorce, Inc. | fastdivorce.com | (818) 610-3392 | hello@fastdivorce.com. 20944 Sherman Way, Suite 101, Canoga Park, CA 91303. Los Angeles County LDA No. 2024240911; expires November 16, 2026. Not a law firm. No legal advice. You represent yourself. FD-FILETOGETHER-GUIDE-2026-09-09-U03. Presentation September 9, 2026. Sources checked September 5, 2026. © 2026 Fast Divorce, Inc.
Financial disclosures still matter
03 / THE STEP PEOPLE MISS
FL-141 is proof. Not the whole disclosure.
Filing FL-700 starts the joint case. It does not replace either spouse’s duty to disclose the financial picture. [1, 2]
Both spouses still exchange the required information
On the joint route, both spouses must exchange preliminary disclosures within 60 days after filing. FL-700-INFO instructs each spouse to also file their own Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150) and their own FL-141 proof of disclosure service with the court. Agreement or shared finances do not remove these duties. Preliminary and final disclosures are different.
FL-140: Declaration of Disclosure: part of the disclosure documents exchanged with the other spouse.
FL-150: Income and Expense Declaration: both spouses must complete and serve their own FL-150, and each must file their own FL-150 with the court.
FL-142 or FL-160: Assets and debts information, with the required supporting financial records. Follow the current instructions for the applicable documents.
FL-141: Declaration Regarding Service: each spouse files their own proof that the required disclosures were served. It is not a substitute for the disclosure documents or the required FL-150 filing.
FL-144: An eligible agreement to waive final disclosure is separate. It does not erase required preliminary disclosure.
Served and filed are not interchangeable. Some records are exchanged with your spouse rather than routinely filed. Follow current court instructions and protect sensitive information. A joint petition does not make the case private or sealed.
Fast Divorce, Inc. | fastdivorce.com | (818) 610-3392 | hello@fastdivorce.com. 20944 Sherman Way, Suite 101, Canoga Park, CA 91303. Los Angeles County LDA No. 2024240911; expires November 16, 2026. Not a law firm. No legal advice. You represent yourself. FD-FILETOGETHER-GUIDE-2026-09-09-U03. Presentation September 9, 2026. Sources checked September 5, 2026. © 2026 Fast Divorce, Inc.
Records and questions to prepare
04 / MAKE YOUR NEXT CONVERSATION USEFUL
Prepare for the next step.
Keep this checklist privately. Do not send records to us until the requested service is accepted and secure instructions are provided.
Any existing court papers and case number
Marriage and residence information
Income records and recent tax returns
Accounts, debts and supporting statements
Real estate, business and digital-asset records
Pension, retirement and investment records
Children’s schedules and support information
Your already-decided agreement terms
Questions that need an attorney’s advice
A private, safe way for each spouse to communicate
Questions worth asking before you hire a service
What work is included after the petition? What costs are separate? How many revision rounds are included? How will each spouse review and approve their own documents? What happens if the requested work changes or cooperation stops?
The court route and the service scope are different
Super Fast Divorce® covers a narrower range of straightforward, already-decided document work. Complete Divorce™ supports more detailed accepted uncontested work. Children or a home do not automatically exclude the court’s joint route, but the requested work still has to fit the accepted service scope.
Fast Divorce does not give legal advice, choose forms or legal options, negotiate terms, value property, provide tax advice, or represent you. Retirement-plan division orders such as QDROs are not included. Deed work is included only if expressly accepted in writing.
Already filed? Do not open a duplicate case because you found this guide. Get advice about any procedural change. If there is pressure, abuse, a protective order, or an urgent legal issue, seek independent legal or safety help; use a safe device.
Fast Divorce, Inc. | fastdivorce.com | (818) 610-3392 | hello@fastdivorce.com. 20944 Sherman Way, Suite 101, Canoga Park, CA 91303. Los Angeles County LDA No. 2024240911; expires November 16, 2026. Not a law firm. No legal advice. You represent yourself. FD-FILETOGETHER-GUIDE-2026-09-09-U03. Presentation September 9, 2026. Sources checked September 5, 2026. © 2026 Fast Divorce, Inc.
Official sources and next steps
05 / KNOW WHERE THE INFORMATION COMES FROM
Official guidance and help.
Forms, local requirements and fees can change. The source list below supports this September 5, 2026 edition; check the current instructions before filing.
1. California Courts: FL-700-INFO
Joint-petition steps, disclosure and judgment instructions.
2. California Courts: Joint-petition disclosures
What to prepare, exchange and file.
3. 2026 statewide civil fee schedule
Joint filing fee and current statewide fee categories.
4. California Family Code section 2331
Opening service and joint-petitioner appearances.
5. California Family Code section 2338.5
Notarization of the defaulted spouse’s agreement signature.
6. California Family Code section 2339
Minimum divorce waiting period.
7. California Family Code section 2342.5
Joint process, appearances and revocation.
8. California Courts: Joint-petition overview
Read the official overview and linked forms.
9. California Courts: Response options
The usual 30-day response deadline and default options.
You make the decisions. We help with the accepted document work. Visit fastdivorce.com or call , text or email our team to ask how our services work. Applying or paying does not file a case or guarantee acceptance.
I am not an attorney. I can only provide self help services at your specific direction.
Official source 1: California Courts: FL-700-INFO. https://courts.ca.gov/documents/fl700info.pdf
Official source 2: California Courts: Joint-petition disclosures. https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/divorce/joint-petition/financial-disclosures
Official source 3: 2026 statewide civil fee schedule. https://courts.ca.gov/system/files/file/statewide-civil-fee-schedule-eff-01012026.pdf
Official source 4: California Family Code section 2331. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAM§ionNum=2331.
Official source 5: California Family Code section 2338.5. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAM§ionNum=2338.5.
Official source 6: California Family Code section 2339. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAM§ionNum=2339.
Official source 7: California Family Code section 2342.5. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAM§ionNum=2342.5.
Official source 8: California Courts: Joint-petition overview. https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/divorce/joint-petition
Official source 9: California Courts: Response options. https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/divorce/respond-options
Fast Divorce, Inc. | fastdivorce.com | (818) 610-3392 | hello@fastdivorce.com. 20944 Sherman Way, Suite 101, Canoga Park, CA 91303. Los Angeles County LDA No. 2024240911; expires November 16, 2026. Not a law firm. No legal advice. You represent yourself. FD-FILETOGETHER-GUIDE-2026-09-09-U03. Presentation September 9, 2026. Sources checked September 5, 2026. © 2026 Fast Divorce, Inc.