You both agree. That's the hard part. From here, the work is just paperwork — and Lawma does it with you, with a licensed attorney supervising every step. One pre-negotiated flat fee covers the whole matter.
What an uncontested divorce is
An uncontested divorce is one where you and your spouse agree on what the court would otherwise have to decide for you: how to split what you own and owe, whether anyone pays spousal support, and — if there are kids — how to parent them. You write the agreement down. The court reviews it. A judge signs it. Done.
California has a faster path for couples who agree — less paperwork, fewer hearings, far less money. It's also the way most California divorces actually finish.
Who this is for
Most couples take the standard uncontested route. Some qualify for an even simpler one called summary dissolution.
You and your spouse agree on the big questions — property, debt, support, children if any. A judge enters the agreement you wrote.
California's streamlined option, designed for short marriages with very little to divide. Fewer forms. Fewer steps.
Note — summary dissolution has hard eligibility limits set in California Family Code §§ 2400–2403, including property and residency requirements. Your attorney will confirm whether you qualify before recommending it.
The process
How pricing works
Your lawyer charges a pre-negotiated flat fee for the whole matter — typically $200 to $3,500, depending on how complex your case is. That single fee covers your attorney's work AND everything Lawma does: the AI-guided interview, the drafting, your case management, and the community. You never write Lawma a check.
For comparison, a standard uncontested divorce handled traditionally by a California family law firm runs $4,100 to $6,000 in attorney fees alone. Same legal work, fraction of the cost.
If you qualify for legal aid, your fee is waived. Permanently.That's a Lawma commitment.
Traditional-attorney fee ranges are market estimates from industry surveys; specific quotes vary by attorney, jurisdiction, and matter complexity.
California still charges its own court filing fees (about $435 for the petition). If your income qualifies, you can ask the court to waive them — we help you file the waiver.
Questions people ask
What if my spouse changes their mind?
It happens. The agreement isn't final until the judge signs the judgment, so either of you can walk back to the table before then. If you can't get back to agreement, the case can shift to a contested path — your attorney stays with you either way. You're not locked in by starting here.
How fast is “fast”?
California's six-month waiting period is set by law and cannot be waived. Six months and a few weeks is the practical minimum. Most uncontested cases finish around there.
What if we mostly agree, but not on one thing?
That's normal — and very fixable. Your attorney can help you negotiate the open piece, sometimes with a mediator. The case stays uncontested as long as you reach agreement before final judgment.
Do we both need lawyers?
You each need someone advising you, and we make sure that happens. One attorney cannot represent both spouses — but Lawma can match each of you with your own lawyer, at no cost.
Do we have to go to court?
Often, no — a true uncontested case can finish entirely on paper. If a hearing is needed, we prepare you, and your attorney can speak for you.
Mediators, process servers, and other services that come up. Lawma earns a small fee when you use one — never by selling your data.
Process servers
Swift Serve
Same-day service on most family-court papers, with a certified Proof of Service handed back to your attorney.
Family mediators
Anchor Mediation
Trained family-law mediators help you reach an agreement before court, on custody, support, and property — far cheaper than fighting it out.
Real estate
Harbor Realty
Agents trained in divorce, downsizing, and tight-timeline sales. Honest valuations, no high-pressure listings, will work with your attorney.
Intake happens on Lawma — you never hand your details to a third-party form. Lawma earns a small referral fee when you connect with a partner; we only list services that meet our review bar, and we never run ads on your case file.
A short conversation gets you on it. No cost. No commitment.
