How long after I file my case can my divorce be finalized?

The soonest a divorce can be finished in California is 6 months. You will need to wait to finalize your divorce from 6 months after you have filed and served the Petition for Dissolution (Divorce) on your husband.

However, the most important document to have you and your husband sign is a marital settlement agreement. That agreement will detail how the distribution of assets will take place. And, that agreement can be finalized at anytime during the divorce process, even before the divorce Petition has been signed!

Then, you are essentially divorced once your settlement agreement is signed except you cannot re-marry until after the judge has signed the divorce judgment, which cannot take place until 6 months after you have filed and served the Petition for Dissolution.