Last updated October 2026
Quick answer: In San Francisco, submit a Petition (FL-100), Summons (FL-110), and, with minor children, a UCCJEA Declaration (FL-105) to the Unified Family Court clerk at 400 McAllister Street. The first paper fee is $435, but San Francisco has charged a surcharge at times; confirm with the clerk. A divorce cannot be final sooner than six months after service.
San Francisco County Divorce: Key Facts
| Court | Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco (Unified Family Court) |
|---|---|
| Family law courthouse(s) | Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, Room 402, San Francisco, CA 94102 (family law clerk (415) 551-3900) |
| Filing fee (first paper) | $435; San Francisco has charged a local surcharge at times, so confirm with the clerk at (415) 551-3900 |
| Response fee | $435; San Francisco has charged a local surcharge at times, so confirm with the clerk |
| Joint petition fee | $870 in most counties (one fee covers both spouses); confirm the San Francisco amount with the clerk |
| Residency requirement | One spouse: 6 months in California and 3 months in San Francisco |
| Earliest date divorce can be final | 6 months after service or appearance (6 months after filing for a joint petition) |
| Response deadline | 30 days after service |
| E-filing (attorneys / self represented) | Mandatory in dissolution cases since January 4, 2021 / Optional |
| Custody mediation model | Free, confidential Family Court Services mediation; the mediator does not tell the judge what the parenting plan should be |
| Self Help Center / Family Law Facilitator | ACCESS Self-Help Center, 5th floor, and Family Law Facilitator, Room 509, Civic Center Courthouse |
San Francisco is both a city and a county, and its family law cases are all handled by the Unified Family Court at the Civic Center Courthouse. For the statewide picture, see our guide to the steps in a California divorce.
Early decisions matter. Our California divorce lawyers for men can help you plan ahead.
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Who Can File for Divorce in San Francisco County?
Before filing for divorce in San Francisco, you or your spouse must have lived in California for six months and in San Francisco for three months (Family Code section 2320).
New to the city? You can file for legal separation now, since it has no residency minimum, and amend to divorce later. See legal separation vs. divorce.
California is a no fault divorce state. The petition rests on irreconcilable differences or permanent legal incapacity to make decisions (Family Code section 2310).
Where Do I File for Divorce in San Francisco County?
San Francisco’s Unified Family Court is located at the Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA 94102. The family law clerk’s office is in Room 402, can be reached at (415) 551-3900, and is open weekdays, with a midday break, except on court holidays.
Electronic filing. Since January 4, 2021, attorneys must e-file in San Francisco dissolution cases. E-filing is not mandatory for self-represented parties, who may file on paper at the clerk’s office or e-file if they choose.
ACCESS Center and Family Law Facilitator. The court’s ACCESS Self-Help Center, on the fifth floor of the Civic Center Courthouse, helps self-represented parties with divorce, legal separation, custody, and support. It offers a phone helpline and online chat on set days. The Family Law Facilitator’s office is in Room 509 of the same building. Staff assist both spouses and do not give legal advice.
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How Do I File for Divorce in San Francisco County? Step by Step
Prepare the Required Forms
You will need the Petition (FL-100) and Summons (FL-110). Fathers with children under 18 must also complete the Declaration Under UCCJEA (FL-105). If you qualify, add a Request to Waive Court Fees (FW-001). Read about California community property before you list assets.
File Your Papers and Pay the Filing Fee
File in Room 402, by e-filing, or through your attorney, and pay the first paper fee or submit a fee waiver request. The clerk issues a case number and returns endorsed copies.
Serve Your Spouse
Someone 18 or older who is not part of the case must personally deliver the filed papers and a blank Response (FL-120) to your spouse. That can be a process server, the sheriff, or a friend. You cannot do it yourself. The server then signs a Proof of Service of Summons (FL-115) for filing. Read the state’s guide on serving divorce papers.
From the moment of service, automatic temporary restraining orders on the Summons apply to both spouses. Neither spouse may take minor children out of California without the other parent’s prior written consent or a court order. Neither may hide or transfer any property, community or separate, except in the usual course of business or for the necessities of life. Neither may change insurance beneficiaries.
Wait for a Response
Your spouse has 30 days from service to file a Response (FL-120). With no Response, you may request a default with form FL-165.
Exchange Financial Disclosures
Within 60 days of filing, the petitioner must serve a preliminary Declaration of Disclosure (FL-140), a Schedule of Assets and Debts (FL-142) or Property Declaration (FL-160), and an Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150). The respondent has 60 days from filing the Response. These are not filed with the court; the proof of service (FL-141) is.
Resolve Custody, Support, and Property Issues
To ask for temporary custody, support, or use of the home, file a Request for Order (FL-300). For urgent matters, the court can hear ex parte requests.
Parents who disagree on custody or visitation must attend mediation before a judge decides (Family Code section 3170). In San Francisco, Family Court Services provides free, confidential mediation at the Civic Center Courthouse, along with a parent orientation program. Per the court’s parent guide, the mediator does not tell the judge what the parenting plan should be, but may recommend steps such as a custody evaluation. See our child custody mediation guide. Estimate support with our child support calculator.
Finalize the Divorce
Once the issues are resolved, the court enters a Judgment (FL-180), often filed with a Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution (FL-170) and a Notice of Entry of Judgment (FL-190). Under Family Code section 2339, your marital status ends no earlier than six months after the respondent was served or appeared, whichever came first.
The 2026 Joint Petition Option
As of January 1, 2026, spouses who expect to agree on all the final terms may file a Joint Petition (FL-700) and Summons, Joint Petition (FL-710). There is a single filing fee and no service, and the six month period runs from the filing date. Temporary orders are not available. Either spouse may revoke with form FL-720, converting the case to a standard divorce.
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How Much Does It Cost to File for Divorce in San Francisco County?
The first paper fee is $435. San Francisco has charged a local courthouse surcharge at times: the court reduced the fee from $450 to $435 in April 2021, and the 2026 statewide fee schedule still lists a San Francisco surcharge. Confirm the current amount with the family law clerk at (415) 551-3900.
| Filing fee (Petition) | $435; San Francisco has charged a local surcharge at times, so confirm with the clerk |
|---|---|
| Response fee | $435; San Francisco has charged a local surcharge at times, so confirm with the clerk |
| Joint petition fee | $870 in most counties, covering both spouses; confirm the San Francisco amount with the clerk |
| Fee waiver (FW-001) | Available if you qualify; each spouse files his or her own request |
| Service of process | Sheriff or registered process server; fees vary |
| Court custody mediation | No separate court charge; Family Court Services describes its mediation as free |
| Attorney fees | Depend on how contested the case is |
Our article on how much a divorce costs in California covers the larger picture.
How Long Does a Divorce Take in San Francisco County?
The shortest possible San Francisco divorce takes six months from service or appearance. Cases involving stock options, real estate, or a custody dispute can take a year or more. See our divorce timeline for fathers and our guide to high net worth divorce.
What If You Were Served With Divorce Papers in San Francisco County?
If your spouse filed first, you have 30 days from service to file a Response (FL-120) with the family law clerk in Room 402 or by e-filing, and to pay the first appearance fee or request a fee waiver.
The automatic restraining orders on the Summons now apply to you. You may not take the children out of California without your spouse’s prior written consent or a court order. You may not transfer or hide any property, community or separate, except in the usual course of business or for the necessities of life. You may not change insurance beneficiaries without written consent or a court order.
A default (FL-165) lets the case proceed without your input on custody, support, or property. Do not move out or sign a settlement your spouse proposes before you understand its effect on your parenting time. Read should you move out of your home during a divorce before making that decision, and keep living arrangements steady until a temporary order is in place.
After filing your Response, you must serve your preliminary disclosures within 60 days. If no parenting schedule is in place, you can file a Request for Order (FL-300), and Family Court Services mediation will typically follow. If a domestic violence temporary restraining order arrived with the divorce papers, read what to do if you are served with a TRO immediately.
What Mistakes Do Men Make When Filing for Divorce in San Francisco County?
- Overlooking equity compensation. Stock options, restricted stock units, and deferred bonuses earned during the marriage may be community property and must be disclosed.
- Treating the ACCESS Center as your advocate. Staff help both spouses, and your conversations are not confidential.
- Arriving at mediation without a proposed schedule. A concrete plan built around work and school shows preparation.
- Relocating without considering the children. High housing costs push many parents across the bay, and moving can affect custody. Read should you move out during a divorce.
- Venting on social media. Posts and messages can be used as evidence. See how social media can hurt your case.
Do You Need a Lawyer to File for Divorce in San Francisco County?
You may represent yourself, and the ACCESS Center can explain forms and procedures. The center cannot value equity compensation, plan a custody strategy, or speak for you in court. See our comparison of DIY divorce and hiring a fathers’ rights lawyer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I file for divorce in San Francisco?
You file with the Unified Family Court clerk at the Civic Center Courthouse, 400 McAllister Street, Room 402, San Francisco, CA 94102. Family Court Services, the Family Law Facilitator, and the ACCESS Self-Help Center are all in the same building.
Can I file for divorce online in San Francisco?
Yes, self-represented parties may e-file in San Francisco dissolution cases, though they are not required to and can file on paper in Room 402. Attorneys have been required to e-file in dissolution cases since January 4, 2021. If you e-file, keep copies of your filing confirmations.
Is custody mediation in San Francisco confidential?
Generally, yes. Family Court Services describes its custody mediation as confidential, and the court’s parent guide says the mediator will not tell the judge what the parenting plan should be. The mediator may still recommend steps such as a custody evaluation or appointing counsel for the child.
What if my spouse already filed for divorce in San Francisco?
You respond in the case your spouse opened rather than filing a new one. Your Response lets you state your own requests on custody, support, and property, and it is due within 30 days of service. A separate petition would only create a duplicate case.
How do I respond to divorce papers in San Francisco?
File a Response (FL-120), plus a UCCJEA Declaration (FL-105) if you have children under 18, in Room 402 or by e-filing. Then have an adult who is not a party serve a copy on your spouse and file the proof of service.
Can I file in San Francisco if my spouse lives in another county?
Yes, if you satisfy the residency rule. You need three months in San Francisco and six months in California before filing. Your spouse can live in Oakland, Daly City, or elsewhere and be served there by any adult who is not a party to the case.
Can I get temporary custody orders while the divorce is pending in San Francisco?
Yes. A Request for Order (FL-300) asks the Unified Family Court for a temporary custody and visitation schedule. If you and the other parent disagree, Family Court Services will schedule mediation before the hearing. Temporary orders are not available in a joint petition case.
Do I need to move out of the house before filing?
No. California does not require either spouse to leave the home to file for divorce. Moving out can affect your time with the children while the case is pending, and San Francisco housing costs can make it hard to return, so get advice and a parenting order first.
Nearby County Divorce Guides
- How to File for Divorce in San Mateo County
- How to File for Divorce in Alameda County
- How to File for Divorce in Contra Costa County
- Steps in a California divorce
Talk to a San Francisco County Divorce Lawyer for Men
Reel Fathers Rights is a premier California family law firm handling Divorce, Child Custody, Domestic Violence Restraining Orders, and Child Support. Our practice focuses on representing men and fathers in California Family Courts. Our Northern California team, part of our Northern California expansion, helps fathers with divorce, custody, and property division. Review the steps in a California divorce, then request a free case evaluation.
Call or text 951-339-3826 or complete a Case Evaluation form
Call or text 951-339-3826 or complete a Case Evaluation form
