California summary dissolution laws and procedures that allow spouses to start and finish a divorce without going through the typical extended process. To determine whether or not California summary dissolution is an available option, we first have to look at California Family Code section 2400 and determine if all of its elements are met.
Here is the code section as of January 1, 2019. Keep in mind this statute is constantly evolving so the information we provide here may not be up to date.
(a) A marriage may be dissolved by the summary dissolution procedure provided in this chapter if all of the following conditions exist at the time the proceeding is commenced:
(1) Either party has met the jurisdictional requirements of Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 2320 ) with regard to dissolution of marriage.
(2) Irreconcilable differences have caused the irremediable breakdown of the marriage and the marriage should be dissolved.
(3) There are no children of the relationship of the parties born before or during the marriage or adopted by the parties during the marriage, and neither party, to that party's knowledge, is pregnant.
(4) The marriage is not more than five years in duration as of the date of separation of the parties.
(5) Neither party has any interest in real property wherever situated, with the exception of the lease of a residence occupied by either party which satisfies the following requirements:
(A) The lease does not include an option to purchase.
(B) The lease terminates within one year from the date of the filing of the petition.
(6) There are no unpaid obligations in excess of four thousand dollars ($4,000) incurred by either or both of the parties after the date of their marriage, excluding the amount of any unpaid obligation with respect to an automobile.
(7) The total fair market value of community property assets, excluding all encumbrances and automobiles, including any deferred compensation or retirement plan, is less than twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000), and neither party has separate property assets, excluding all encumbrances and automobiles, in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000).
(8) The parties have executed an agreement setting forth the division of assets and the assumption of liabilities of the community, and have executed any documents, title certificates, bills of sale, or other evidence of transfer necessary to effectuate the agreement.
(9) The parties waive any rights to spousal support.
(10) The parties, upon entry of the judgment of dissolution of marriage pursuant to Section 2403, irrevocably waive their respective rights to appeal and their rights to move for a new trial.
(11) The parties have read and understand the summary dissolution brochure provided for in Section 2406 .
(12) The parties desire that the court dissolve the marriage.
(b) On January 1, 1985, and on January 1 of each odd-numbered year thereafter, the amounts in paragraph (6) of subdivision (a) shall be adjusted to reflect any change in the value of the dollar. On January 1, 1993, and on January 1 of each odd-numbered year thereafter, the amounts in paragraph (7) of subdivision (a) shall be adjusted to reflect any change in the value of the dollar. The adjustments shall be made by multiplying the base amounts by the percentage change in the California Consumer Price Index as compiled by the Department of Industrial Relations, with the result rounded to the nearest thousand dollars. The Judicial Council shall compute and publish the amounts.