How to File for Divorce in San Bernardino County: A Complete 2025 Guide

Divorce is never easy, but knowing what to expect in San Bernardino County can help you avoid delays and protect your rights. Whether you live in Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Redlands, or another Inland Empire city, the local family court follows specific procedures and timelines. This guide walks you through everything you need to know to file for divorce in San Bernardino County—from residency requirements and filing steps to local forms, court locations, and how to get legal help.

📋 Start your divorce documents now with Gramling Law Group

Step 1: Make Sure You Meet the Residency Requirements

To file for divorce in San Bernardino County, you must meet both the state and county residency requirements under California Family Code § 2320:

• Either you or your spouse must have lived in California for at least 6 months, and

• Lived in San Bernardino County for at least 3 months

If you don't meet the 3-month county requirement yet, you may file for legal separation and later amend your petition to request divorce once you're eligible.

Step 2: Prepare the Required Divorce Forms

If you're the spouse initiating the divorce, you'll need to complete and file the following standard California Judicial Council forms:

• FL-100 – Petition for Dissolution of Marriage

• FL-110 – Summons

• FL-115 – Proof of Service of Summons (after your spouse is served)

• FL-160 – Property Declaration (if dividing assets/debts)

• FL-311 – Child Custody and Visitation Application (if you have kids)

In San Bernardino County, you may also need local forms depending on your specific case type. The court sometimes requires a Case Assignment Sheet or Notice of Family Law Case Assignment (local form SB-FL-001).

📎 Check official local form requirements here.

We can prepare all required documents for you to avoid rejection by the clerk.

Step 3: File Your Forms at the Correct Courthouse

San Bernardino County has multiple family law courthouse locations. As of 2025, most divorce cases are filed at:

San Bernardino Justice Center – Family Law Division247 West Third StreetSan Bernardino, CA 92415

If you reside in the West Valley, you may file at:

Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse – Family Law8303 Haven AvenueRancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

File your completed forms either in person or via e-filing through the court’s approved platform. As of 2025, e-filing is mandatory for attorneys and optional but encouraged for self-represented litigants.

Step 4: Pay the Filing Fee or Request a Waiver

The current filing fee for a divorce petition in San Bernardino County is $435. If you cannot afford this, you can request a fee waiver using the following forms:

• FW-001 – Request to Waive Court Fees

• FW-003 – Order on Court Fee Waiver

Fee waivers are based on income and financial hardship. If approved, the court will waive filing fees, service fees, and certain motion fees.

Step 5: Serve the Divorce Papers

California law requires that your spouse (the respondent) be properly served with the divorce papers. This must be done by someone over 18 who is not a party to the case.

Acceptable service methods include:

• Personal service (most common)

• Substituted service (if the respondent cannot be located)

• Service by publication (only if granted by the court)

After service is completed, file FL-115 (Proof of Service of Summons) with the court.

📋 Need help arranging service? We handle it for you.

Step 6: Complete and Exchange Financial Disclosures

You are required by California law to serve your spouse with Preliminary Declarations of Disclosure within 60 days of filing. This includes:

• FL-140 – Declaration of Disclosure

• FL-142 – Schedule of Assets and Debts

• FL-150 – Income and Expense Declaration

• FL-160 – Property Declaration

This step is critical in San Bernardino County. Without completed disclosures, your divorce cannot be finalized—even by default.

Step 7: Decide How to Resolve the Case

There are three main ways your divorce may be resolved:

1. Default Judgment – Your spouse does not respond within 30 days. You may request a judgment by default.

2. Uncontested Divorce – You and your spouse agree on all terms. You can submit a written Marital Settlement Agreement.

3. Contested Divorce – You disagree on issues like property, custody, or support. The court may schedule a Status Conference, Settlement Conference, and potentially a trial.

San Bernardino family courts often require mediation for custody disputes through Family Court Services before trial is allowed.

Step 8: Finalize the Judgment

Once all required steps are complete, submit your Judgment packet to the court. This typically includes:

• FL-180 – Judgment form

• FL-190 – Notice of Entry of Judgment

• Signed settlement agreement or court orders

• Any additional local attachments (such as FL-144 and FL-170)

If no issues remain, the court will sign and file your judgment. However, California has a mandatory six-month waiting period, so your divorce cannot be finalized sooner than six months from the date of service.

Local Tips for San Bernardino County Divorces

• Custody Mediation: If you have minor children and file an RFO for custody, you’ll be referred to Family Court Services at the San Bernardino courthouse before your hearing.

• Virtual Hearings: As of 2025, many short cause hearings are conducted via Zoom or other video platforms. Check your notice of hearing or call the clerk’s office.

• Traffic at Rancho: Parking at Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse fills quickly. Arrive early or schedule e-filing to avoid unnecessary in-person visits.

How a Local Family Law Attorney Can Help

Navigating the San Bernardino divorce process requires careful attention to both state and county-specific rules. At Gramling Law Group, we assist with:

• Divorce petitions and initial filings

• Property division and support orders

• Custody and visitation agreements

• Stipulated judgments and trial representation

• Flat-fee document preparation and service coordination

Whether you want limited scope assistance or full representation, we can tailor a plan for your case.

📞 Contact us today to schedule your consultation📋 Start your San Bernardino divorce documents now

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Disclaimer

This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this post does not establish an attorney-client relationship with Gramling Law Group. For advice specific to your situation, contact our office directly or schedule a formal consultation.

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cant file in rancho anymore, but there is the barstow court

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Step 3: File Your Forms at the Correct Courthouse

As of 2025, San Bernardino County divorce cases must be filed at one of the following courthouses:

San Bernardino Justice Center – Family Law Division247 West Third StreetSan Bernardino, CA 92415

Barstow District – Family Law Division235 East Mountain View StreetBarstow, CA 92311

Note: Divorce petitions can no longer be filed at the Rancho Cucamonga courthouse. If you previously filed or had a case assigned there, your matter may have been reassigned.

You can file your forms in person or submit them via the county's e-filing system. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys and strongly encouraged for self-represented litigants.

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How to File for Divorce in San Bernardino County: A Complete 2025 Guide

Divorce is never easy, but knowing what to expect in San Bernardino County can help you avoid delays and protect your rights. Whether you live in Redlands, Fontana, Hesperia, Victorville, or the High Desert, the San Bernardino Superior Court has specific rules, locations, and filing procedures. This guide walks you through the steps to file for divorce in 2025, including court information, required forms, and how to navigate the process with or without an attorney.

📋 Start your divorce documents now with Gramling Law Group

Step 1: Meet the Residency Requirements

To file for divorce in San Bernardino County, California law requires you to meet both state and county residency rules under Family Code § 2320:

• Either you or your spouse must have lived in California for at least 6 months, and

• In San Bernardino County for at least 3 months

If you haven’t lived in the county long enough, you may still file for legal separation and amend your petition to a divorce once you meet the residency threshold.

Step 2: Complete the Required Forms

California divorce begins with standardized Judicial Council forms, including:

• FL-100 – Petition for Dissolution of Marriage

• FL-110 – Summons

• FL-115 – Proof of Service of Summons

• FL-160 – Property Declaration (optional but recommended)

• FL-311 – Child Custody and Visitation Attachment (if you have children)

Additional forms may be required based on your case. While there are no mandatory county-specific divorce forms for initial filings in San Bernardino, you may be given local documents or scheduling notices once your case is assigned.

📎 View California family law forms

We ensure all forms are filled out accurately and formatted correctly to avoid rejection.

Step 3: File at the Right Courthouse

As of 2025, divorce petitions can no longer be filed at the Rancho Cucamonga Courthouse. Your case must be filed at one of the following San Bernardino County locations:

San Bernardino Justice Center – Family Law Division247 West Third StreetSan Bernardino, CA 92415

Barstow District – Family Law235 East Mountain View StreetBarstow, CA 92311

Your filing location may depend on where you live within the county. You may file in person at the appropriate courthouse or submit documents via the court’s approved e-filing system, which is required for attorneys and encouraged for all other parties.

Step 4: Pay the Filing Fee or Request a Waiver

The standard filing fee to open a divorce case in California is $435. You can pay by credit card, check, or money order.

If you can’t afford the fee, you may qualify for a fee waiver. You’ll need:

• FW-001 – Request to Waive Court Fees

• FW-003 – Order on Court Fee Waiver

Eligibility is based on income, public benefits, and financial hardship.

Step 5: Serve the Divorce Papers

After filing, your spouse must be properly served with the petition and summons. You cannot do this yourself. It must be done by:

• A process server

• A sheriff

• Any adult (18+) who is not a party to the case

Your server will complete FL-115 (Proof of Service of Summons), which must be filed with the court. Once your spouse is served, they have 30 days to respond.

If they fail to respond, you may proceed by default. If they respond with FL-120, the case becomes contested or uncontested depending on whether you reach agreement.

📌 We coordinate process service for all document prep clients.

Step 6: Exchange Financial Disclosures

Both parties are legally required to disclose their full financial picture. This includes:

• FL-140 – Declaration of Disclosure

• FL-142 – Schedule of Assets and Debts

• FL-150 – Income and Expense Declaration

• FL-160 – Property Declaration

You must serve these within 60 days of filing. You do not need to file them all with the court, but FL-141 (Proof of Disclosure) must be filed to show you complied.

Failure to disclose assets can result in monetary sanctions, judgment reversals, or even award of 100% of the undisclosed asset to the other party.

Step 7: Resolve the Case: Default, Uncontested, or Contested

There are three ways your divorce may proceed:

1. Default – Your spouse never responds. You file for default judgment.

2. Uncontested – Both parties agree and sign a Marital Settlement Agreement. You submit your judgment packet.

3. Contested – You disagree on some or all issues. The court will schedule case management conferences, hearings, and possibly trial.

In contested cases, courts may order:

• Custody mediation (especially if children are involved)

• Temporary orders for support or custody

• Settlement conferences before trial

San Bernardino County regularly uses remote hearings via Zoom for short matters but in-person trials remain the default.

Step 8: Submit Your Final Judgment

To finish your case, submit a Judgment packet to the court. It generally includes:

• FL-180 – Judgment

• FL-190 – Notice of Entry of Judgment

• FL-144 – Declaration Regarding Service

• FL-170 – Declaration for Default/Uncontested

• Final Marital Settlement Agreement or findings from trial

The court will review and, if everything is in order, file the judgment. You are not legally divorced until the judge signs and files it, and six months have passed from the date of service.

Even if your case is agreed upon and paperwork is ready, you cannot finalize a divorce in California sooner than six months after the date the respondent was served.

Local Tips for San Bernardino County Divorce Cases

• Mediation is Mandatory for custody disputes through Family Court Services before your first custody hearing.

• Barstow Court Accepts Divorce Filings, which is useful for High Desert residents who previously had to file in Victorville or Rancho.

• Rancho Cucamonga is no longer accepting divorce petitions. Make sure you're filing at the correct courthouse to avoid delays.

• Prepare for Remote Hearings in certain matters. The court will notify you if your appearance is by Zoom or in person.

Legal Support Options

At Gramling Law Group, we offer:

• Divorce filing and document preparation

• Preliminary and final disclosures

• Flat-fee uncontested divorce packages

• Contested litigation and trial support

• Requests for Order (RFOs) for support, custody, or property control

📞 Schedule a consultation today📋 Start your San Bernardino County divorce filing

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Disclaimer

This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. No attorney-client relationship is formed by reading this content. For legal advice regarding your specific situation, please contact Gramling Law Group to schedule a consultation.