Afford your California divorce without the $15,000 attorney.
You answer questions. Virdix picks and fills the California forms.
Rejected by the clerk? We fix it free, guaranteed.
Rejected by the clerk? We fix it free, guaranteed.Start free. $79 once. Court filing fees separate.
What we do
Everything you need for an affordable divorce is on Virdix.
You answer plain questions. Virdix completes the official forms your case needs, checks them the way a clerk would, and tells you where to file in your county. Starting is free.
About your children
Do you and the other parent have minor children together?
Let's get your affordable divorce filing started today.
Answer a few questions about your case, including whether you qualify for a fee waiver. Your court forms build themselves as you go, and you see previews of your completed documents before you pay anything.
Get startedIf a clerk rejects a document, we fix it free until it's accepted. Learn more
Why people choose Virdix
One flat price, upfront
Start free and see everything first. $79 once when your documents are ready ($349 after October 31). No retainers, no hourly billing, no hidden fees.
Your filing fee can be $0
If you qualify, form FW-001 waives the court's filing fee entirely, based on your income or the public benefits you receive. Virdix prepares that request alongside the rest of your case, at no added cost.
Documents ready instantly
Your forms are produced automatically as you answer. No waiting days for someone to prepare them, no mail, nothing to chase.
Fewer costly mistakes
A rejected filing costs you time and, in some cases, a second filing fee. Virdix's guided questions are built to catch what a blank PDF won't.
All 58 California counties
Filing instructions matched to your county's Superior Court, so you're never guessing which method your court accepts.
Rejected by the clerk? We fix it free, guaranteed
If a court clerk rejects a document we prepared, we fix it for free until it's accepted.
A case manager, included.
Answers your questions about the process and filing, and emails you when the review finds something.
How it works
We don't just give you forms. We walk you through the entire family court process, educating you along the way.
About your children
Do you and the other parent have minor children together?
Tell us about your case
Answer simple questions about your situation. We'll determine exactly what documents you need for your county.
About your children
Do you and the other parent have minor children together?
Build your documents
Use our guided builders for declarations, parenting plans, and settlement agreements. Our builders organize what happened into clear, complete documents.
Your words
on march 15 he kept the kids past the 6pm exchange time in our court order again and didn't answer either of my two calls
Court-ready version
On March 15, Respondent failed to return the children at the court-ordered exchange time of 6:00 p.m. and did not respond to my two phone calls.
AI Suggestion
Add the actual return time and any witnesses so your account is complete.
File and serve
Get step-by-step filing instructions for your courthouse. We guide you through serving the other party.
Complete your case
Navigate hearings, responses, and final judgments with guidance at every step until your case is resolved.
Compare your options
Three ways to pay for your divorce
- One flat $79 launch price ($349 after October 31)
- Fee waiver request (FW-001) prepared at no extra cost
- Documents produced instantly as you answer
- County-matched filing instructions for all 58 counties
$79Once, when your documents are ready. Free to start.
Other online services
- Flat fees often run $239 to $3,000 or more
- Days, sometimes a week, before your forms come back
- Add-on fees for forms other services don't include
- No fee waiver help included
$239 to $3,000+Typical published rates for Legal Document Assistants and online document preparers.
Traditional attorney
- Retainers up front, then hourly billing
- Conflict escalates through opposing attorneys
- Scheduling delays can stretch for months
- You wait on someone else for every document
$5,000+Attorney-represented California family law cases commonly run $5,000 to $15,000.
File for divorce without the $15,000 attorney.
Cost questions
What is the cheapest way to get divorced in California?+
The lowest cost path is preparing your own paperwork and paying only the court's filing fee, generally $435 to $450 depending on the county, or $0 if you qualify for a fee waiver on form FW-001. A free guided tool like Virdix keeps that same low cost while reducing the risk of a rejected filing that costs you time and, in some cases, extra fees to refile.
Can I get a fee waiver so my divorce costs nothing?+
The court filing fee can be waived if you qualify, using form FW-001. You generally qualify if you receive certain public benefits, your household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines, or paying the fee would leave you unable to cover basic necessities. A waiver covers court fees; it does not cover a process server or other outside costs.
Is it cheaper to use a document prep service than to prepare my own forms?+
Preparing your own forms with no paid help is the lowest upfront cost. The tradeoff is that mistakes or missing forms can lead to rejected filings, which cost time and sometimes additional fees to correct and refile. A free guided platform like Virdix aims to keep the cost at zero while reducing that risk, since it fills out the official forms based on your answers rather than leaving you to interpret blank PDFs.
How much does a Legal Document Assistant cost compared to an attorney?+
Based on publicly available rate information, California Legal Document Assistants commonly charge $150 to $225 per hour, or flat fees from roughly $239 to $750 for simpler uncontested cases, up to $3,000 or more for fuller-service packages. Attorneys typically charge $5,000 to $15,000 for a full California divorce, and more for contested cases involving custody or complex property disputes.
Do I need a lawyer to keep my divorce affordable?+
No. California allows self-represented filers, so you are never required to hire an attorney to keep costs down. Virdix prepares your court forms, including your fee waiver request if you qualify, but is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
Are there hidden costs in a cheap divorce?+
The most common additional costs are a process server if a friend or family member can't serve your spouse (roughly $40 to $150), and certified copies of your final judgment (roughly $25 to $50 each). Mediation, if you use it, and any attorney consultation fees are separate and vary. None of these are required in every case.
What you're actually paying for
| Cost | Typical range | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee (Petition) | $435 to $450, or $0 with a fee waiver | Yes, unless waived |
| Response filing fee, if spouse responds | $435 to $450, or $0 with a fee waiver | Only if a Response is filed |
| Process server | $40 to $150 | Only if you can't use a friend or family member 18+ |
| Certified copies of judgment | $25 to $50 each | Only if you need certified copies |
| Legal Document Assistant | $150 to $225/hr, or $239 to $3,000+ flat fee | Optional |
| Attorney, full representation | $5,000 to $15,000, more if contested | Optional |
| Virdix guided platform | $79 launch price, $349 after October 31 | Optional |
Figures reflect publicly available rate information as of July 2026. County filing fees and LDA or attorney rates vary; confirm current numbers with your county court clerk or the professional directly before relying on them.
If the filing fee is the barrier, start with FW-001
A fee waiver can bring your court costs to $0. You generally qualify if any of the following apply:
Public benefits
You currently receive benefits such as Medi-Cal, CalWORKs, CalFresh, or SSI.
Low household income
Your household income is at or below 200% of the current federal poverty guidelines.
Can't cover basic needs
Paying the fee would leave you unable to afford housing, food, or utilities.
Virdix is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. If your case involves domestic violence or you fear for your safety, call 911 or the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233.