File for divorce in California 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 to file for divorce without a lawyer 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?
File your own case, with structure behind you.
Answer a few questions about your case and your court forms build themselves as you go, with 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
Documents ready instantly
Your forms are produced automatically as you answer. No waiting days for someone to prepare them, no mail, nothing to chase.
One flat price, upfront
Start free and see everything first. $79 once when your documents are ready. No retainers, no hourly billing, no hidden fees.
Built for self-representation
Virdix guides you through plain-English questions, fills out the official Judicial Council forms, and points out when a question in your case is legal, not just a form field.
All 58 California counties
Filing instructions matched to your county's Superior Court, from your first form to your final judgment.
Knows where its help stops
Virdix doesn't give legal advice, tell you what to request, negotiate with your spouse, or represent you at a hearing. It tells you plainly when a question is bigger than a form field.
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 file for divorce without a lawyer
- Documents produced instantly as you answer
- Points out when a question is legal, not just a form field
- County-matched filing instructions from filing to judgment
- Update and regenerate a form if your case changes
$79Once, when your documents are ready. Free to start.
Other online services
- Only simple uncontested cases
- Days, sometimes a week, before your forms come back
- No guidance on where self-representation gets harder
- Just forms, no process guidance
$400 to $2,000Typical published rates. Most hand you a form packet with no guidance on when a question is bigger than a blank field.
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.
Self-representation questions
Is it legal to get a divorce in California without a lawyer?+
Yes. California law explicitly allows self-representation in all court proceedings, including divorce. The legal term is appearing "pro se" or "in propria persona," and the Judicial Council forms are designed to be usable without an attorney.
What exactly does Virdix do if I'm representing myself?+
Virdix asks you plain-English questions and turns your answers into completed California divorce forms, with county-specific filing instructions. It's document preparation and legal information, the same limits any self-help tool operates under.
What can't Virdix or any document prep service do?+
Give you legal advice about your specific situation, tell you what to request or what outcome to expect, negotiate with your spouse or their attorney, or represent you at a hearing. Those require a licensed California attorney. Virdix is not a law firm and does not give legal advice.
When should I still talk to a lawyer, even if I'm filing myself?+
Common triggers include a business or hard-to-value asset, suspected hidden income or assets, a history of domestic violence, seriously contested custody, or your spouse already having an attorney. A one-time consultation doesn't require giving up self-representation for the rest of the case.
What happens if my spouse hires a lawyer and I don't?+
You can still represent yourself; California doesn't require both sides to have attorneys. It does mean the other side may have more experience navigating procedure and negotiation, which is one of the more common reasons people consult an attorney at least once even while otherwise handling their own case.
What self-representation covers, and where it gets harder
Self-representation is legal in every California divorce. Whether it's the right choice for the whole case depends on what's actually in dispute.
Commonly handled without a lawyer
- Filing the initial Petition and Summons
- Responding to a Petition within the 30-day deadline
- Exchanging financial disclosures with an agreement in place
- Straightforward property division with no business or complex assets
- Submitting judgment paperwork once terms are agreed
Situations where a consultation helps
- A business, professional practice, or hard-to-value asset
- Suspected hidden income, assets, or financial misrepresentation
- A history of domestic violence or safety concerns
- Custody genuinely contested, not just a scheduling preference
- Complex retirement accounts, pensions, or stock compensation
Where Virdix's help stops
What Virdix does
- Guides you through plain-English questions about your case
- Fills out the official California Judicial Council forms based on your answers
- Gives you county-specific filing instructions
- Points out when a question in your case is legal, not just a form field
What Virdix does not do
- Give legal advice about your specific situation
- Tell you what to request or predict a case outcome
- Negotiate with your spouse or their attorney
- Represent you at a hearing or in court
What going without a lawyer costs, compared
| Cost | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $435 to $450, or $0 with a fee waiver |
| Legal Document Assistant | $150 to $225/hr, or $239 to $3,000+ flat fee |
| Attorney, full representation | $5,000 to $15,000, more if contested |
| Virdix guided platform | $79 launch price, $349 after October 31 |
More on filing without an attorney
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.