Want to live apart but stay married? Ask the court for a legal separation.
Answer easy questions and we guide you through every step of your case, start to finish.
Built with licensed family law attorneys
Built with licensed family law attorneys$79 for a limited time (reg. $349). Court fees separate.
Here's everything Virdix does for you, start to finish.
Virdix walks you through every step of your case, from the first question to the day it's done.
Example: a legal separation in San Diego County. Names and dates are for illustration.Your court papers, filled in from your answers
Answer easy questions in English or Spanish. Virdix fills in every official paper your legal separation needs, ready to download the moment you finish.
Your agreements on paper
Agree on property and parenting? Virdix turns your answers into your settlement agreement and your parenting plan, so what you decided is written down clearly.
Parenting plan: Lena
Mon
Helen
Tue
Helen
Wed
Helen
Thu
Helen
Fri
Victor
Sat
Victor
Sun
Victor
Exchanges Friday at 6:00 PM. Holidays alternate each year.
MARITAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Helen keeps the family home. Victor keeps the pickup truck.
Your courthouse, your fee, your hours
Know exactly where to go. Virdix gives you your county's family law courthouse, the clerk's hours, and the filing fee. If money is tight, Virdix shows you how to request a fee waiver.
Where to file
Central Courthouse (Downtown San Diego)
1100 Union Street, San Diego, CA 92101
- Filing fee
- $435
- Family law phone
- (619) 844-2777
Papers delivered to your spouse the right way
The court needs proof your spouse got a copy. Virdix shows you who can deliver it, what to hand over, and fills in the proof paper for you.
Who can deliver them
- Any adult, 18 or older, who is not you
- They hand your spouse the papers in person
- They fill in the proof paper, and you file it
FL-115 PROOF OF SERVICE
Served on October 10, 2026 by Carl Brandt
A heads-up before every deadline
Add your dates and Virdix emails you before each one, so you stay on track while life keeps happening.
Virdix
Your financial disclosures are due in 7 days
To: Helen Ostrowski
Your disclosures are ready to review in your case. Here's what to do before the due date.
Stuck on a step? Ask your case manager
A real person answers your questions about the steps, your papers, and where things go. Help is always one message away.
Always know what's next
Your case page shows what's done, what's due, and what comes next, from your financial disclosures to your final papers.
Your case
- Court papersDone
- Filed at courtDone, October 6
- Papers deliveredDone, October 10
- Financial disclosuresDue December 11
- Final papersNext
The courthouse details above are real San Diego County details. Virdix has the same for all 58 California counties. Names and dates are for illustration.
Ready to start your legal separation?
Start now and answer the first questions. A one-time $79 payment early in the process unlocks your full packet, the step-by-step guidance and your case manager. $79 for a limited time, $349 after October 31.
Get startedRejected by the clerk? We fix it until it's accepted. Learn more
What we do
Everything you need for a legal separation is on Virdix.
You answer plain questions about your situation. Virdix prepares the official court papers from your answers, tells you where to file in your county, and shows you what comes next.
About your children
Do you and the other parent have minor children together?
Why people choose Virdix
You stay married
A legal separation lets you live apart and ask the court to settle the big questions, while the marriage itself stays in place. After a legal separation, you are still legally married.
The court can decide the same big questions as a divorce
A legal separation judgment can cover how property and debts are divided, spousal support, child custody and visitation, and child support.
Same starting paperwork as a divorce
California uses one petition for both. The difference is which box gets checked, so you can start on either path with the same kind of questions.
No residency wait to start
A divorce asks you to have lived in California for a set time first. A legal separation does not have that residency requirement.
No 6-month wait built in
California makes divorce wait at least 6 months from the day your spouse is served. A legal separation is not tied to that wait.
You can change your mind later
If you later want a divorce, you can generally ask to change the case to a divorce before the final judgment. Then the divorce residency rules apply.
A case manager, included.
A real person answers your questions about the process, your papers, and filing.
Compare your options
Three ways to get a legal separation
- Easy questions in plain words
- Court papers prepared from your answers
- Step-by-step guidance for your county
- A case manager to keep you on track
$79One payment for your whole case.
Other online services
- Forms you fill in on your own
- Filing steps you work out yourself
- Instructions you piece together from several sources
- Less help after the forms are done
$400 to $2,000What each option includes varies by provider.
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.
Take the next step at your own pace.
Common questions about legal separation in California
What is a legal separation in California?+
It is a court case that settles how property and debts are divided, whether support is owed, and how custody and visitation work if you have children. The big difference from a divorce is that you stay legally married afterward.
Can I remarry after a legal separation?+
No. You are still legally married after a legal separation. You could remarry only after the case is changed to a divorce and that divorce becomes final.
Do I have to live in California for a certain time first?+
Divorce has a residency requirement (6 months in California and 3 months in your county). A legal separation does not have that requirement. If you later change the case to a divorce, the divorce residency requirement applies at that point.
Is there a 6-month waiting period?+
The 6-month wait that applies to divorce does not apply to legal separation. How fast your case moves still depends on your court and on whether you and your spouse agree.
Can I turn a legal separation into a divorce later?+
Generally yes, as long as the case has not reached a final judgment. You ask to change the case to a divorce, and you need to meet California's divorce residency requirement at that point. Your county court's self-help center can confirm the exact steps and any added fee.
Do I need a lawyer for a legal separation?+
You have the right to represent yourself in California family court. Virdix is self-help software, not a law firm, and does not give legal advice. If your situation is complex, talking with a licensed California family law attorney is a good idea.
Virdix is self-help software, 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.