CaliforniaCourts may shorten the wait before a California divorce is final
Couples who have settled all major divorce issues may ask a court to shorten or waive the six-month wait when good cause is shown.
What it does
Courts may shorten or remove the six-month wait before a divorce becomes final when the couple has settled all major issues and the court finds good cause.
For a joint summary-divorce petition, a court may shorten or waive the six-month wait for good cause.
Argument forA survivor of domestic violence could end a marriage sooner when they ask for a shorter wait for their health and safety.
Argument againstA shorter waiting period could give people less time to reconsider, even when the court finds good cause and all major issues are settled.
More detail
A court may shorten or waive the six-month wait before a divorce becomes final. This applies to couples seeking a divorce judgment that ends their marriage. The parties must have resolved all major issues, and good cause must be shown. The court must hold a hearing about good cause, or both parties must agree that good cause exists and the court must find it. Good cause may include domestic violence when the person seeking the change asks for it for their health, safety, and well-being; a signed agreement settling all major issues; or one party's wish to remarry if shortening the wait will not affect issues the court set aside for later. The court may shorten or waive the wait before the judgment ends the marriage; the usual wait runs from service of the divorce papers or the respondent's appearance, whichever happens first.
A court may shorten or waive the six-month wait in a summary divorce. This applies to couples who filed a joint petition for summary dissolution, a simplified divorce process. The court must find good cause. The regular wait runs from the filing of the joint petition; the court may shorten or waive it before entering the dissolution judgment.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 27Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 556, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 27Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 25Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 19Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6245.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1875 Hart Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 17In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1875 Hart et al. By Wahab. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 17Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 34. Noes 0. Page 5497.).Passed Senate
- Aug 5Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 4Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Jun 11Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Jun 10From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 9).Minor
- Jun 9
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 28From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- May 6Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Mar 24In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Mar 23Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 67. Noes 0. Page 4373.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 1875 Hart Consent Calendar Second Day. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 18Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.Minor
- Mar 17From committee: Do pass. To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 17).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Mar 2From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 2Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Feb 13From printer. May be heard in committee March 15.
- Feb 12Read first time. To print.Introduced
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