HOW LONG MUST I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA BEFORE FILING A DIVORCE ACTION OR AN ACTION FOR LEGAL SEPARATION?
To file an action for divorce, also known as dissolution of marriage, a person must have resided in the State of California for 6 months and in the County where the action is filed for 3 months prior to filing the Petition in Court. This is true of either the Petitioner or the Respondent – either one can meet the test and allow a filing – so, if my spouse meets the residency requirement, I can file, even though I do not meet it myself.
