California Family Code PDF: Full Text, Forms, and Fees

The California Family Code is available as a free PDF only if you make one yourself: the state does not publish a single downloadable file of the entire code. The full text lives on the California Legislative Information site at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, where each section appears as a web page you can save or print to PDF using your browser.1California Legislative Information. California Code – Family Code The code runs 17 divisions and thousands of sections covering marriage, divorce, community property, custody, child and spousal support, domestic partnerships, adoption, and restraining orders.

Where to Read It Free and How to Save a PDF

Two websites carry the current text at no cost. The official source is leginfo.legislature.ca.gov, which the legislature updates as new bills take effect each January. Justia mirrors the same code at law.justia.com in a cleaner layout that is often easier to browse.

Neither site offers a one-click download of the whole code. To make a PDF, open the section or division you need and use your browser’s “Print” menu, then choose “Save as PDF” as the destination. That works well for a single section, a chapter, or even a full division. Trying to capture all 17 divisions this way is impractical.

If you need a professionally formatted PDF of the entire code, Westlaw and LexisNexis produce them but require paid subscriptions. County law libraries across California give the public free access to both databases, so a visit to your local law library is the simplest way to get a polished copy without paying.

A word of caution on older PDFs floating around online: the legislature amends the code every year. If your copy predates the current session, verify the section you rely on against leginfo before treating it as accurate.

How the Code Is Organized

The Family Code uses a nested structure: divisions at the top, then parts, chapters, and individual numbered sections. Citations point to the section number, so “Family Code Section 2339” refers to a single provision inside Division 6.

The 17 divisions are:1California Legislative Information. California Code – Family Code

  • Division 1: Preliminary Provisions and Definitions (Sections 1–185)
  • Division 2: General Provisions (Sections 200–295)
  • Division 2.5: Domestic Partner Registration (Sections 297–299.6)
  • Division 3: Marriage (Sections 300–560)
  • Division 4: Rights and Obligations During Marriage (Sections 700–1620)
  • Division 5: Conciliation Proceedings (Sections 1800–1852)
  • Division 6: Nullity, Dissolution, and Legal Separation (Sections 2000–2452)
  • Division 7: Division of Property (Sections 2500–2660)
  • Division 8: Custody of Children (Sections 3000–3465)
  • Division 9: Support (Sections 3500–5700.905)
  • Division 10: Prevention of Domestic Violence (Sections 6200–6460)
  • Division 11: Minors (Sections 6500–7143)
  • Division 12: Parent and Child Relationship (Sections 7500–7962)
  • Division 13: Adoption (Sections 8500–9340)
  • Division 14: Family Law Facilitator Act (Sections 10000–10015)
  • Division 17: Support Services (Sections 17000–17804)
  • Division 20: Pilot Projects (Sections 20000–20043)

The Sections People Look Up Most

A handful of provisions account for most of the searches that bring readers to the code.

Marriage Requirements (Division 3)

Division 3 sets the licensing and solemnization rules and defines who can legally marry.2Justia. 2025 California Code – Division 3 Marriage Anyone 18 or older can marry without additional approval. People under 18 need both parental consent and a court order, and the court must arrange separate interviews with each party through Family Court Services before granting permission. The division also identifies void marriages (such as those between close relatives), covers confidential marriages available to couples already living together, and now addresses remote license issuance and solemnization.

Community Property and the Date of Separation (Division 4)

Under Section 760, all property acquired by either spouse during the marriage while domiciled in California is community property, owned equally by both.3California Legislative Information. California Family Code Section 760 That covers income, real estate bought with marital funds, and retirement contributions. Property owned before the marriage, or received as a gift or inheritance, remains separate.

The dividing line is the date of separation. Section 70 defines it as the date when one spouse expressed to the other an intent to end the marriage and then acted consistently with that intent.4California Legislative Information. California Family Code Section 70 Earnings after that date belong to the earner alone. Couples who drift apart without a clear communicated break sometimes fight over months or years of income that could fall on either side.

Division 4 also governs prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, which can override the community property default if they meet the disclosure and voluntariness requirements.

The Six-Month Divorce Waiting Period (Division 6)

California is a no-fault state, and “irreconcilable differences” is the standard ground.5California Legislative Information. California Code – FAM Division 6 Section 2339 imposes a mandatory waiting period: no divorce is final until at least six months and one day after the respondent is served with the petition.6California Legislative Information. California Family Code Section 2339 The clock runs from the service date, not the filing date. Even the simplest uncontested divorce cannot close faster.

The same division covers annulments (labeled “nullity”), which treat the marriage as though it never legally existed on grounds like fraud, incapacity, or underage marriage without proper authorization, and legal separation, which keeps the marriage intact while dividing property and setting support.

Custody Mediation Before a Hearing (Division 8)

Custody decisions turn on the child’s best interest, with joint custody the starting assumption when both parents are fit.7Justia. 2025 California Code – Division 8 – Custody of Children Before a judge holds a contested hearing, Section 3170 requires the court to send contested custody and visitation issues to mediation as soon as the dispute appears in the paperwork.8California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code FAM 3170 Cases involving domestic violence follow a separate protocol approved by the Judicial Council. Division 8 also contains the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act, which sorts out which state has authority when parents live in different states.

The Ten-Year Marriage Rule for Spousal Support (Division 9)

Child support runs on a statewide formula tied to each parent’s income, timeshare percentages, and allowable deductions. Courts have limited room to deviate, so results are fairly predictable.

Spousal support is more discretionary. Section 4336 provides that a marriage lasting ten years or more from the wedding to the date of separation is presumed to be a “marriage of long duration,” and the court retains jurisdiction over spousal support indefinitely.9California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code FAM 4336 Indefinite jurisdiction does not mean lifetime support; it means the court keeps the power to modify or extend. For shorter marriages, courts commonly expect support to run about half the length of the marriage, though that guideline is not a hard rule.

Domestic Partnerships (Division 2.5)

Registered domestic partnerships carry most of the same legal rights and obligations as marriage.10Justia. California Code – Division 2.5 – Domestic Partner Registration They are now open to all couples over 18, with no requirement of a shared residence.11California Secretary of State. Domestic Partners Legislation Both partners register by filing Form DP-1 with the California Secretary of State.12California Secretary of State. Instructions for Completing the Declaration of Domestic Partnership Form DP-1 Ending a partnership sometimes requires a court proceeding identical to divorce, and sometimes can be done with a Notice of Termination, depending on the length of the partnership and whether there are children or significant shared property.

Court Forms That Go With the Code

Most family law proceedings use standardized Judicial Council forms, which are free fillable PDFs on the California Courts self-help site at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov.

Incorrectly completed or missing forms are one of the most common reasons filings get rejected, so review the instruction page attached to each form before submitting.

Filing Fees and Fee Waivers

The statewide filing fee for a first petition for divorce, legal separation, or annulment is $435 as of 2026. Riverside and San Francisco counties add a local courthouse construction surcharge that brings the total to $450.18California Courts. Superior Court of California Statewide Civil Fee Schedule Effective January 1, 2026 The responding party pays a similar fee to file a response.

If paying the fee is out of reach, apply for a waiver using Form FW-001. You qualify if you receive certain public benefits, your household income falls below the threshold, or paying the fee would leave you unable to afford basic necessities like rent and food.19California Courts. Information Sheet on Waiver of Superior Court Fees and Costs FW-001-INFO The waiver covers filing fees, service fees, and other court costs. Approval is not automatic, but courts grant waivers routinely for applicants who meet the income criteria.