In California, there is a residency requirement that must be met in order to file for divorce in the state. Specifically, either spouse must meet the following residency requirements:
- Six-Month Residency: At least one spouse must have been a resident of California for at least six months immediately preceding the filing of the divorce petition. This means that the spouse must have lived in California for at least six continuous months before initiating the divorce proceedings.
- County Residency: Additionally, the spouse filing for divorce must have been a resident of the county where they plan to file the divorce petition for at least three months prior to filing. This requirement ensures that the divorce case is filed in the appropriate county court.
These residency requirements are established by California law (California Family Code § 2320) and must be satisfied in a California Divorce.