San Diego Divorce Court Prep Checklist
Prepare for San Diego family court, settlement, mediation, self-help, or attorney review by turning disclosures, property records, RSUs, debts, support documents, and hearing notices into a clean court-prep packet.
Last reviewed: June 27, 2026
Quick answer
Start with the local court page, then organize every issue by proof and requested result
Use the San Diego Family & Children page for local court routing, then build a packet around disclosures, filed papers, property records, and requested orders. San Diego users benefit from a clear settlement worksheet that separates house buyout math, debt allocation, reimbursement claims, and support-related records.
Authority links
Official San Diego and California source links
Official San Diego Superior Court source for San Diego family law, divorce, or court process routing.
Statewide self-help source for California divorce disclosure duties and financial information exchange.
Statewide source for community property, separate property, assets, debts, and divorce property issues.
Checklist
San Diego divorce court prep checklist
Local court routing
- Confirm the correct San Diego court page, courthouse, hearing date, department, and case number.
- Save the court notice, filed papers, proof of service, and any minute orders or prior orders.
- Check whether your next step is filing, disclosure, settlement, mediation, hearing, or judgment review.
- Confirm whether your case is routed through family court resources or another local filing path.
Disclosure and forms
- FL-140 disclosure declaration status for each spouse.
- FL-141 proof of disclosure service, if already served and filed.
- FL-142 Schedule of Assets and Debts with current values and disputed items marked.
- FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration if support, fee waiver, or cash flow may matter.
Real estate and reimbursements
- Grant deed, title history, purchase closing statement, and refinance documents.
- Purchase date, marriage date, separation date, title-change date, and refinance dates.
- Mortgage balances near marriage, separation, current date, and any title-change date.
- Post-separation occupancy, rent value, and payment log for Watts/Epstein issues.
RSUs, stock, and investments
- Grant notices, vest schedules, award agreements, brokerage records, and tax withholding records.
- Grant date, vest date, share count, price source, date of marriage, and date of separation.
- Nelson or Hug allocation assumptions for each tranche.
- Current investment and retirement statements for settlement or disclosure updates.
Debt and support records
- Credit card, loan, tax debt, medical debt, student loan, and vehicle loan statements.
- Who incurred each debt, when, and whether it was for community or separate use.
- Pay stubs, tax returns, business records, childcare, health insurance, and recurring expense proof.
- A proposed debt allocation or reimbursement table.
Settlement or hearing packet
- One-page disputed issue table with requested result for each issue.
- Source documents labeled by issue and date.
- Calculator printouts with assumptions visible.
- Transfer, payment, sale, refinance, QDRO, or judgment deadlines written in plain language.
Local context
What makes San Diego different
San Diego family law users should confirm local family and children resources, filing routes, and hearing details before relying on a document packet.
San Diego divorce property issues often turn on home equity, mortgage history, date-of-marriage values, post-separation occupancy, military or public employment benefits, and debt allocation.
Practical format
Suggested issue table
| Column | What to write |
|---|---|
| Issue | Family home, RSU grant, debt, reimbursement, support, disclosure gap, or judgment term. |
| Dispute | Value, date, characterization, missing document, payment, transfer deadline, or legal wording. |
| Proof | Deed, mortgage statement, grant notice, pay stub, tax return, bank record, filed form, or court notice. |
| Your number | Buyout, community fraction, reimbursement amount, debt allocation, support input, or settlement range. |
| Requested result | The order, agreement term, deadline, document exchange, or next step you want clarified. |
Ethical audience-building note
Build pages for high-intent moments, not lists of litigants
Related guides and calculators
Real property calculator
Run Moore Marsden, transmutation, Watts, and Epstein estimates before settlement or hearing.
RSU divorce calculator
Estimate Nelson or Hug community fractions for RSUs and stock compensation.
FL-142 assets and debts guide
Build the asset and debt inventory behind disclosure and settlement.
Preliminary disclosure guide
Gather California preliminary disclosure forms and supporting records.
California property settlement checklist
Pressure-test settlement numbers before signing or appearing in court.
San Diego county resources
Official local court links and county-specific resource routing for San Diego County.
San Diego court prep FAQ
What should I prepare before San Diego divorce court?
Start with the official San Diego Superior Court page, then organize court notices, filed papers, disclosures, property records, debts, support documents, and a one-page disputed issue table.
Is this an official San Diego Superior Court page?
No. This is an independent educational guide. Use the linked official court pages for current filing, hearing, remote appearance, self-help, and department requirements.
What property documents matter most in San Diego County?
Common high-value documents include deeds, mortgage statements, refinance records, current value proof, RSU grant and vest records, debt statements, and post-separation payment logs. San Diego divorce property issues often turn on home equity, mortgage history, date-of-marriage values, post-separation occupancy, military or public employment benefits, and debt allocation.
Should I make an account before using the calculator?
The calculators can be used as free educational tools. A good conversion path is to ask for an email only when the user wants to save, export, or receive a court-prep packet.
Can I use this checklist if I have an attorney?
Yes. A clean document packet can make paid attorney time more productive. Ask your attorney what should be added, removed, or framed differently for your facts.
Legal disclaimer: This guide is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. California divorce paperwork can involve legal and factual issues. Review official court instructions and consult a licensed California family law attorney for advice about your situation.