Quick Answer: Starting January 1, 2027, a California court may reduce or waive the six-month waiting period before a divorce becomes final. Three conditions apply. The court must find good cause, the spouses must have resolved all material issues, and there must be either a noticed hearing or a stipulation the court accepts. The statute gives examples of good cause: domestic violence against the petitioning spouse, a signed and filed marital settlement agreement, and a plan to remarry.
How the Six-Month Waiting Period Works Today
Many people are surprised to learn that a California divorce cannot end the marriage the moment the paperwork is done. Family Code section 2339 says no judgment of dissolution is final for purposes of ending the marriage until six months have passed from the earlier of two dates: the date the respondent was served with the summons and petition, or the date the respondent appeared in the case.
Through 2026, the court's only power over that clock was to extend it. Section 2339(b) currently reads, in full: "The court may extend the six-month period described in subdivision (a) for good cause shown." A couple who settled everything in month two still had to wait until month six for their marital status to end.
The waiting period affects marital status, meaning the date each spouse is legally single again and free to remarry. It is a separate question from when property, support and custody issues are resolved. Courts can also split off marital status from the rest of the case through bifurcation. Our post on bifurcation of marital status explains how that works.
What AB 1875 Changes
AB 1875 (Chapter 556, Statutes of 2026) was signed and filed on September 27, 2026. It amends two sections of the Family Code: section 2339, which covers regular dissolutions, and section 2403, which covers summary dissolutions. The Legislative Counsel's Digest sums it up: the bill "would additionally authorize the court to reduce or waive the 6-month period ... for good cause shown, as specified, provided that the parties have resolved all material issues related to the dissolution."
The amended section 2339(b) says the court "may extend, reduce, or waive" the six-month period. Extension, the court's only existing power, stays available. Reduction and waiver are new.
The rule for when the clock starts does not change. Subdivision (a) still measures six months from service of the summons and petition or the respondent's appearance, whichever comes first.
AB 1875 does not touch the rules for dividing property, setting support or deciding custody. It changes only timing.
The Three Conditions for a Shorter Wait
Read closely, the amended statute sets out three separate requirements. All of them must be met.
1. Good cause. The court must find good cause to reduce or waive the period. The statute does not define good cause exhaustively, but it gives examples, discussed below.
2. All material issues resolved. The parties must "have resolved all material issues related to the dissolution." A case with open disputes over property, support or children does not qualify, even if there is good cause.
3. A hearing or a stipulation plus a court finding. The statute offers two procedural routes:
the court has held a noticed hearing to determine good cause; or
both parties have stipulated that good cause exists, and the court independently finds good cause.
The second route is worth stressing. An agreement between spouses does not reduce the waiting period by itself. Even with a stipulation, the court has to make its own finding. And because the statute uses "may," the court keeps discretion to deny a request that technically meets every condition.
Examples of Good Cause in the Statute
New section 2339(c) lists situations that count as good cause. The list is introduced with "includes, but is not limited to," so it is not exclusive.
Domestic violence. Good cause includes a situation where "the court finds that the petitioning party is the victim of domestic violence during the marriage and the petitioning party requests a waiver or reduction for their health, safety, and well-being." Note three features of this example. The court must make a finding. The victim must be the petitioning party. And the request must be tied to that party's health, safety and well-being.
If you are in danger, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233 (1-800-799-SAFE), or text START to 88788.
A signed and filed settlement. Good cause includes a case where "the parties have signed and filed a marital settlement agreement resolving all material issues related to the dissolution." This example fits spouses who have reached a complete written agreement and filed it with the court.
Remarriage. Good cause includes a case where one party seeks to remarry "and a waiver or reduction will not affect any issues material to the dissolution bifurcated by the court, pursuant to Section 2337." If the court has bifurcated parts of the case, the remarriage example applies only if ending the waiting period early will not affect those bifurcated issues.
Because the list is not exclusive, a party may present other reasons. Whether a particular reason qualifies is up to the court.
Summary Dissolutions
Summary dissolution is a simplified joint procedure available to couples who meet strict eligibility requirements. Under section 2403(a), the court enters judgment once six months have passed from the filing of the joint petition, unless one spouse has filed a revocation.
AB 1875 adds section 2403(b): "Notwithstanding subdivision (a), the court may reduce or waive the six-month period described in subdivision (a) for good cause shown." Unlike section 2339, this subdivision does not spell out the hearing, stipulation or "all material issues" conditions, and the section 2339(c) examples are written "for purposes of this subdivision." The statute does not say what procedure applies to a request in a summary dissolution.
When It Takes Effect
AB 1875 has no urgency clause or delayed operative date. Under Government Code section 9600(a), a regular-session statute takes effect on January 1 following a 90-day period after enactment. A bill signed September 27, 2026 therefore takes effect January 1, 2027.
The bill does not say how it applies to cases already pending on that date. If your case is open, ask your attorney whether and when a request makes sense.
Key Takeaways
The six months still run from service of the summons and petition or the respondent's appearance, whichever happens first.
The statute's good-cause examples are illustrations, so other reasons can be presented to the court.
The remarriage example depends on not affecting any issue the court bifurcated under Family Code section 2337.
Courts could already lengthen the waiting period; AB 1875 adds the power to shorten or eliminate it.
FAQs
Can we skip the wait just by agreeing?
No. A stipulation is one route, but the court must also find good cause, and all material issues must be resolved.
Does a history of domestic violence qualify automatically?
No. The court must find that the petitioning party was a victim of domestic violence during the marriage, and that party must request the change for their health, safety and well-being.
Does this apply to summary dissolution?
Yes. New Family Code section 2403(b) allows the court to reduce or waive the six-month period in a summary dissolution for good cause shown.
Does AB 1875 change property, support or custody?
No. It amends only sections 2339 and 2403, which govern when a dissolution becomes final.