The State of California is a "no fault" state which means that either party may ask for a divorce (dissolution of marriage) without cause or permission from the other party.The divorce is granted without the necessity of proving one or both of the parties of marital misconduct. In order to file for a dissolution of marriage one or both of the parties must be a resident of the State of California for at least six months and a resident of the county for at least three months immediately preceding the filing of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.It is mandatory in the State of California that a dissolution of marriage not be granted any less than six months after service of the initial Petition and Summons for dissolution of marriage.