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Summons (Family Law)

Summons that starts the divorce, legal separation, or annulment.

Jurisdiction: California Deadline: Respondent has 30 days to respond.

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What is FL-110?

The summons that opens a California family-law case. Filed alongside FL-100 (Petition); the respondent has 30 calendar days from personal service to file a Response (FL-120). The summons also imposes Automatic Temporary Restraining Orders (ATROs) on both spouses.

What happens if you miss the deadline: If the respondent does not file FL-120 within 30 days, the petitioner can request entry of default (FL-165).

How to file

Filing fee
FL-110 is filed with FL-100 and shares the family-law first-appearance fee (~$435-$450). No separate filing fee for FL-110.
Filing method
in-person, mail, efile (county-specific)
Filing deadline
FL-110 must be filed at the same time as FL-100. The 30-day response window for the respondent runs from PERSONAL SERVICE of FL-110 + FL-100, not from filing.
How to serve
Personal service is the standard method. Substituted service or service by publication is allowed only with a court order. The petitioner cannot serve themselves; a non-party adult or process server must serve. Service is documented on FL-115 (Proof of Service of Summons - Family Law).
Wet signature
No
Notarization
No
Original and copies
One original for the clerk plus one copy per respondent to be served (and at least one more for the petitioner's records).

Common pitfalls

The bulk of FL-110 is the standardized ATROs and respondent's-rights notice; the petitioner fills only the caption. The clerk stamps the date and case number when issuing. The summons becomes effective against the petitioner when filed (item 1) and against the respondent only when personally served. The most common pro se mistake is failing to serve all required documents together (FL-100 + FL-110 + blank FL-120 + FL-105 if children); the AI review should remind users to bundle these for service.

You'll likely also file

Other Ezel-supported forms that commonly file alongside FL-110. Each one has its own guided fill, AI review, and PDF render.

FL-100
Petition (Marriage/Domestic Partnership)
Required: FL-110 is filed and served alongside FL-100. The court will not issue the summons without the petition.
 FL-105
Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)
Required when minor children are involved (per FL-100 item 4b). Served with FL-100 + FL-110 to give the respondent notice of UCCJEA jurisdiction.
 FL-150
Income and Expense Declaration
Preliminary disclosure (Income and Expense Declaration). Both spouses exchange before judgment when child or spousal support is at issue. Not filed with the summons but triggered by the same case opening.
 FL-142
Schedule of Assets and Debts
Preliminary disclosure (Schedule of Assets and Debts). Both spouses exchange after FL-110 is served; required before judgment in every dissolution.
 FL-160
Property Declaration
Property Declaration. Permitted alternative to FL-142 in the same preliminary disclosure exchange that follows FL-110 service.
 FL-141
Declaration Regarding Service of Declaration of Disclosure and Income and Expense Declaration
Declaration Re Service of Disclosure. Filed once FL-150 / FL-142 have been exchanged with the respondent; FL-141 is the only disclosure form filed with the court.
 FW-001
Request to Waive Court Fees
Optional fee waiver for the first-appearance / case-opening fee (~$435-$450). File alongside FL-100 + FL-110 if the petitioner cannot afford the fee.
 POS-030
Proof of Service by First-Class Mail (Civil)
Proof of Service by First-Class Mail. Used only when the respondent has appeared and accepts mail service of follow-up papers; the original FL-110 itself must be personally served (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. section 415.10), not mailed.

Field-by-field guidance

Plain-English notes on every field on the form, with severity for what the AI completeness review treats as a blocker.

Show all 6 fields
Case Number
none

Blank when filing the original; clerk stamps it. Required on subsequent filings.

Court Name Address
blocker

Court name and address. Must match FL-100.

Court Branch
warning

Branch name when applicable.

Respondent Name
blocker

Respondent's name on the summons. Must match FL-100 caption.

Petitioner Name
blocker

Petitioner's name. Must match FL-100 caption.

Petitioner Contact
blocker

Petitioner's contact info (or attorney's). Allows the respondent to communicate to set up service or settle.

Ezel is a self-help tool. Ezel is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. You are the filer. Review the form carefully before submitting it to the court, and consult a licensed attorney if you have questions about your case. For free legal help, contact your local legal aid office or court self-help center.

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