Response (Marriage/Domestic Partnership)

Caption must identify the attorney or self-represented party.

• Filers list a nickname or middle initial that does not match how their name appears in the FL-100 caption. Match exactly so the clerk's docket pull works.
• Filers in joint cases list only one name. Each respondent files their own FL-120; do not combine spouses on a single response.

Attorneys only.

• Pro se filers fill this with their employer or 'self-represented'. Leave blank when not represented by a law firm.
• Attorneys list the lead partner without 'LLP' or 'PC'. Match the firm's official registered business name.

Attorneys only.

• Pro se filers type their CA driver's license number. Bar number is the State Bar of California license number; pro se filers leave blank.
• Out-of-state attorneys fill in their home-state bar number. CA Rules of Court 2.111 expects the CA bar number.

Caption address required. Domestic violence note: a respondent who is leaving abuse can use the California Safe at Home program or a friend's address; a fixed home address on a public filing can put a victim at risk.

• Domestic-violence respondents list the address they are fleeing because that is the address petitioner already knows. CA courts allow address confidentiality (Safe at Home program) for DV survivors; consider that path before listing a vulnerable address.
• Filers list a P.O. box only and skip the street. Per Rule 2.111 the caption needs a physical or mail address.

Address part.

• Filers spell the city differently than the USPS standard. Use the USPS-preferred spelling.
• Filers list the county here instead of the city.

Address part. Defaults to CA.

• Filers spell out 'California' when the field expects 'CA'.
• Filers list a state different from where they receive mail.

Address part.

• Filers paste ZIP+4 with the dash; the form's narrow box may truncate the +4.
• Filers guess at a ZIP from memory and miss by one digit.

Required.

• Filers list a phone they no longer use. The court calls this for hearing notifications.
• DV-affected respondents list their personal cell when petitioner has been calling and harassing. Use a number petitioner does not have, or the court's own contact-only line.

Optional in practice for self-represented filers.

• Filers paste an email they rarely check. If the case later moves to e-service, this becomes the address the court uses.
• Pro se filers worry a blank email gets the form rejected. It does not for paper filings.

Identifies who the filer represents.

• Pro se filers leave this blank or write 'myself'. Use 'Respondent in Pro Per' so the court understands the role.
• Filers write 'Petitioner in Pro Per' on FL-120. FL-120 is the respondent's form; the role here is Respondent, not Petitioner.

Must file in a county where at least one spouse has lived for 3+ months (for divorce). For DP established in CA, can file in any CA county.

• Filers list the county they live in instead of the county where the petitioner filed. Use the county where the FL-100 was filed; the FL-120 must follow the case venue.
• Filers add 'County of' when the form pre-prints 'COUNTY OF'.

Court street address.

• Filers list the courthouse name instead of the street address.
• Filers use an old courthouse address after a relocation.

Optional; only when different from street.

• Filers fill this when the courthouse uses the same address for mail.
• Filers paste their own P.O. Box.

Court city and ZIP.

• Filers list only the city and skip the ZIP.
• Filers use the ZIP of an old courthouse location.

Branch name required for routing in counties with multiple courthouses.

• Filers leave this blank in counties with multiple branches. Use the branch where FL-100 was filed.
• Filers type the courthouse's informal name instead of the official branch name.

Required on FL-120. The case number was assigned by the clerk when FL-100 was filed; copy it from the FL-100 caption you were served with. Without a case number, the clerk has nothing to file the response under.

• Filers leave this blank thinking they are starting a new case. FL-120 is filed INTO the existing case; the case number was assigned when FL-100 was filed.
• Filers paste the case number with extra spaces or different hyphenation. Match the FL-100 file-stamp character-for-character.

Petitioner name on caption (your spouse or partner; the party who filed FL-100). Copy the spelling exactly as it appears on the FL-100 you were served with.

• Filers shorten the petitioner's name (drops a middle name or hyphenated last name). Match the FL-100 caption character-for-character.
• Filers list the petitioner's nickname. Use the legal name from the FL-100.

Respondent name on caption (you, the responding party).

• Respondent uses a married name when the FL-100 listed a former name. Match the FL-100 caption regardless of which name the respondent currently uses; restoration of former name is a separate request (item 4 of the response).
• Respondent shortens their name. Match the FL-100 caption.

Mutual-exclusive choice of dissolution, legal separation, or nullity. Must select one PLUS marriage-or-DP.

• Respondent picks 'Dissolution' when petitioner asked for legal separation, hoping to convert to divorce. Use this section for the respondent's own request; if respondent wants to change the case type, file a separate response or amended response.
• Respondent leaves blank thinking case type is set by petitioner. The respondent must indicate which relief they request, even if it mirrors the petitioner.

Determines residency rules and which Family Code chapter applies. Item 1b (CA-established DP) waives residency.

• Filers in same-sex marriages select 'domestic partnership' because that was the original status. Marriage and domestic partnership are separate; if the parties married, select 'marriage' even if they were originally registered partners.
• Filers in CA-only domestic partnerships pick 'marriage' thinking it is equivalent. CA-only DPs use a different residency rule (item 1b waives the 6-month residency); pick the actual relationship type.

At least one spouse must meet 6-month-CA + 3-month-county residency for a divorce. Petitioner or respondent (or both) checks the box. Failure to meet residency forces a legal separation as fallback.

• Respondent agrees to dismissal of FL-100 because petitioner does not meet residency, when respondent could ALSO assert residency to keep the case in CA. If the respondent meets the 6-month/3-month residency, that satisfies the rule too.
• Filers in CA-only DP cases panic because petitioner does not meet residency. CA-only DPs (item 1b) waive the residency requirement entirely under Family Code section 299(d).

City and county where the petitioner currently lives. Already declared by the petitioner on FL-100; the respondent fills this only if confirming or correcting that prior declaration.

• Respondent fills this with the address petitioner left. Use petitioner's CURRENT residence; if petitioner moved out of state mid-case, that may affect jurisdiction.
• Respondent lists only the city without the county. The county is what determines the 3-month residency for venue.

City and county where YOU (the respondent) currently live. Required for the residency declaration on FL-120; the court uses it to confirm jurisdiction and to direct service.

• Respondent lists their work address instead of where they actually live. Use actual residence.
• Respondent lists a former address from before the move. Use current residence as of FL-120 filing date.

Date of marriage or registration of domestic partnership. Required to compute marriage length, which affects spousal support duration (Family Code section 4336).

• Respondent uses the date of the wedding when the parties were first registered as a domestic partnership. Use the date of the relationship status the case is dissolving (the marriage if dissolving the marriage; the DP date for DP-only cases).
• Respondent estimates because they do not have the certificate handy. Verify before filing; an inaccurate marriage date affects the marital community-property period.

Defined by Family Code section 70: a complete and final break in the marital relationship, with intent to end shown by both subjective and objective conduct. Choose carefully because earnings and debts after this date are separate property.

• Respondent agrees with petitioner's separation date when respondent's own date is later. Separation date is contested in many cases; the date matters for property division and is often litigated.
• Respondent lists the date of physical separation when the legal standard requires intent + objective conduct (Family Code 70). Discuss with counsel before agreeing or disputing; this is a fact-specific date.

Must check 4a (no children) or 4b (children listed). If 4b, FL-105 UCCJEA declaration is mandatory.

• Respondent checks 'no children' to avoid custody complications when the parties have minor children. The court WILL learn about the children; mis-stating creates credibility problems and risks contempt.
• Respondent lists adult children. Item 4 is for minor children of the relationship; adult children do not belong in this section.

Required if children_status == yes_children.

• Respondent lists adult children or stepchildren. Section 4 is for minor children of the relationship only.
• Respondent lists the child's nickname. Use the legal name from the birth certificate.

Required if children_status == yes_children.

• Respondent lists year only. Birthdate must be the full date for the court to confirm the child is still a minor.
• Respondent guesses. Verify against the birth certificate; an off-by-one date can affect support termination calculations.

Required if children_status == yes_children.

• Respondent uses age at separation rather than current age. Use age at the time of FL-120 filing.
• Respondent fills age without filling birthdate. Both fields go together.

Optional; for additional children.

• Respondent leaves blank when there are 2+ children, hoping to address only one. List every child of the relationship in this section.
• Respondent uses initials thinking it protects the child's privacy. Family law uses full names; FRCP 5.2's redaction rule applies in federal court, not California Family Court.

Optional.

• Respondent lists year only.
• Respondent guesses.

Optional.

• Respondent uses age at separation rather than current age.
• Respondent fills age without filling birthdate.

Optional.

• Respondent leaves blank when there are 3+ children.
• Respondent omits children from a previous relationship that the petitioner adopted. Adopted children of the relationship belong here.

Optional.

• Respondent lists year only.
• Respondent guesses.

Optional.

• Respondent uses age at separation rather than current age.
• Respondent fills age without filling birthdate.

Optional.

• Respondent leaves blank when there are 4+ children.
• Overflow runs past four children but respondent crams them into the last cell. Use Attachment 4b (a continuation page) for 5+ children.

Optional.

• Respondent lists year only.
• Respondent guesses.

Optional.

• Respondent uses age at separation rather than current age.
• Respondent fills age without filling birthdate.

Almost every CA divorce is on irreconcilable differences. Permanent legal incapacity is rare.

• Respondent picks 'permanent legal incapacity' for a spouse with mental health issues. The standard is incapacity to make decisions; ordinary mental health issues do not meet it. Use irreconcilable differences for the standard no-fault path.
• Respondent leaves blank thinking petitioner already declared grounds. Respondent must declare their own grounds for the relief they seek.

Required only if children_status == yes_children. Joint legal custody is the default in California unless evidence shows it would not be in the children's best interest.

• Respondent requests sole legal custody with no factual basis. Joint legal is the default in CA; sole requires a showing of unfit parent or significant decision-making conflict.
• Respondent confuses legal custody (decision-making) with physical custody (where the child lives). Legal custody is about decisions: education, healthcare, religion.

Required only if children_status == yes_children.

• Respondent requests sole physical custody when the actual living arrangement is shared. Physical custody can be joint even with one primary residence; describe the actual schedule.
• Respondent confuses physical custody with visitation. Physical custody is the broad arrangement; visitation is the detailed schedule.

Optional; for the parent who does not have primary physical custody.

• Non-custodial respondent leaves this blank thinking the court will set a default. The respondent must propose a schedule; otherwise the court adopts the petitioner's proposal.
• Respondent requests 'reasonable visitation' as a placeholder. 'Reasonable visitation' is not enforceable; specify days, times, and exchange location.

Optional. If you (the respondent) want to receive spousal support, mark Respondent; if you intend to pay support to the petitioner, mark Petitioner.

• Respondent who is the higher earner requests support. Support typically flows from higher to lower earner; respondent should consider whether the request is realistic.
• Respondent who could ask for support leaves it blank. Once filed without a request, restoring jurisdiction can be difficult; consider asking for support to be 'reserved' if uncertain.

Optional. Terminating ends the court's jurisdiction to award support to that party in the future. Strategic.

• Respondent terminates support reciprocally without legal advice. Termination ends jurisdiction; if circumstances change, the support cannot be revived.
• Filers in long marriages (10+ years) terminate support for the lower earner. Long-marriage spousal support requires careful analysis under Family Code 4336; do not terminate without counsel.

Optional; preserves the question for later.

• Respondent reserves support indefinitely without intending to actually pursue it. Reservation keeps jurisdiction open; subsequent motions still need a Request for Order (FL-300).
• Respondent confuses 'reserve' with 'request'. Reserving keeps the question open; requesting asks the court to award now.

If checked, no FL-160 needed for separate property.

• Respondent checks this when there IS separate property (premarital house, inheritance). Check only when truly nothing exists; misstating creates community-property prejudice.
• Respondent confuses separate (premarital, gift, inheritance) with community (acquired during marriage). Separate property is what the respondent owned before marriage or received as a gift/inheritance during marriage.

If checked, no community property to divide; if unchecked, community property must be listed (usually on FL-160).

• Respondent checks 'no community property' when both spouses worked during the marriage. Community property includes wages, retirement contributions, and items bought with marital earnings; almost every working couple has community property.
• Respondent leaves it unchecked but does not file FL-160 or FL-142. Either check 'no community property' or attach the property declaration; otherwise the court has no basis to divide.

Optional. The respondent can request that the court restore the respondent's former or birth name as part of the divorce judgment.

• Respondent who took petitioner's last name leaves this blank, then realizes after judgment they wanted to restore. The judgment must include the name restoration; adding it later requires a separate motion.
• Respondent confuses 'restore former name' with 'change to a new name'. Restoration is to a name the respondent previously used; for a new name, file NC-100 separately.

Required if restore_former_name is checked.

• Respondent fills former_name without checking restore_former_name. Both fields go together.
• Respondent lists a name they never legally used. Restoration is to a previously-used legal name (maiden name, name from a prior marriage); not a never-used name.

Optional; for represented parties seeking fees from the other side.

• Pro se respondent requests attorney fees. Family Code 2030 fees go to a represented party who needs help paying counsel; pro se filers without counsel typically cannot recover fees.
• Represented respondent requests fees but does not file a Request for Order (FL-300) with an income/expense declaration (FL-150). The bare request on FL-120 is not enough; fees require a separate motion.

Required date for the under-penalty-of-perjury declaration.

• Respondent post-dates the signature thinking the form will be filed later. Use today's date.
• Respondent signs before completing the form. The verification certifies that everything above is true; sign last.

Printed name of declarant (the respondent; the party signing FL-120).

• Respondent prints a nickname under the signature. Print the legal name as it appears in the caption.
• Respondent leaves the printed name blank because the cursive signature is 'enough'. Print legibly so docket entries use the right spelling.