Child Support Case Registry Form
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File FL-191 with Ezel
Fill FL-191 with Ezel
AI-assisted intake, completeness review, and a court-ready PDF for FL-191 only. Print, sign in pen, file yourself.
What Ezel does with FL-191
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What is FL-191?
Confidential parent-information form filed alongside any California child support, family support, or spousal support order. Family Code section 4014. Both parents complete it. Information feeds the federal Case Registry used to locate absent parents and enforce orders across states.
What happens if you miss the deadline: Failing to file FL-191 does not stop the support order, but it leaves your contact info out of the federal Case Registry. The other parent's enforcement actions (wage assignment, license suspension) will still follow the order; without your address on file, paperwork may be served by publication or default.
How to file
- Filing fee
- No filing fee. FL-191 is held by the State of California Case Registry, not filed in the public court file.
- Filing method
- in-person, mail
- Filing deadline
- Family Code section 4014: deliver pages 1 and 2 of FL-191 to the court clerk along with the support order if you filed the order. If you did not file the order, deliver FL-191 within 10 days of receiving a copy of the support order. Any later change to your address, phone, employer, or other registry information must be reported on a new FL-191 within 10 days of the change.
- How to serve
- Not served on the other party. Delivered directly to the court clerk; the clerk forwards to the State Case Registry. The form is confidential and is not in the public court file.
- Wet signature
- Yes, sign in pen after printing.
- Notarization
- No
- Original and copies
- One original of pages 1 and 2 to the court clerk. Pages 3 and 4 are instructions only and are not delivered. Keep a copy for your records.
Common pitfalls
(1) Mother / Father checkbox at top right must be checked (one or the other) so the State Case Registry knows which parent filed. (2) Item 1 amounts must reconcile with the underlying support order: at least one of (Current base CS / FS / SS) should be filled or marked as Reserved or $0; wage-withholding must be marked Ordered or Stayed-Until-Date. Mismatches between the order and FL-191 cause the registry to chase corrections. (3) Item 5 (Father) or item 6 (Mother) for the filer's own info should be filled fully (name, DOB, SSN, current address, phone, employment status). The other-parent block is optional but encouraged. Bonus check: if item 7 (DV restraining order) is checked, the protected party's address can be suppressed; the wizard should not warn about a missing address for the protected party.
Don't memorize the rules. Ezel walks you through FL-191 field by field, flags what the AI review treats as a blocker, and renders a court-ready PDF.
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Caption block. Required.
- Pro se filers leave blank.
- Filers list only name without address.
Caption phone.
- Filers list a phone they no longer use.
- Filers list a work number.
Optional.
- Filers fill with phone.
- Filers worry about leaving blank.
Optional.
- Filers paste email rarely checked.
- Pro se filers leave blank thinking required.
Pro se filers write 'Self-represented'.
- Pro se filers leave blank.
- Filers write the wrong role.
Same county as the support order.
- Filers list county they live in.
- Filers add 'County of'.
Court street address.
- Filers list courthouse name.
- Filers use old courthouse address.
Optional.
- Filers fill when same as street.
- Filers paste their own P.O. Box.
Court city and ZIP.
- Filers list only the city.
- Filers use old courthouse ZIP.
Branch name.
- Filers leave blank in multi-branch counties.
- Filers type informal name.
Match the support order caption.
- Filers shorten the petitioner's name.
- Filers use a nickname.
Match the support order caption.
- Filers shorten name.
- Filers use a nickname.
Optional; only when there is a separately joined other parent in a parentage case.
- Filers leave blank when other parent joined.
- Filers fill when no other parent.
Case number from the support order.
- Filers leave blank.
- Filers paste with extra spaces.
Mark Mother OR Father at the top right of the form. The State Registry uses this flag to assign which parent is filing.
- Filer marks both Mother and Father.
- Filer leaves both blank.
Mark Mother OR Father at the top right of the form.
- Filer marks both Mother and Father.
- Filer leaves both blank.
First form completed OR Change to previous information. Required.
- Filer marks 'Change' on first FL-191 ever filed.
- Filer marks 'First form' when previous FL-191 exists.
Date the support order was filed.
- Filer uses date of judgment instead of order filing date.
- Filer guesses.
One of initial / modification must be checked.
- Filer marks both initial and modification.
- Filer leaves both blank.
One of initial / modification must be checked.
- Filer marks initial when amending.
- Filer leaves both blank.
Item 1c(1) child support column. Required if order set base child support.
- Filer lists family support amount here.
- Filer omits when order is in place.
Mark when “Current base child support: monthly amount” is more than 0.
- Filer marks when amount is 0 or reserved.
- Filer leaves blank when amount > 0.
Reserved order: court reserved jurisdiction without setting amount.
- Filer marks when amount is set.
- Filer leaves blank when court reserved jurisdiction.
$0 (zero) order: court explicitly set support at $0.
- Filer marks when amount > 0.
- Filer leaves blank when court explicitly set $0.
Item 1c(1) family support column. Family support is a combined child + spousal order under Family Code section 4066.
- Filer lists child or spousal amount here.
- Filer omits when order is in place.
Mark when “Current base family support: monthly amount” is more than 0.
- Filer marks when amount is 0 or reserved.
- Filer leaves blank when amount > 0.
Optional.
- Filer marks when amount is set.
- Filer leaves blank when reserved.
Optional.
- Filer marks when amount > 0.
- Filer leaves blank when $0.
Item 1c(1) spousal support column.
- Filer lists family support amount here.
- Filer omits when order is in place.
Mark when “Current spousal support: monthly amount” is more than 0.
- Filer marks when amount is 0 or reserved.
- Filer leaves blank when amount > 0.
Optional.
- Filer marks when amount is set.
- Filer leaves blank when reserved.
Optional.
- Filer marks when amount > 0.
- Filer leaves blank when $0.
Add-on child support: uninsured medical (Family Code section 4063), child care, special needs.
- Filer lists base support here.
- Filer omits add-on amounts (childcare, healthcare).
Mark if “Additional monthly child support” is more than 0.
- Filer marks when amount is 0.
- Filer leaves blank when add-ons exist.
Optional.
- Filer lists base support here.
- Filer omits add-ons.
Mark if “Additional monthly family support” is more than 0.
- Filer marks when amount is 0.
- Filer leaves blank when add-ons exist.
Past-due child support arrearages.
- Filer lists current support here.
- Filer omits arrears.
Mark if “Total past-due child support” is more than 0.
- Filer marks when no arrears.
- Filer leaves blank when arrears exist.
Past-due family support.
- Filer lists current support here.
- Filer omits arrears.
Mark if “Total past-due family support” is more than 0.
- Filer marks when no arrears.
- Filer leaves blank when arrears exist.
Past-due spousal support.
- Filer lists current support here.
- Filer omits arrears.
Mark if “Total past-due spousal support” is more than 0.
- Filer marks when no arrears.
- Filer leaves blank when arrears exist.
Monthly payment toward past-due child support.
- Filer lists arrears amount here.
- Filer omits payment plan.
Mark if “Monthly payment toward past-due child support” is more than 0.
- Filer marks when no payment plan.
- Filer leaves blank when payment plan exists.
Monthly payment toward past-due family support.
- Filer lists arrears amount.
- Filer omits payment plan.
Mark if “Monthly payment toward past-due family support” is more than 0.
- Filer marks when no payment plan.
- Filer leaves blank when plan exists.
Monthly payment toward past-due spousal support.
- Filer lists arrears.
- Filer omits payment plan.
Mark if “Monthly payment toward past-due spousal support” is more than 0.
- Filer marks when no payment plan.
- Filer leaves blank when plan exists.
Wage withholding is the default for support orders. The court can stay it on good cause; if stayed, the date the stay ends is required.
- Filer leaves blank when WH ordered.
- Filer marks when no WH.
Required when the answer to “Wage withholding” is “Ordered but stayed until”.
- Filer leaves blank when WH stayed.
- Filer fills when not stayed.
Item 2 payor name. Required.
- Filer shortens the name.
- Filer leaves blank.
Item 2 payor relationship to child. Required.
- Filer uses informal language.
- Filer leaves blank.
Item 3 payee name. Required.
- Filer shortens the name.
- Filer leaves blank.
Item 3 payee relationship. Required only when payee is a person (not a local child support agency).
- Filer uses informal language.
- Filer leaves blank.
Item 4 row 1 child name.
- Filer uses nickname.
- Filer lists adult children.
Item 4 row 1 DOB.
- Filer lists year only.
- Filer guesses.
Item 4 row 1 SSN. Requested but not strictly required if unknown; the State Registry can match by name + DOB if SSN is missing.
- Filer leaves blank when SSN known.
- Filer guesses SSN.
Item 4 row 2. Optional.
- Filer leaves blank when 2+ children.
- Filer combines names.
Optional.
- Filer lists year only.
- Filer guesses.
Optional.
- Filer leaves blank when SSN known.
- Filer guesses.
Item 4 row 3. Optional.
- Filer leaves blank when 3+ children.
- Filer combines names.
Optional.
- Filer lists year only.
- Filer guesses.
Optional.
- Filer leaves blank when SSN known.
- Filer guesses.
Mark if more than 3 children. Continue on a plain-paper attachment.
- Filer marks without attaching.
- Filer leaves blank when 4+ children.
Required for the father if “I am the father” is checked. Encouraged but not required for the mother.
- Filer uses nickname.
- Filer leaves blank.
Required for father-filer.
- Filer lists year only.
- Filer guesses.
Required for father-filer; the form is confidential.
- Filer leaves blank when SSN known.
- Filer guesses.
Required for father-filer unless protected by item 7 DV order.
- Filer leaves blank.
- Filer uses outdated address.
Required for father-filer unless DV-protected.
- Filer omits ZIP.
- Filer combines with street.
Optional unless different from street address.
- Filer fills when same as street.
- Filer leaves blank when different.
Optional.
- Filer omits ZIP.
- Filer combines with street.
Required for father-filer unless DV-protected.
- Filer leaves blank when DL known.
- Filer guesses.
Required if “Father's driver's license number” is filled.
- Filer leaves blank when DL number filled.
- Filer spells out state.
Required for father-filer.
- Filer lists outdated phone.
- Filer leaves blank.
Required for father-filer.
- Filer leaves blank.
- Filer lists 'employed' without specifics.
Required if the answer to “Father's employment status” is “Employed” or “Self-employed”.
- Filer leaves blank when employed.
- Filer lists job title instead of employer.
Required if employed.
- Filer leaves blank when employed.
- Filer lists employee's address instead.
Required if employed.
- Filer omits ZIP.
- Filer combines with street.
Optional.
- Filer leaves blank.
- Filer lists employee's personal phone.
Required for mother-filer.
- Filer uses nickname.
- Filer leaves blank.
Required for mother-filer.
- Filer lists year only.
- Filer guesses.
Required for mother-filer.
- Filer leaves blank when SSN known.
- Filer guesses.
Required for mother-filer unless DV-protected.
- Filer leaves blank.
- Filer uses outdated address.
Required for mother-filer unless DV-protected.
- Filer omits ZIP.
- Filer combines with street.
Optional.
- Filer fills when same as street.
- Filer leaves blank when different.
Optional.
- Filer omits ZIP.
- Filer combines with street.
Required for mother-filer unless DV-protected.
- Filer leaves blank when DL known.
- Filer guesses.
Required if “Mother's driver's license number” is filled.
- Filer leaves blank when DL filled.
- Filer spells out state.
Required for mother-filer.
- Filer lists outdated phone.
- Filer leaves blank.
Required for mother-filer.
- Filer leaves blank.
- Filer lists 'employed' without specifics.
Required if employed.
- Filer leaves blank when employed.
- Filer lists job title.
Required if employed.
- Filer leaves blank when employed.
- Filer lists employee's address.
Required if employed.
- Filer omits ZIP.
- Filer combines with street.
Optional.
- Filer leaves blank.
- Filer lists personal phone.
Mark if a DV-based protective order between the parents is in effect. Triggers address suppression for the protected party.
- Filer leaves blank when DV-RO exists.
- Filer marks when no RO.
Required if “A restraining, protective, or nondisclosure order due to domestic violence is in effect” is checked.
- Filer leaves blank when “A restraining, protective, or nondisclosure order due to domestic violence is in effect” is checked.
- Filer fills when no RO.
Required if “A restraining, protective, or nondisclosure order due to domestic violence is in effect” is checked.
- Filer leaves blank when “A restraining, protective, or nondisclosure order due to domestic violence is in effect” is checked.
- Filer fills when no RO.
Optional.
- Filer leaves blank when children protected.
- Filer fills when not applicable.
Required if “A restraining, protective, or nondisclosure order due to domestic violence is in effect” is checked.
- Filer leaves blank when “A restraining, protective, or nondisclosure order due to domestic violence is in effect” is checked.
- Filer fills when no RO.
Required if “A restraining, protective, or nondisclosure order due to domestic violence is in effect” is checked.
- Filer leaves blank when “A restraining, protective, or nondisclosure order due to domestic violence is in effect” is checked.
- Filer fills when no RO.
Required if “A restraining, protective, or nondisclosure order due to domestic violence is in effect” is checked.
- Filer leaves blank.
- Filer types 'permanent' (RO cannot be permanent).
Date the filer signs.
- Filer post-dates.
- Filer signs before completing.
Type or print full legal name. Sign with a pen on the line below after printing.
- Filer prints nickname.
- Filer leaves blank.
Sources
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