FL-300

Request for Order

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California · Notice deadlines run from the hearing date.

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What Ezel does with FL-300

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What is FL-300?

California family-law motion to ask the judge to make new orders or change existing orders in an open case. Used for child custody, visitation (parenting time), child support, spousal or partner support, property control, attorney fees, and other relief. Cal. Rules of Court rule 5.92.

What happens if you miss the deadline: If service is not completed by the deadline, the judge cannot make orders against the other party at that hearing and will continue the matter, costing weeks. If you cannot serve in time and the matter is urgent, you can ask the court to shorten time using item 8.

How to file

Filing fee: Filing fee for FL-300 is set by the Judicial Council uniform fee schedule. As of 2026, when the filer has already paid a first-appearance fee in the case, the typical motion fee is $60 (Gov. Code section 70617(a)(1)); in some counties no additional fee is charged when the filer is the petitioner who already paid the petition fee. Pro se filers who cannot afford the fee file FW-001 (Request to Waive Court Fees) at the same time. Confirm the exact amount on selfhelp.courts.ca.gov or the county's local fee schedule.
Filing method: in-person, mail, efile (county-specific; most California family-law courts accept e-filing)
Filing deadline: FL-300 has no statutory deadline of its own. Service deadlines (Cal. Rule of Court 5.92, citing Code Civ. Proc. section 1005): personal service must be completed at least 16 court days before the hearing; service by mail (within California) is 16 court days plus 5 calendar days; service outside California adds more time. The Proof of Service must be filed with the clerk at least 5 court days before the hearing. The responding party's FL-320 (Responsive Declaration) must be served on the requesting party at least 9 court days before the hearing. The judge can shorten any of these timelines on a showing of good cause through item 8.
How to serve: Personal service (FL-330 / POS-040) is the safest method and is required when the court ordered personal service, when the request includes temporary emergency orders, or when the request is to change a judgment on issues other than custody / visitation / child support. Service by mail (FL-335 / POS-030) is allowed for routine post-summons motions if the court did not order personal service and the matter does not include emergency orders. The server must be at least 18 and not a party. Required service packet: FL-300 + any attachments + a blank FL-320 (Responsive Declaration) + a blank FL-150 (Income and Expense Declaration) when support or fees are at issue + a copy of any granted emergency orders.
Wet signature: Yes, sign in pen after printing.
Notarization: No
Original and copies: One original to the clerk plus 2 copies (one for the filer, one to be conformed and served on each other party). Some counties require additional copies; check local rules.

Common pitfalls

Three highest-leverage checks for the AI review on FL-300. (1) Caption and case number must match the underlying case exactly; mismatches get the request rejected at intake. (2) At least one of the form-title category checkboxes (Child Custody, Visitation, Child Support, Spousal/Partner Support, Property Control, Attorney's Fees, Other) must be checked, AND the corresponding section on pages 2-4 must be filled. A category checked with no detail is the most common rejection. (3) Item 9 (Facts to Support) must be filled. The court denies relief if the facts are missing, even if every checkbox is correct. Bonus check: when child support, spousal/partner support, or attorney's fees are requested, FL-150 (Income and Expense Declaration) must be filed and served with FL-300; FL-155 may substitute for FL-150 only when the filer meets the threshold on FL-155 page 2.

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You'll likely also file

Other Ezel-supported forms that commonly file alongside FL-300. Each one has its own guided fill, AI review, and PDF render.

FL-150

Income and Expense Declaration

Income and Expense Declaration. Mandatory attachment to FL-300 whenever the moving party requests child support, spousal or partner support, or attorney's fees (California Rules of Court rule 5.260(a)). FL-150 must be 'current' (filed or updated within 90 days under CRC 5.260(a)(3), or accompanied by a no-material-change declaration) on the date of the FL-300 hearing; an FL-150 filed earlier in the case but more than 90 days stale must be refiled with the FL-300 packet, otherwise the court typically continues the hearing for evidence. The moving party serves FL-150 along with FL-300 at least 16 court days before the hearing plus 5 calendar days for mailing under Code Civ. Proc. section 1005(b) and Cal. Rules of Court rule 5.92(b)(2) (the 16+5 timing applies to mail service under CCP 1013(a); personal service under CCP 1011 needs only 16 court days; electronic service per FC 215 / CRC 2.250 also adds 2 court days unless the parties stipulate otherwise). The court uses FL-150 to apply the Family Code section 4055 statewide uniform child-support guideline (run through DissoMaster, X-Spouse, or Cal Support) or the FC 4320 14-factor spousal-support analysis (marriage duration, marital standard of living, age and health, marketable skills, earning capacity, history of domestic violence, balance of hardships, all 14 factors); without a current FL-150 the court typically continues the hearing for evidence under CRC 5.92(d) and may deny the requested support items without prejudice. The court can also impute income to the moving party under FC 3667 if the FL-150 is incomplete or self-serving, applying the Padilla principle (In re Marriage of Padilla (1995) 38 Cal.App.4th 1212). If a responding party files FL-320, they must also serve their own current FL-150 at least 9 court days before the hearing under CRC 5.260(a). The FL-150 filed with FL-300 goes to the court file as evidence (CRC 5.260(b)), separately from any disclosure copy that travels via FL-141 in the underlying dissolution case (FL-150 used for support is filed in the court record; FL-150 used for FC 2104(a) preliminary disclosure is filed under FC 3552 with FL-141 as proof of exchange). FL-150 is also the basis for FC 2030 / 2031 / 2032 need-based attorney-fee analysis (the court compares both parties' FL-150 to allocate fee awards based on disparity in access to funds).

FL-105

Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)

Declaration Under UCCJEA. When FL-300 requests custody or visitation orders (boxes 1.a 'child custody' or 1.b 'child visitation/parenting time' checked, or any FL-341 / FL-341(C)-(E) attachment requesting custody-related relief), the moving party must have a current FL-105 declaration on file or must file a new or updated FL-105 with the FL-300 packet. Under Family Code section 3409 the court cannot make ANY custody order without UCCJEA jurisdictional facts on file from the party raising custody, regardless of whether the FL-100 case opened with an FL-105 or not; an FL-105 from 18 months ago at FL-100 filing does NOT carry forward automatically if the children's residence facts have shifted since then. The Family Code section 3429 continuing duty obligates each party to update their FL-105 disclosure as soon as facts change (a child moved with one parent during the pendency, the other parent filed a custody proceeding in another state, an out-of-state custody order issued under FC 3443, a Hague Convention return application was filed), so an FL-300 requesting custody is the natural moment to refresh FL-105. FL-105 is filed at the same time as FL-300, served on the responding party with the FL-300 packet under California Rules of Court rule 5.92, and triggers the responding party's own FC 3429 obligation to file a counter-FL-105 with FL-320 if their facts differ. FC 3424 emergency jurisdiction may support an interim FL-300 custody order based on a fresh FL-105 even when California is not the children's home state under FC 3402(g) / FC 3421, provided the FL-105 lays out the abuse, abandonment, or threat that supports emergency findings. FL-105(A) is the continuation for more than 4 children or 5 address rows.

FL-191

Child Support Case Registry Form

Child Support Case Registry Form. Family Code section 4014(a) requires each parent to file an FL-191 with the court within 10 days of the issuance of any child-support order, including any new or modified order issued out of an FL-300 hearing under FC 3651 (modification of child-support order) or FC 3590 (stipulated modification), or any spousal-support modification carried by FL-300 that will run through wage assignment under FC 5208. The moving party files their own FL-191 with the FL-300 packet at filing; the responding party files theirs with FL-320 under the parallel filing rule. Each parent fills out FL-191 separately and confidentially: the form captures full name, mailing address, Social Security number under 42 USC 666(a)(13) (the federally mandated SSN-reporting hook for Title IV-D enforcement), driver's license number under FC 17520, date of birth, telephone, employer name and address and federal employer identification number (FEIN), and health-insurance coverage details so the State Case Registry under FC 17600-17630 (the California Case Registry that feeds the federal Federal Case Registry of Child Support Orders under 42 USC 654a) and the local Department of Child Support Services (the IV-D agency under FC 17304) can enforce wage assignments (FL-195 for child support under FC 5230(a), FL-435 for spousal or partner support under FC 5208) and track address and employer changes; FC 4014(c) imposes a continuing 10-day update duty for the life of the support order. FL-191 is confidential under FC 4014(b) and FC 17212(b), exempt from public access under Cal. Const. art. I section 1 privacy and FC 17212 confidentiality rules; the registry record is not part of the public court file and is not served on the other party. For domestic-violence cases (DV-100 / DV-110 history in the file), FL-191 also activates the FC 6224 confidential-address protection that keeps the protected party's address private from the obligor and held only by the registry; the moving party who is a DV-protected person should pair the FL-300 packet with an FL-191 plus DV-160 / DV-165 confidential-address request to ensure FC 6224 routing applies. The data drives wage-assignment routing on FL-195 / FL-435, tax-refund intercept under FC 17500 et seq., license suspension under FC 17520, passport denial under 42 USC 652(k), and credit-bureau reporting under FC 17522; UIFSA enforcement under FC 5700.101 et seq. uses the registry data to register and enforce California orders against out-of-state employers. Missing FL-191 will not block the court from ruling on FL-300 but delays enforcement once the order issues, because DCSS has no parent-locator data to attach earnings to and the obligee's first FL-195 / FL-435 wage-withholding attempt may bounce. The court can include a written direction in the FL-340 order resulting from FL-300 that the parties shall file or update FL-191 within 10 days, which gives DCSS a contempt hook under FC 4012 for non-filers.

POS-030

Proof of Service by First-Class Mail (Civil)

Proof of Service by First-Class Mail. FL-300 must be served on the other party at least 16 court days before the hearing under California Rules of Court rule 5.92 and Code of Civil Procedure section 1005(b), with an additional 5 calendar days added when service is by mail in California under CCP 1013(a) (10 calendar days if mailed from outside California to a California address, 20 days if mailed from California to outside the U.S.). Family Code section 215 controls family-law motion service: pre-judgment FL-300 papers are served on the other party's attorney of record if any, otherwise on the party at their last known address; post-judgment FL-300 papers asking to modify or enforce existing orders require PERSONAL service on the responding party under FC 215(a) plus CCP 414.10 if the responding party has not appeared since judgment, with the exception in FC 215(b) that mail service to the responding party's last-known address suffices for support-modification motions. The family-law-preferred service-proof forms are FL-335 (Proof of Service by Mail, Family Law) and FL-330 (Proof of Personal Service, Family Law); POS-030 is the underlying CCP-side equivalent that every family-law clerk also accepts. Use POS-030 (or FL-335) when the responding party has previously appeared in the case and a non-party server 18 or older mails the FL-300 packet (including any blank FL-320 attached for the respondent's reply, the moving FL-150 if support is requested, and FL-105 if custody is requested). If the responding party has not yet appeared, personal service under CCP 415.10 (using POS-010 or FL-330) is the safer route to avoid a later CCP 473.5 / 1013 motion attacking service. Signed POS-030 must be filed with the court before the hearing under CCP 1013(a); CCP 1005(b) deadlines run from service, not from filing of the proof.

FW-001

Request to Waive Court Fees

Request to Waive Court Fees. FL-300 carries a uniform Judicial Council motion fee under Gov. Code section 70617(a)(1) (about $60 in 2026) when filed as a freestanding post-judgment motion in an open family-law case; some courts treat the fee as $0 when the filer already paid the first-appearance fee in the same case and the FL-300 is a pre-judgment motion (the Gov. Code 70617(a)(1) text speaks of motions and orders to show cause not previously paid for). FW-001 waives the FL-300 motion fee for indigent filers under Gov. Code section 68632 on three bases (means-tested benefit under (a), 125% federal poverty income under (b), or inability to pay for necessities of life under (c)). If FW-001 was already granted at the petition stage (FL-100 by the petitioner or FL-120 by the respondent) the waiver typically carries forward under Gov. Code section 68632(c) and Cal. Rules of Court 3.55 (which keeps the waiver in force for the duration of the case, covering motions, declarations, and certified copies); no new FW-001 is needed but the filer should attach a copy of the existing FW-003 grant to FL-300 so the clerk does not bill the fee. If the moving party's finances have improved materially since the original grant, the filer must disclose the change under Gov. Code 68636 and may need to file a fresh FW-001 or pay; if finances have deteriorated and no prior grant is on file, file a fresh FW-001 with the FL-300. Note that a granted FL-300 attorney's fees motion under FC 2030 / 2032 directs the better-resourced spouse to pay the moving party's counsel; that is a fee-shift between parties, not a court-fee waiver, and does not substitute for FW-001 on the clerk side.

MC-025

Attachment to Judicial Council Form

Attachment (continuation). FL-300 page 1 item 9 (factual basis for the Request for Order, signed under penalty of perjury under CCP 2015.5) is the most common overflow point; the inline space holds about half a page and any RFO with substantial factual support spills into an attachment. Item 5 (child / spousal support amount details, including FC 4055 guideline calculations or FC 4320 spousal-support factor narrative), item 6 (attorney's fees and costs declaration under Family Code section 2030 / 2031 / 2032, including the FL-319 attachment-format narrative), and item 7 (property control requests under FC 2045 / 6321, including exclusive temporary use of the family residence or vehicle, restraining transfer of community property under FC 2040 ATROs, or restraining encumbrance / sale pending judgment) also routinely overflow when the requesting party needs to explain financial mechanics, scheduling, or harm. Each MC-025 attached to FL-300 must show the case caption verbatim, the FL-300 item number being continued (typically 'Attachment to FL-300 Item 9' or similar), the page-of-page numbering, and the requesting party's signature under penalty of perjury (the declaration language at the bottom of MC-025 carries the same CCP 2015.5 weight as the FL-300 face declaration). MC-031 Attached Declaration is an alternative continuation format some counties prefer because its declaration-only structure tracks the FL-300 page-1 declaration cleanly; both MC-025 and MC-031 are accepted in every county. Courts treat MC-025 as part of FL-300 for service under California Rules of Court rule 5.92 (FL-300 service package includes all attachments served together) and for ruling purposes; stripping an MC-025 from the served packet exposes the moving party to an FL-320 procedural objection and may trigger continuance for incomplete record under CRC 5.92(d). Each FL-300 RFO that requests support orders must ALSO be served with a current FL-150 under CRC 5.260(a) (separately from any MC-025 attachments to FL-300 itself).

FL-320

Responsive Declaration to Request for Order

FL-435

Earnings Assignment Order for Spousal or Partner Support

Earnings Assignment Order for Spousal or Partner Support. After FL-300 obtains an order for spousal or partner support (whether temporary support under Family Code section 3600 / 3651 / 4324 or post-judgment modification of a permanent FC 4320 spousal-support order), FL-435 directs the payor's employer to withhold the support amount from wages under FC 5208 (mandatory wage assignment for support orders) and FC 5230(a) (every support order is immediately enforceable by wage assignment unless stayed under FC 5240 or stipulated around under FC 5260). The earnings assignment is not optional in the sense that FC 5230(a) makes it automatic on every spousal-support order issued, modified, or renewed; FL-300 movants should prepare and lodge FL-435 with the moving papers (or bring a fillable copy to the law-and-motion hearing) and ask the judge to sign FL-435 at the same time the support order on FL-300 / FL-340 is signed. The amount on FL-435 must match the underlying spousal-support order amount the judge sets at the FL-300 hearing - the support amount is calculated from each party's FL-150 income-and-expense declaration (page 1-3 income data run through DissoMaster / Xspouse / SupportTax for FC 4055 / FC 4320 analysis), so FL-435's number traces directly back to the FL-150 evidentiary record. FC 5260 permits the parties to stipulate to a direct-payment alternative (e.g. payor pays obligee directly via electronic transfer or bank check) instead of the FL-435 wage assignment, provided certain conditions are met (no current arrears, mutual consent, written stipulation filed with the court). FC 5240(a) and FC 5246 let the obligor request a stay of the FL-435 wage assignment if good cause exists (regular timely payment by other means, no past arrears, undue hardship), and FC 5246 / FC 5247 / 15 USC 1673(b) CCPA caps limit the withholding to 50-65 percent of disposable earnings (lower if there are dependents; higher if more than 12 weeks in arrears); the obligor uses FL-450 / FL-455 to assert these caps. All three routes (stipulation, stay, cap assertion) are raised at the FL-300 hearing rather than in a separate filing, with the FL-450 request-for-hearing filed within 10 days of receiving the FL-435 if the assignment was issued without contest at the FL-300 hearing. FL-435 applies only when FL-300 sought spousal or partner support and the court granted it; child support uses FL-195 (Income Withholding for Support) instead of FL-435 under FC 5230(a) / FC 17400 et seq. IV-D framework, and the local child support agency (LCSA) typically prepares FL-195 for the obligee on Title IV-D enforcement matters under 42 USC 654 / 666 federal IV-D requirements. Once the judicial officer signs FL-435 at the FL-300 hearing, the obligee serves a certified copy on the payor's employer by certified or first-class mail under FC 5232 (service-of-assignment rules), accompanied by FL-450 (Request for Hearing Regarding Earnings Assignment); the employer must begin withholding within 10 days under FC 5232 and FC 5231 (10-day employer compliance deadline). Withheld amounts go directly to the obligee (private support order outside Title IV-D) or to the State Disbursement Unit (SDU) under FC 5237 / FC 17309 if the case is IV-D enforcement (most CalSAWS / DCSS-enrolled cases). For combined spousal + child support orders where FL-300 sought both, the obligee files separately FL-435 (spousal portion) and FL-195 (child portion), each calculated to its statutory cap; the CCPA cap aggregates across the two orders to 65 percent maximum withholding. For self-employed obligors with no W-2 employer to receive FL-435, the obligee uses FL-160 levy procedures or seeks contempt under CCP 1209(a)(5) for non-payment of court-ordered support; both alternative-enforcement paths still trace back to FL-150 income evidence on the FL-300 record. FL-435 is continuing-withholding under FC 5260 across successive employers; the obligee files an updated FL-435 each time the obligor changes employers. Stay-of-service requests under FC 5260 are heard within 10 days of the FL-450 filing and require an updated FL-150 from the obligor establishing changed financial circumstances justifying the stay.

FL-180

Judgment (Family Law)

Judgment (Family Law). Post-judgment FL-300s ask the court to modify or enforce orders that were entered on FL-180 (legal and physical custody at items 4.j and 4.k, visitation under item 4.l(1)-(4), child support under item 4.l(1), spousal or partner support under item 4.l(5), property control under item 4.m, attorney's fees under item 4.n, restraining-order provisions carried into judgment under FC 6325). Identify the FL-180 order being modified by the family case number in the caption (item 1.b on FL-300 lists the family case if a restraining order is also in effect) and by the date the prior order was filed in items 2.d(1) (custody / visitation), 3.b (child support), or 4.b (spousal or partner support); attach a conformed copy of the FL-180 to the FL-300 if the court file is not already complete. The substantive standards on a post-FL-180 modification differ by order type: child and spousal support require a material change in circumstances since FL-180 was entered (Family Code section 3651 for support; FC 4326 for cohabitation-driven spousal support changes); custody and visitation modifications require both a significant change of circumstances and the change being in the children's best interest under FC 3022, FC 3087, and Montenegro v. Diaz (2001) 26 Cal.4th 249, 256 (final custody orders entered in FL-180 are 'final' for changed-circumstances purposes). Support modifications are retroactive only to the date of filing under FC 3653(a), so the moving party files FL-300 the day income or timeshare shifts rather than waiting. The FL-180 cannot itself be 'set aside' through FL-300; relief from the underlying judgment requires FL-180-side procedures (FC 2120 fraud / mistake set-aside, or FC 2122 enumerated grounds, or CCP 473(b) / (d) clerical fix), not an FL-300 modification motion.

FL-100

Petition (Marriage/Domestic Partnership)

Petition (Marriage/Domestic Partnership). FL-300 is an in-case Request for Order, never a case-opener; it must be filed inside an existing family-law case opened by FL-100 (or FL-200 in parentage proceedings; FL-220 is the parentage response, not a case-opener). Item 1 of FL-300 takes the case number from the FL-100 caption, and the court's subject-matter jurisdiction over custody (under FC 3409 + FL-105), support (under FC 4055 / FC 4320), property (under FC 2040 ATROs and FC 2550 community division), and fees (under FC 2030 need-based fee-shifting) comes from the FL-100 case shell. Without an existing FL-100 number to file under, FL-300 has no case to attach to and is rejected at the family-law clerk window. The FL-300 motion fee under Gov. Code section 70617(a)(1) is $60; if the underlying FL-100 was filed with an FW-001 grant, that waiver carries forward to FL-300 under Gov. Code 68632(c) and CRC 3.55 unless the moving party's financial circumstances have improved. Before FL-180 is entered, FL-300 is the pre-judgment vehicle for temporary orders on custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, property control, and fees; after FL-180 is entered, FL-300 is the post-judgment vehicle for modification of any of those orders (custody modification under FC 3087 / 3088, support modification retroactive only to the FL-300 filing date under FC 3653(a)). The moving party also re-opens disclosure obligations at the FL-300 stage: if support is at issue, the moving party files a current FL-150 with FL-300 under CRC 5.260(a)(3) (within 90 days of the hearing). If the underlying FL-100 has been dismissed, file an FL-100 reopen / new FL-100 first; FL-300 cannot resurrect a closed case.

FL-120

Response (Marriage/Domestic Partnership)

Response (Marriage/Domestic Partnership). FL-300 is an in-case motion, not a stand-alone filing, so when the moving party is the respondent, the case must already have an FL-120 on file (or the FL-120 is being filed together with the FL-300) for the respondent to have standing to ask the court for orders. A respondent who has not yet filed FL-120 should file FL-120 first or simultaneously; an FL-300 filed without an underlying FL-120 (and without leave of court treating the FL-300 itself as a general appearance) risks rejection for absence of party status, and the clerk may treat the respondent's first FL-300 filing as the appearance under Code Civ. Proc. section 1014, with the consequence that the FL-300 then operates as a substitute response for jurisdictional purposes (waiving any service-defect arguments under CCP 418.10) but still does not satisfy the respondent's Family Code section 2020 obligation to file FL-120. The FL-300 caption uses the same case number opened by the FL-100 petition and adopts the FL-100 / FL-120 party labels. After FL-180 enters, FL-300 is the motion vehicle for either party (petitioner or former-respondent under FL-120) to modify custody under FC 3022, child support under FC 3651, spousal support under FC 4326, or attorney's fees under FC 2030; the FL-120 line establishes the post-judgment moving party's standing to seek modification under FC 3651's continuing-jurisdiction language. Pre-judgment, a contested FL-300 is the most common venue for the respondent to ask the court to deviate from the petitioner's interim proposal on temporary support and parenting time before the FL-180 prove-up.

FL-110

Summons (Family Law)

Summons (Family Law) containing the Standard Family Law Restraining Orders (ATROs) under Family Code section 2040(a). The ATROs are in effect from the date FL-110 is personally served on the respondent under Code Civ. Proc. section 415.10 (or substituted service under CCP 415.20(b) plus mailing, or service-by-publication under CCP 415.50 with court order) until judgment is entered on FL-180; on the petitioner, the ATROs take effect from FILING FL-100 / FL-110 (not service). The four ATRO prohibitions under FC 2040(a) restrain BOTH parties from (a) transferring, encumbering, hypothecating, concealing, or in any way disposing of any community, quasi-community, or separate property except in the usual course of business or for the necessities of life; (b) cashing, borrowing against, canceling, transferring, disposing of, or changing the beneficiaries of any insurance or other coverage held for the parties or the minor children; (c) removing the minor children of the parties from the state of California without the prior written consent of the other party or court order; and (d) creating or modifying a nonprobate transfer in a manner that affects the disposition of property subject to the transfer without the other party's written consent or court order. FL-300 is the vehicle a party uses to ask the court for permission to take any action the ATROs would otherwise forbid (e.g., selling a community-property residence, refinancing a mortgage, taking a child out of state for an extended visit, removing a spouse from a life-insurance beneficiary designation); the moving party describes the proposed action in the FL-300 facts and attaches a proposed order. Filing FL-300 does NOT lift the ATROs by itself; only the specific order the court signs does. ATRO violations during the pendency of the case are contempt under CCP 1218 and grounds for monetary sanctions under FC 271, plus undo-the-transaction remedies (compelled rescission, restitution from separate funds, voiding of the nonprobate transfer under FC 851). FL-300 can also seek affirmative pre-judgment orders unrelated to ATROs: custody and visitation, child or spousal support, attorney's fees under FC 2030 / 2031 / 2032, exclusive temporary use of the family residence or vehicle under FC 2045 / 6321.

Field-by-field guidance

We've mapped every field on FL-300: what it asks, what counts as a blocker, what trips most filers up. Ezel applies all of it as you fill. Plain-English questions in, court-ready PDF out.

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Your Name

blocker

Caption must identify the filer.

Filer lists nickname.
Filer omits middle name.

Firm Name

none

Attorneys only.

Pro se filers fill with employer.
Attorneys list lead partner only.

Bar Number

none

Attorneys only.

Pro se filers fill with DL.
Out-of-state attorneys use home-state bar.

Your Street

blocker

Caption street. DV note: filers leaving abuse should consider Safe at Home or a friend's address rather than the address shared with the abuser.

Filer lists outdated address.
Filer lists P.O. Box only.

Your City

blocker

Caption city.

Filer lists county.
Filer abbreviates.

Your State

blocker

Caption state.

Filer spells out California.
Filer uses lowercase.

Your Zip

blocker

Caption ZIP.

Filer pastes ZIP+4 with dash.
Filer guesses.

Your Phone

blocker

Caption phone.

Filer lists outdated phone.
Filer lists work number.

Your Fax

none

Optional in practice for self-represented filers.

Filer fills with phone.
Filer worries about leaving blank.

Your Email

none

Optional in practice for self-represented filers.

Filer pastes rarely-checked email.
Pro se filers worry about leaving blank.

Atty For

blocker

Identifies who the filer represents. Pro se filers write 'Self-represented' or 'In Pro Per'.

Pro se filers leave blank.
Filer writes the wrong role.

Court County

blocker

Same county as the underlying case.

Filer lists county they live in.
Filer adds 'County of'.

Court Street

blocker

Court street address.

Filer lists courthouse name.
Filer uses old address.

Court Mailing

none

Optional; only when different from street.

Filer fills when same as street.
Filer pastes their own P.O. Box.

Court City Zip

blocker

Court city and ZIP.

Filer lists only the city.
Filer uses old courthouse ZIP.

Court Branch

blocker

Branch name; required for routing in counties with multiple courthouses.

Filer leaves blank in multi-branch counties.
Filer types informal name.

Petitioner Caption

blocker

Petitioner from the underlying case caption. Match the petition spelling exactly.

Filer shortens petitioner's name.
Filer uses nickname.

Respondent Caption

blocker

Respondent from the underlying case caption.

Filer shortens respondent's name.
Filer uses nickname.

Other Party Caption

none

Used in parentage cases or when a third party (grandparent, local child support agency) has been joined. Most dissolutions leave this blank.

Filer leaves blank when third party joined.
Filer fills when no third party.

Case Number

blocker

FL-300 is filed inside an existing case, so the case number is always assigned.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer paste with extra spaces.

Request Type

blocker

Either 'REQUEST FOR ORDER' (new) or 'CHANGE' to existing order. The form's title bar shows whichever is checked.

Filer marks both new and modify.
Filer leaves blank.

Request Emergency

warning

Boolean. Triggers emergency (ex parte) review with FL-303 + FL-305 attachments. Must be true emergency under FL-300-INFO ('immediate danger or irreparable harm').

Filer marks for routine matters.
Filer leaves blank when truly urgent.

Category Child Custody

none

Page 1 category checkbox. At least one of the seven category boxes (or 'Other') must be checked. Drives the conditional section on page 2.

Filer leaves blank when requesting custody changes.
Filer marks when not requesting.

Category Visitation

none

Page 1 category checkbox. Drives the conditional section on page 2.

Filer marks when not requesting.
Filer leaves blank when requesting visitation.

Category Child Support

none

Page 1 category checkbox. Drives the conditional section on page 3 (item 3) and requires FL-150 / FL-155.

Filer marks when not requesting.
Filer leaves blank when requesting CS.

Category Spousal Support

none

Page 1 category checkbox. Drives item 4 and requires FL-150.

Filer marks when not requesting.
Filer leaves blank when requesting SS.

Category Property Control

none

Page 1 category checkbox. Drives item 5.

Filer marks when not requesting.
Filer leaves blank when requesting PC.

Category Atty Fees

none

Page 1 category checkbox. Drives item 6 and requires FL-150 + FL-319 + FL-158 (or equivalent declaration).

Pro se filers mark without basis.
Filer leaves blank when entitled.

Category Other

none

Page 1 category checkbox. Drives item 7.

Filer marks without filling other_specify.
Filer leaves blank when requesting other.

Category Other Specify

warning

Short label only; required when category_other is checked.

Filer leaves blank when category_other.
Filer is vague.

Served Party Name

blocker

Name of party who will receive this request. Required ('List the name(s) of the other person(s) in your case who will receive your request').

Filer leaves blank.
Filer uses nickname.

Served Party Role

blocker

Role of the served party. One of Petitioner / Respondent / Other Parent or Party / Other.

Filer uses informal language.
Filer leaves blank.

Served Party Other Role

warning

Required when served_party_role == other_role.

Filer leaves blank when other role.
Filer fills when not other.

Restraining Orders Exist

warning

Item 1 on page 2 is a notice to the judge about any active criminal, family, juvenile, or other-court protective order between the parties. Required so the requested orders do not conflict with existing protections.

Filer marks no to avoid disclosure.
Filer leaves blank.

Ro Against Petitioner

info

Sub-checkbox; used when restraining_orders_exist == true.

Filer leaves blank when RO against petitioner.
Filer marks when no RO.

Ro Against Respondent

info

Sub-checkbox; used when restraining_orders_exist == true.

Filer leaves blank when RO against respondent.
Filer marks when no RO.

Ro Against Other Party

none

Sub-checkbox; used when restraining_orders_exist == true.

Filer leaves blank when RO against other.
Filer marks when no RO.

Ro Criminal County State

none

County/state for any criminal protective order. Optional if not applicable.

Filer leaves blank when criminal RO.
Filer omits state.

Ro Criminal Case Number

none

Criminal case number. Optional ('if known').

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Ro Family County State

none

County/state for family-court protective order. Optional if not applicable.

Filer leaves blank when family RO.
Filer omits state.

Ro Family Case Number

none

Family case number. Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Ro Juvenile County State

none

Juvenile court county/state. Optional.

Filer leaves blank when juvenile RO.
Filer omits state.

Ro Juvenile Case Number

none

Juvenile case number. Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Ro Other County State

none

Other court county/state. Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer omits state.

Ro Other Case Number

none

Other case number. Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Custody Emergency

none

Boolean. Required only when emergency custody orders are sought.

Filer marks for routine custody changes.
Filer leaves blank when emergency.

Custody Topic Custody

warning

Item 2 sub-checkbox. Should match category_child_custody on page 1.

Filer leaves blank when seeking custody change.
Filer fills when only seeking visitation change.

Custody Topic Visitation

warning

Item 2 sub-checkbox. Should match category_visitation on page 1.

Filer leaves blank when seeking visitation change.
Filer fills when only seeking custody change.

Child1 Name

warning

Item 2a row 1: child name. Required when custody/visitation orders are requested.

Filer uses nickname.
Filer omits middle name.

Child1 Dob

warning

Item 2a row 1: date of birth. Required if child1_name is filled.

Filer lists year only.
Filer guesses.

Child1 Legal Custody

warning

Item 2a row 1: legal custody to. Required if child1_name is filled.

Filer requests sole without basis.
Filer leaves blank.

Child1 Physical Custody

warning

Item 2a row 1: physical custody to. Required if child1_name is filled.

Filer requests sole without basis.
Filer leaves blank.

Child2 Name

none

Item 2a row 2. Optional.

Filer leaves blank when 2+ children.
Filer uses nickname.

Child2 Dob

none

Optional.

Filer lists year only.
Filer guesses.

Child2 Legal Custody

none

Optional.

Filer requests sole without basis.
Filer leaves blank.

Child2 Physical Custody

none

Optional.

Filer requests sole without basis.
Filer leaves blank.

Child3 Name

none

Item 2a row 3. Optional.

Filer leaves blank when 3+ children.
Filer uses nickname.

Child3 Dob

none

Optional.

Filer lists year only.
Filer guesses.

Child3 Legal Custody

none

Optional.

Filer requests sole without basis.
Filer leaves blank.

Child3 Physical Custody

none

Optional.

Filer requests sole without basis.
Filer leaves blank.

More Children Attachment

none

Mark Attachment 2a if more than 3 children. Continue on FL-311 or plain paper labeled 'Attachment 2a'.

Filer marks without attaching.
Filer leaves blank when 4+ children.

Custody Orders Basis

warning

How the custody/visitation orders are specified: attached forms (FL-311 etc.) or narrative. Required when item 2 is engaged.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer is vague.

Custody Attach Fl305

warning

FL-305 (Temporary Emergency Orders proposed). Required if custody_emergency == true.

Filer marks without attaching FL-305.
Filer leaves blank when FL-305 attached.

Custody Attach Fl311

none

FL-311 attachment with detailed schedule. Common when category_visitation is true.

Filer marks without attaching FL-311.
Filer leaves blank when FL-311 attached.

Custody Attach Fl312

none

FL-312 (Child Abduction Prevention Orders). Use only if abduction risk.

Filer marks without attaching FL-312.
Filer leaves blank when FL-312 attached.

Custody Attach Fl341c

none

FL-341(C) holiday schedule. Optional.

Filer marks without attaching FL-341(C).
Filer leaves blank when FL-341(C) attached.

Custody Attach Fl341d

none

FL-341(D) physical custody provisions. Optional.

Filer marks without attaching FL-341(D).
Filer leaves blank when attached.

Custody Attach Fl341e

none

FL-341(E) joint legal custody. Optional.

Filer marks without attaching FL-341(E).
Filer leaves blank when attached.

Custody Orders Narrative

warning

Narrative custody/visitation orders requested. Required when custody_orders_basis == narrative.

Filer is vague.
Filer leaves blank.

Custody Best Interest

blocker

Why the requested orders are in the best interest of the children. Required when custody/visitation orders are requested.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer is vague without addressing 3011 factors.

Custody Change From Existing

none

Boolean for item 2d (change from current order).

Filer marks on first-time custody requests.
Filer leaves blank when modifying.

Custody Change Topic Custody

warning

Sub-checkbox; required when custody_change_from_existing == true and the change is to custody.

Filer leaves blank when changing custody.
Filer fills when only changing visitation.

Custody Change Topic Visitation

warning

Sub-checkbox; required when custody_change_from_existing == true and the change is to visitation.

Filer leaves blank when changing visitation.
Filer fills when only changing custody.

Custody Existing Order Date

warning

Date of the existing custody order. Required when custody_change_from_existing == true.

Filer leaves blank when modifying.
Filer guesses.

Custody Existing Order Text

warning

Text of the existing custody order. Required when custody_change_from_existing == true.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer is vague.

Visitation Existing Order Date

none

Date of existing visitation order. Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Visitation Existing Order Text

none

Text of existing visitation order. Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer is vague.

Cs Request Guideline

warning

Boolean: request guideline child support. Standard pro se ask.

Filer requests guideline without running calculator.
Filer leaves blank.

Cs Child1 Name Age

warning

Item 3a row 1. Required if requesting child support.

Filer omits age.
Filer uses nickname.

Cs Child1 Amount

none

Optional non-guideline amount.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Cs Child2 Name Age

none

Optional second child.

Filer omits age.
Filer uses nickname.

Cs Child2 Amount

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Cs Child3 Name Age

none

Optional third child.

Filer omits age.
Filer uses nickname.

Cs Child3 Amount

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Cs More Children Attachment

none

Mark Attachment 3a for more than 3 children.

Filer marks without attaching.
Filer leaves blank when 4+ children.

Cs Change Existing

none

Item 3b. Boolean: changing an existing child support order.

Filer marks on first-time requests.
Filer leaves blank when modifying.

Cs Existing Order Date

warning

Date of existing order. Required when cs_change_existing == true.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Cs Existing Order Text

warning

Existing order text. Required when cs_change_existing == true.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer is vague.

Cs Reason

blocker

Item 3d. Reason for the support orders. Required when child support is requested. Modification requires a 'change in circumstances' since the prior order.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer is vague without addressing changed circumstances.

Ss Amount Requested

warning

Monthly amount of spousal/partner support requested. Required when category_spousal_support == true.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Ss Change Or End

none

Item 4b. Choice: change, end, or none.

Filer marks both change and end.
Filer leaves blank.

Ss Existing Order Date

warning

Required when ss_change_or_end is change or end.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Ss Existing Amount

warning

Existing support amount. Required when ss_change_or_end is change or end.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer lists requested instead of existing.

Ss Post Judgment

none

Item 4c. Triggers FL-157 attachment requirement.

Filer leaves blank when post-judgment.
Filer marks when pre-judgment.

Ss Reason

blocker

Item 4e. Reason for support orders. Required when category_spousal_support == true.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer is vague without addressing 4320 factors.

Pc Emergency

none

Boolean for emergency property control. Optional.

Filer marks for routine PC.
Filer leaves blank when emergency.

Pc Exclusive Use To

warning

Choice: petitioner / respondent / other parent / none. Required when property control is requested.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer marks both parties.

Pc Property Describe

warning

Property description. Required when pc_exclusive_use_to is set.

Filer is vague.
Filer leaves blank.

Pc Property Status

warning

Owned or rented. Required when pc_exclusive_use_to is set.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer is vague.

Pc Debt Payer

none

Item 5b. Choice: which party should pay debts. Optional unless requesting debt payment orders.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer marks both.

Pc Debt1 Pay To

warning

Debt 1 creditor. Required if pc_debt_payer is set.

Filer leaves blank when debt1 owed.
Filer is vague.

Pc Debt1 For

warning

Debt 1 type. Required if pc_debt_payer is set.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer is vague.

Pc Debt1 Amount

warning

Debt 1 amount.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Pc Debt1 Due Date

warning

Debt 1 due date.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Pc Debt2 Pay To

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank when debt2 owed.
Filer is vague.

Pc Debt2 For

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer is vague.

Pc Debt2 Amount

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Pc Debt2 Due Date

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Pc Debt3 Pay To

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank when debt3 owed.
Filer is vague.

Pc Debt3 For

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer is vague.

Pc Debt3 Amount

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Pc Debt3 Due Date

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Pc Debt4 Pay To

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank when debt4 owed.
Filer is vague.

Pc Debt4 For

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer is vague.

Pc Debt4 Amount

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Pc Debt4 Due Date

none

Optional.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Pc Change Existing

none

Item 5c. Optional.

Filer marks on first-time PC.
Filer leaves blank when modifying.

Pc Existing Order Date

warning

Required when pc_change_existing == true.

Filer leaves blank.
Filer guesses.

Af Amount

warning

Item 6. Total attorney's fees and costs requested. Triggers FL-150 + FL-319 + FL-158 attachment requirement.

Pro se filers leave blank.
Filer guesses.

Other Orders Text

warning

Item 7. Required when category_other == true.

Filer is vague.
Filer leaves blank when category_other.

Tfs Request Shortened

none

Item 8. Boolean: ask the court to shorten time for service. Optional.

Filer marks routinely.
Filer leaves blank when needed.

Tfs Court Days

warning

Item 8a. Number of court days requested. Required if tfs_request_shortened == true.

Filer guesses.
Filer leaves blank.

Tfs Sooner Hearing

none

Item 8b. Optional.

Filer marks routinely.
Filer leaves blank when needed.

Tfs Reason

warning

Item 8 reason. Required when shortening is requested.

Filer is vague.
Filer leaves blank when tfs requested.

Facts Text

blocker

Item 9. Facts in date order. The form's own text caps the facts (form + attachment) at 10 pages unless the court grants permission for more. Without facts, the judge cannot grant relief.

Filer vents emotionally.
Filer states legal conclusions instead of facts.

Facts Use Attachment

none

Mark Attachment 9 if facts continue on a separate page (or MC-031). Optional.

Filer marks without attaching.
Filer leaves blank when overflow.

Verification Date

blocker

Date the filer signs. Form is signed under penalty of perjury under California law.

Filer post-dates.
Filer signs before completing.

Verification Print Name

blocker

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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