Understand California family law forms, what their questions are asking, and what information to gather before you begin. FormExplainer walks you through the paperwork in plain English, with practical explanations of unfamiliar terms and the records a form may call for.
Choose the guide for the form you are completing. Each follows the official form in order, with explanations of the questions, useful records, and the steps that come next.
Form FL-100 — Petition—Marriage/Domestic Partnership
Form FL-100 starts a case for divorce, legal separation, or annulment. Our guide walks through all 12 numbered items, including relationship and separation dates, children, support, property, debts, and other requests.
You will also find an attachment checklist and explanations of signing, filing, service, and how the petition differs from later financial disclosures and court orders.
Form FL-150 — Income and Expense Declaration
Form FL-150 asks about your employment, income, expenses, assets, debts, and household. You may need it for divorce financial disclosures or a case involving support or attorney fees. Our guide explains all 20 numbered items, including how to distinguish gross pay from take-home pay, business income from receipts, and monthly payments from balances owed.
You will also find a checklist of records to gather, an explanation of required attachments, and guidance on the difference between exchanging financial disclosures and filing papers for a support hearing.
Form FL-300 — Request for Order
Form FL-300 asks the court to make or change orders in a family-law case. Our guide explains custody and parenting time, support, property control, attorney’s fees, and the difference between requesting an order and already having one.
You will also find a practical preparation checklist, a closer look at “Facts to Support,” and explanations of financial forms, attachments, filing, service, responses, and the hearing.
Form FL-311 — Child Custody and Visitation (Parenting Time)
Form FL-311 adds the details of requested custody and parenting-time arrangements to a petition, response, or request for order. Our guide follows all 13 items, explaining legal and physical custody, regular schedules, virtual visits, supervision, transportation, exchanges, holidays, and vacations.
You will also find clear examples of schedule wording, explanations of related custody attachments, and the next filing and service steps. Completing FL-311 does not itself create or change a custody order.
Using a FormExplainer Guide
Keep the current official form beside you as you work. The guide helps you understand what the form asks; it does not choose your legal position or determine what the court will decide. Filing and service steps depend on your case and the request you are making.
For help identifying court forms and procedures, find your California court’s self-help center. For advice about your circumstances, consult a qualified family law attorney.