California family-law form guide
One form. Two very different case events.
FL‑150 reports a party’s income and expenses. Its surrounding packet determines whether it was exchanged as a disclosure, filed for a hearing—or only prepared.
Short answer: FL‑150 is California’s Income and Expense Declaration. It asks for employment, income, deductions, assets, household expenses and—when relevant—attorney-fee and child-support information. The court can use it for support, attorney’s fees and other costs. In a divorce disclosure packet it may be exchanged without being filed; in a support or fee proceeding it may be filed and served.
California Courts identifies the current FL‑150 as effective September 1, 2024 and provides the official form and available translations.
Open the official FL‑150 page ↗What is FL‑150 used for?
FL‑150 supplies financial information to the other party and, when filed in a financial proceeding, to the court. Common contexts include:
- preliminary or final financial disclosures in a divorce or legal separation;
- a request for child or spousal support;
- a response to a support request;
- a request or response involving attorney’s fees and costs; and
- other family-law decisions requiring current financial information.
The context matters. A copy inside a private disclosure packet is not automatically a filed court document. A file-stamped FL‑150 used for a hearing is not proof that a complete divorce disclosure packet was exchanged.
What is on each page of the current FL‑150?
Employment, education, tax information, an estimate of the other party’s income and the signed declaration.
Monthly and 12-month-average income, self-employment, changes, deductions and asset totals.
Household members, average monthly expenses, debts and attorney-fee information when requested.
Parenting schedule, health coverage, child expenses, special hardships and other support information.
The current form says page 4 is completed only if the case involves child support. Attachments can be required when a response needs more space or a category calls for supporting detail.
Which records should support FL‑150?
The current form instructs the declarant to attach pay stubs from the last two months and proof of other income, and to take a copy of the latest federal tax return to the hearing. It also calls for additional support in specific situations—for example, a property-income schedule or self-employment records.
- Confirm the reporting period.“Last month” and the 12-month monthly average are different figures.
- Trace every income category.Include applicable wages, overtime, bonuses, investment, rental, retirement, benefit and other income categories.
- Support self-employment separately.The current form calls for a two-year profit-and-loss statement or the latest federal Schedule C and details for each business.
- Check source dates.A statement can exist but be too old to support a current figure.
- Protect private identifiers.The form instructs parties to black out Social Security numbers on pay stubs and tax returns.
How does FL‑150 distinguish last month from average monthly income?
For each income category, the current form instructs the declarant to add the income received in that category during the last 12 months and divide by 12 for the average monthly figure. “Last month” is entered separately.
That distinction exposes changes and variable income that one paycheck can hide. Keep the worksheet and records used for the calculation so someone can reproduce the average. If the financial situation changed significantly during the past 12 months, the form includes a place to explain the change.
FL‑150 is one document in a larger record.
Map the supporting records, packet, exchange event, and FL‑141 without confusing one status for another.
How can the same FL‑150 follow two paths?
FL‑150 commonly travels with FL‑140, FL‑142 or FL‑160 and supporting records. California Courts says the financial documents are shared with the other party; FL‑141 is filed to report service.
A current FL‑150 may be filed with an FL‑300 or FL‑320 and served for a hearing. The exact forms and timing depend on the requested orders and case posture.
Label the role instead of relying on the filename: “FL‑150 prepared for preliminary disclosure” is different from “file-stamped FL‑150 filed with support response.”
Which FL‑150 statuses should stay separate?
The form was completed. It may still be a draft or unsigned.
The declarant made the form’s statement under penalty of perjury.
Delivery belongs to a specific packet and event that needs its own record.
A court-filed copy needs court-record support; not every FL‑150 should be filed.
What does FL‑150 not prove?
- It does not independently verify that every figure is complete or accurate.
- It does not prove every income, account, asset or debt was disclosed.
- A signature does not prove the form was exchanged, served or filed.
- A file-stamped copy does not prove that supporting records were properly served.
- It does not prove what the court found about income, need, ability to pay or support.
- It is a financial snapshot; later changes can make an older form incomplete for a new event.
Which records commonly connect to FL‑150?
Official sources
- California Courts: FL‑150 form page
- Judicial Council of California: Current FL‑150 PDF
- California Courts: Gather and share financial information
- California Courts: File proof you shared financial information
- California Rule of Court 5.92: Requests for court orders and responsive declarations
- California Courts: Free court-based self-help
This page provides legal information, not legal advice or accounting advice. Use the current official form, instructions, local requirements and orders in the actual case. Read CourtAhead’s editorial and source standards.