A Los Angeles County divorce uses a set of Judicial Council (FL-series) forms grouped by stage: starting the case (Petition FL-100, Summons FL-110, and if you have children, UCCJEA FL-105, plus the LA local Case Cover Sheet), proving service (FL-115 or FL-117), exchanging financial disclosures (FL-141, FL-144), and the final judgment packet (FL-170, FL-180, FL-190, and usually a Marital Settlement Agreement; FL-165 if a spouse defaults). Every form below links to its official PDF, and not every case uses every form.
Key Takeaways
- Four stages: California divorce forms fall into starting the case, service, financial disclosures, and the judgment packet.
- Core forms first: Every case begins with the Petition (FL-100) and Summons (FL-110).
- Not every form applies: Some forms only come up with children, or when a spouse never responds.
- Forms are free: Every statewide form downloads free from courts.ca.gov; use the current version.
- Los Angeles adds a local form: LA requires a Family Law Case Cover Sheet on top of the statewide forms.
California divorce is largely a paperwork process, and the paperwork is a defined set of Judicial Council forms. The challenge isn't finding them — they're free — it's knowing which ones your case needs, filling them out correctly, and filing them in the right order. Using an outdated version or missing a required form is one of the most common reasons the court rejects a filing.
Below is the full checklist for a Los Angeles County dissolution, grouped by stage, with a direct link to each official form. For a step-by-step walkthrough of how these fit together, see our guide on filing an uncontested divorce without an attorney. If you'd rather have the whole set prepared for you, our divorce document preparation service handles it at a flat fee — we are a registered legal document assistant, not a law firm.
Stage 1: Starting the Case
These forms open your dissolution and get a case number assigned.
| Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| FL-100 — Petition | Starts the dissolution and lists the issues you want decided. |
| FL-110 — Summons | Notifies your spouse the case has started; triggers the automatic restraining orders. |
| FL-105 — UCCJEA Declaration | Required when there are minor children; gives the court the child's residence history. |
| LASC FAM 020 — Family Law Case Cover Sheet | Los Angeles local form telling the court which district should handle the case. |
Stage 2: Serving Your Spouse
Your spouse must receive formal notice, and you must prove it to the court.
| Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| FL-115 — Proof of Service of Summons | Proves your spouse was personally served with the Summons and Petition. |
| FL-117 — Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt | Used when a cooperating spouse signs to accept service by mail instead. |
Stage 3: Financial Disclosures
Both spouses must exchange financial information before a judgment can be entered.
| Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| FL-141 — Declaration Regarding Service of Disclosure | Tells the court the required disclosures were served on the other spouse. |
| FL-144 — Stipulation and Waiver of Final Declaration of Disclosure | Lets spouses agree to waive the final disclosure exchange (common in uncontested cases). |
Note: The preliminary disclosures also include an Income and Expense Declaration and a Schedule of Assets and Debts. Accurate financial disclosures matter — errors here are a frequent cause of rejected judgments.
Stage 4: The Judgment Packet
These forms finalize the divorce. In an uncontested or default case they're submitted together for the judge's signature.
| Form | Purpose |
|---|---|
| FL-165 — Request to Enter Default | Used when the responding spouse never files a Response. |
| FL-170 — Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution | Sworn declaration submitted with the judgment packet. |
| FL-130 — Appearance, Stipulations, and Waivers | Lets both participating spouses have the agreement approved without a hearing. |
| FL-180 — Judgment | The document the judge signs to grant the divorce. |
| FL-190 — Notice of Entry of Judgment | Notifies both spouses the judgment has been entered. |
Full Form List at a Glance
Here's every form above in one place. Remember: most uncontested cases use only a handful of these.
| Form | Name |
|---|---|
| FL-100 | Petition — Marriage/Domestic Partnership |
| FL-105 | UCCJEA Declaration (cases with children) |
| FL-110 | Summons |
| LASC FAM 020 | Family Law Case Cover Sheet (LA local) |
| FL-115 | Proof of Service of Summons |
| FL-117 | Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt |
| FL-141 | Declaration Regarding Service of Disclosure |
| FL-144 | Stipulation and Waiver of Final Declaration of Disclosure |
| FL-165 | Request to Enter Default |
| FL-170 | Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution |
| FL-130 | Appearance, Stipulations, and Waivers |
| FL-180 | Judgment |
| FL-190 | Notice of Entry of Judgment |
Filing was rejected? A single missed box or an outdated form can get a whole packet bounced. If your Los Angeles County divorce was rejected, we can review the rejection notice, fix the errors, and resubmit for a flat fee.
How We Help
We prepare the complete set of forms for your Los Angeles County divorce — filled out correctly, in the right order, from the Petition through the judgment packet and Marital Settlement Agreement. Whether you're starting fresh or fixing a rejected filing, we handle the paperwork at a flat fee, with payment plans, and service in English, Spanish, and Filipino. We are a registered legal document assistant, not a law firm; we do not give legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What forms do I need to file for divorce in California?
Every California divorce starts with a Petition (FL-100) and Summons (FL-110); if you have minor children you also file a UCCJEA Declaration (FL-105). In Los Angeles you add a local Family Law Case Cover Sheet. Later stages add proof of service, financial disclosures, and a judgment packet (FL-170, FL-180, FL-190, and usually a Marital Settlement Agreement). Not every case uses every form. Our checklist below groups them by stage, and we can prepare the complete set for a flat fee.
Where can I download California divorce forms for free?
All statewide Judicial Council family law forms are free to download from the California Courts website at courts.ca.gov. Each form in the checklist below links to its official PDF. Los Angeles Superior Court also has its own local forms, like the Family Law Case Cover Sheet, available on the LA Court website. Always use the current version — courts reject outdated forms, which is one of the most common reasons filings bounce.
Do I need all of these forms for my divorce?
No. Most uncontested cases use only a core set — the Petition, Summons, proof of service, financial disclosures, and the judgment packet. Forms like the Request to Enter Default (FL-165) apply only when a spouse doesn't respond, and the UCCJEA (FL-105) applies only when there are minor children. The checklist shows everything that can come up so you don't miss a required form for your situation.
What is the difference between FL-170 and FL-180?
FL-170 is the Declaration for Default or Uncontested Dissolution — a sworn statement you submit with the judgment packet confirming the facts and terms of your divorce. FL-180 is the Judgment itself — the document the judge signs to actually grant the divorce. They travel together in the final packet, along with the Notice of Entry of Judgment (FL-190). Getting this packet assembled correctly is where many self-filers get stuck.
How much does it cost to file divorce forms in Los Angeles?
The Los Angeles Superior Court charges a first-appearance filing fee of about $435 for the petitioner (and again for the responding spouse if they file a Response). A fee waiver (FW-001) is available if you meet the income guidelines. That court fee is separate from document preparation — our flat fee for preparing the forms starts at $249, with payment plans available.
Can you prepare all of these divorce forms for me?
Yes. We prepare the complete set of Judicial Council forms for your Los Angeles County divorce — from the Petition through the final judgment packet and Marital Settlement Agreement — filled out correctly and in the right order, at a flat fee. If your paperwork was already rejected by the court, we can review the notice, fix the errors, and resubmit. We are a registered legal document assistant, not a law firm, so we do not give legal advice.