How to Fill Out the FL-150 Form in California: Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2026)

The FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration is one of the most important forms in any California divorce or family law case. Judges rely on it to determine child support, spousal support, and attorney fee awards — which means filling it out correctly can directly affect your financial outcome.

This guide walks you through every section of the FL-150, explains what documents you need, and highlights the mistakes that cause the most problems in court.

What Is the FL-150 Form?

The FL-150 is a mandatory Judicial Council of California form titled “Income and Expense Declaration.” It provides the court with a complete financial snapshot of your current situation, including:

• Your income from all sources (employment, self-employment, investments, government benefits)
• Your monthly expenses (housing, food, transportation, healthcare, childcare)
• Your assets and debts (a simplified summary — the FL-142 covers these in detail)
• Attorney fees you have paid or owe

The form is required in virtually every family law case where money is at issue. Without a properly completed FL-150, the court cannot calculate support amounts under California’s guideline formula. For a comprehensive overview of the FL-150 — including its history, impact on support calculations, and common misconceptions — see our complete FL-150 guide. For a broader look at the financial disclosure process, see our guide on the income and expense declaration in California.

When Do You Need to File an FL-150?

You must file an FL-150 in these situations:

• Divorce or legal separation — anytime child support or spousal support is requested
• Request for Order (RFO) hearings — the FL-150 must be served at least 16 court days before the hearing
• Domestic violence restraining orders — if you are requesting support as part of your DVRO
• Post-judgment modifications — if you or your ex wants to change an existing support order
• Judgment by default — you must file the FL-150 even if your spouse does not respond

Important timing rule: Under California Family Code Section 2104(f), your FL-150 must be served on the other party at least 16 court days before any hearing where support will be discussed. Missing this deadline can result in your hearing being continued (postponed).

What You’ll Need Before Starting

Gather these documents before you sit down to fill out the FL-150. Having everything in front of you will make the process significantly faster and reduce errors.

Required Documents

• Two most recent pay stubs — these prove your current income
• Most recent federal tax return (all pages, including W-2s and schedules)
• Most recent state tax return (California Form 540 or 540NR)
• Proof of any other income — Social Security award letters, disability statements, rental income records, investment account statements

Helpful Documents

• Monthly bills and statements — mortgage/rent, utilities, insurance premiums, car payments, credit card statements
• Childcare receipts — daycare, after-school care, summer camp
• Health insurance premium statements — especially if you cover your children
• Business profit & loss statement — if self-employed (last 12 months)
• Bank statements — last 2 months for all accounts

Step-by-Step: Filling Out Each Section of the FL-150

The FL-150 is organized into numbered sections. Here is what each section asks for and how to complete it correctly.

Section 1: Employment Information

This section captures your current employment status and details.

What to enter:

• Employer name and address — use your employer’s full legal name, not a nickname or abbreviation
• Job title — your actual title as it appears on pay stubs
• Date you started work — the date you began your current position
• Gross monthly income — your total pay before taxes and deductions
• Pay frequency — whether you are paid weekly, biweekly, semi-monthly, or monthly

If you have multiple jobs, list each one. The court wants your total income from all employment sources.

If you are unemployed, check the box and explain your situation. You may also need to document your job search efforts, as California courts can impute income to a voluntarily unemployed spouse.

Section 2: Income

This is the core of the FL-150. You must disclose your income from all sources, not just employment.

Income categories include:

Category	Examples
Salary/wages	Base pay, overtime, commissions, bonuses, tips
Self-employment	Business profits, freelance income, gig work, 1099 income
Investments	Dividends, interest, rental income, capital gains
Retirement/pensions	Social Security, pension payments, retirement account distributions
Government benefits	Unemployment, disability (SSDI/SSI), workers’ compensation
Spousal support received	From this case or a different case
Other	Trust distributions, royalties, gambling winnings

Critical rule: Report your gross monthly income (before taxes), not your net (take-home) pay. The court calculates deductions separately using California’s guideline support formula.

How to convert non-monthly income:

• Weekly pay: Multiply by 4.333
• Biweekly pay: Multiply by 2.167
• Annual income: Divide by 12

Attach your pay stubs and tax returns. The court cross-references your stated income against these documents. Inconsistencies will damage your credibility.

Section 3: Investment and Self-Employment Income

If you own a business, work as an independent contractor, or earn income from investments, this section requires additional detail.

Self-employed individuals must provide:

• Total gross receipts from the business
• Business expenses (ordinary and necessary)
• Net business income
• A profit and loss statement for the last 12 months

Important: The court may add back certain deductions that reduce your taxable income but don’t represent real expenses. For example, depreciation on business equipment is often added back when calculating income available for support.

Investment income includes dividends, interest, rental income, and capital gains. Report the amounts from your most recent tax return, adjusted for any changes in the current year.

Section 4: Monthly Expenses

This section asks you to itemize your monthly living expenses. Be thorough and honest — the court uses this information to assess your needs and ability to pay.

Expense categories on the FL-150:

• Housing: Rent or mortgage, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance, maintenance
• Utilities: Electricity, gas, water, trash, phone, internet
• Food and household supplies: Groceries, dining out, cleaning supplies
• Transportation: Car payment, insurance, gas, maintenance, parking, public transit
• Healthcare: Insurance premiums, co-pays, prescriptions, dental, vision (not covered by insurance)
• Childcare: Daycare, babysitter, after-school care
• Children’s expenses: School costs, clothing, activities, tutoring
• Personal: Clothing, laundry, grooming
• Entertainment: Recreation, subscriptions, hobbies
• Insurance: Life insurance, disability insurance (not deducted from paycheck)
• Education: Your own education expenses
• Debt payments: Credit card minimum payments, student loans, personal loans

Tips for this section:

• Use actual amounts, not estimates. Review your bank and credit card statements for the last 3 months and average them.
• Don’t inflate expenses. Judges see hundreds of FL-150s. Unreasonable numbers (like $2,000/month for groceries for one person) destroy credibility.
• Don’t forget irregular expenses. Car registration, annual insurance premiums, and holiday gifts should be divided by 12 and included as a monthly average.

Section 5: Attorney Fees

This section discloses what you have paid (or owe) for legal representation. It is particularly important if you are requesting that the other party contribute to your attorney fees under Family Code Section 2030.

What to enter:

• Total amount paid to your attorney to date
• Total amount you still owe your attorney
• Retainer amount (if applicable)
• Source of funds used to pay attorney fees (savings, loan, credit card, family help)

If you do not have an attorney (you are self-represented), you can leave this section blank or write “self-represented.”

Section 6: Assets and Debts Summary

The FL-150 includes a simplified summary of your assets and debts. This is not the same as the FL-142 (Schedule of Assets and Debts), which provides a more complete property inventory.

Assets to list:

• Cash and checking/savings account balances
• Stocks, bonds, and other investments
• Real estate equity
• Retirement accounts (401(k), IRA, pension)
• Vehicles
• Other significant assets (jewelry, art, business interests)

Debts to list:

• Mortgage balance
• Car loans
• Credit card balances
• Student loans
• Tax debts
• Other liabilities

Tip: Be consistent with what you report on the FL-142 (if you file one). Contradictions between the two forms will be noticed. For a complete guide to California divorce forms including the FL-142, FL-141, and other required filings, see our forms hub page.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These are the errors family law attorneys and court clerks see most often on FL-150 filings:

1. Reporting net income instead of gross. The FL-150 asks for gross (pre-tax) income. Reporting take-home pay will make your income appear lower than it is, and the judge will catch it by comparing your pay stubs.

2. Forgetting to attach tax returns and pay stubs. Under Family Code Section 2104, these attachments are mandatory. A missing attachment can result in your FL-150 being rejected or your hearing being continued.

3. Leaving sections blank. If a category doesn’t apply to you, write “$0” or “N/A.” Blank spaces look like you forgot (or intentionally skipped) that section.

4. Inflating expenses. The fastest way to lose credibility with a judge is to claim $3,000/month in groceries for a household of two. Use real numbers from your actual bank statements.

5. Not updating the form. If your income or expenses change significantly between filing and your hearing date, you should file an updated FL-150. The court wants current information.

6. Forgetting to sign under penalty of perjury. An unsigned FL-150 is invalid. Sign and date the form where indicated on the last page.

7. Using outdated forms. The Judicial Council updates its forms periodically. Always download the most current version from the California Courts website or use a tool that stays updated.

How to File Your FL-150 with the Court

Once your FL-150 is complete, follow these steps to file it properly:

Step 1: Review Everything

Read through the entire form one more time. Check that:

• All income sources are reported
• Expense totals add up correctly
• Tax returns and pay stubs are attached
• The form is signed and dated

Step 2: Make Copies

You need three copies of the completed FL-150 and all attachments:

• Original for the court
• One copy for you
• One copy to serve on the other party

Step 3: Serve the Other Party

You must serve your FL-150 on the other party (or their attorney). Service must be completed at least 16 court days before any hearing where support is at issue.

Acceptable methods of service:

• Personal service (hand delivery by someone other than you)
• Mail service (add 5 calendar days for mailing time)
• Electronic service (if both parties have agreed to e-service)

Step 4: File with the Court

Bring your original FL-150 and copies to the clerk’s office at the courthouse where your case is pending. The clerk will stamp all copies with the filing date.

Many California counties now accept e-filing through approved vendors. Check your county’s court website for electronic filing options.

Step 5: File Your Proof of Service

After serving the other party, complete and file a Proof of Service (Form FL-330 or POS-040) with the court. This proves you met the service deadline.

How DivorceFormHelper Makes This Easier

If your income is under $184,000 and your finances are straightforward, you may be eligible for the simplified FL-155 instead — see our guide on comparing the FL-150 with the simplified FL-155 to find out which form your case requires.

Filling out the FL-150 by hand means navigating a dense PDF, calculating totals manually, and hoping you haven’t missed a required field. DivorceFormHelper simplifies the process:

• Plain-English questions guide you through each section — no legal jargon
• Automatic calculations for income conversions and expense totals
• Built-in error checking flags missing fields and common mistakes before you generate your PDF
• Privacy-first design — your data never leaves your browser. Nothing is stored on any server.
• Instant PDF download — get a court-ready FL-150 you can print and file immediately

The tool costs $29 — significantly less than the $200-$400 an attorney typically charges to help complete this single form.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FL-150 form in California?

The FL-150 is the Income and Expense Declaration used in California family law cases. It is a mandatory court form that discloses your income, expenses, assets, and debts. Judges use it to make decisions about child support, spousal support (alimony), and attorney fee awards.

When do I need to file an FL-150?

You must file an FL-150 whenever child support, spousal support, or attorney fees are at issue in your California family law case. This includes divorce, legal separation, domestic violence restraining orders (with support requests), and post-judgment modification hearings. The form must be served on the other party at least 16 court days before any hearing where support will be discussed.

Do I need to attach my tax returns to the FL-150?

Yes. California Family Code Section 2104 requires you to attach your most recent federal and state tax returns to your FL-150. You must also attach your two most recent pay stubs. Failure to include these attachments can result in the court striking your declaration or imposing sanctions.

What happens if I make a mistake on my FL-150?

The FL-150 is signed under penalty of perjury, so accuracy matters. Minor errors can be corrected by filing an amended FL-150 before your hearing. However, intentionally misrepresenting income or expenses can result in court sanctions, an adverse support order, or even perjury charges. If you discover an error after filing, file a corrected FL-150 as soon as possible.

Can I fill out the FL-150 online?

Yes. While the official Judicial Council PDF can be downloaded and printed, online tools like DivorceFormHelper let you fill out the FL-150 through a guided, plain-English questionnaire. The tool calculates totals automatically, flags common errors, and generates a court-ready PDF. Your data stays in your browser and is never stored on any server.

How much does it cost to file the FL-150?

There is no separate filing fee for the FL-150 itself — it is filed as part of your existing family law case. However, if you are starting a new divorce case, the initial filing fee in California is approximately $435 to $450 depending on the county. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify (Form FW-001).

What is the difference between the FL-150 and the FL-142?

The FL-150 (Income and Expense Declaration) focuses on your current income, monthly expenses, and financial needs. It is used for support hearings. The FL-142 (Schedule of Assets and Debts) is a comprehensive inventory of all community and separate property. In a contested divorce, you may need to file both forms.