"What Is Form FL-110? The California Family Law Summons Explained"

 

Disclaimer This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Court forms, filing requirements, and procedures are subject to change. Always verify current form versions at courts.ca.gov and consult a licensed California attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship with SuperDocs or any attorney.

 

If you file family law cases in California, Form FL-110 — the Summons (Family Law) — is one of the first documents served on the respondent. It officially notifies the other party that a family law proceeding has been filed and informs them of their rights and obligations from the moment of service.

Serving an incorrect or incomplete FL-110 can invalidate service, delay the case, or create procedural complications that are difficult to unwind. For attorneys and paralegals, the goal is to issue it correctly alongside the petition and make sure the respondent is properly notified from day one.

 

Why FL-110 Matters

FL-110 does more than notify the respondent that a case has been filed. The moment it is served, it activates automatic temporary restraining orders (ATROs) that apply to both parties. These orders restrict both the petitioner and respondent from transferring assets, canceling insurance policies, or taking children out of the state without written consent or a court order.

Because the ATROs are printed on the back of FL-110, proper service of the summons is what legally puts those protections in place.

 

When Is FL-110 Required?

FL-110 must be filed and served in all family law cases where the respondent needs to be formally notified, including:

•     Dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership

•     Legal separation proceedings

•     Nullity of marriage actions

•     Parentage actions where the respondent has not voluntarily appeared

 

It is issued by the court clerk at the time of filing and must be served on the respondent along with the petition (FL-100) and any other required documents. FL-110 cannot be served by the petitioner.

 

What the Automatic Temporary Restraining Orders Cover

The ATROs printed on the back of FL-110 take effect on the petitioner when the case is filed, and on the respondent when they are served. They prohibit both parties from:

•     Transferring, encumbering, or disposing of any property without written consent or a court order

•     Canceling, transferring, or changing beneficiaries of any insurance held for the benefit of the parties or their children

•     Taking minor children out of California without prior written consent or a court order

•     Creating or modifying a nonprobate transfer affecting property subject to the transfer without written consent or a court order

 

How to Complete FL-110: Section-by-Section Guide

1. Case Caption

Enter the names of the petitioner and respondent exactly as they appear on FL-100. Consistency across all forms in the filing package is essential.

2. Court Information

Enter the name and address of the superior court where the case is filed.

3. Notice to Respondent

This section notifies the respondent of the deadline to file a response — typically 30 days for California residents, 60 days if served outside California, and 90 days if served outside the United States.

4. Petitioner’s Attorney or Petitioner Information

Enter the name, address, telephone number, and State Bar number of the attorney, or the petitioner’s contact information if self-represented.

5. Clerk’s Issuance

FL-110 must be issued by the court clerk before it can be served. Do not attempt to serve an unissued summons — it is legally defective.

 

Mistakes and Best Practices

The most common problems to avoid:

•     Using an unissued summons — always obtain the clerk’s stamp before serving

•     Mismatched party names between FL-110 and FL-100

•     Failing to include the back of the form, which contains the ATROs

•     Petitioner attempting to serve the summons themselves

•     Forgetting to file FL-115 (Proof of Service) after service is completed

 

And the workflow habits that prevent them:

•     Prepare FL-110 and FL-115 together as a matched pair at the time of filing

•     Confirm the clerk has issued FL-110 before handing it to the process server

•     Calendar the respondent’s response deadline the day FL-115 is filed

•     Verify party names match exactly across FL-100, FL-110, and FL-115

 

Companion Forms Filed with FL-110

•     FL-100 — Petition (filed and served together with FL-110)

•     FL-105 — UCCJEA Declaration (required when minor children are involved)

•     FL-115 — Proof of Service of Summons (filed after service is completed)

 

How SuperDocs Can Help

SuperDocs is a California court form platform designed for attorneys and paralegals. No lengthy setup, no forms about forms — just open a CJC court form and start typing. Shared case details fill in as you go, and information entered on one form is available across related forms in the same matter. Checkboxes, dates, assets, and other details are tracked behind the scenes so nothing gets missed.

For FL-110 filings, party names, court information, and attorney details entered once are available across FL-100, FL-105, FL-115, and related forms in the same case.

Spend less time on re-entry, more time on the case.

•     Open any court form and start typing — no lengthy setup required

•     Shared case details and contacts are available across related forms — enter data once and reuse it throughout the case

•     Assets, dates, and case details tracked and reused across the entire case

•     Review and edit any field before printing or downloading

•     Save client profiles for use throughout the lifecycle of the case

 

 

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