What Is Form FL-140? The Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure 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 handle dissolution or legal separation cases in California, Form FL-140 — the Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure — is the cover document that initiates the mandatory financial disclosure process. FL-140 certifies that a party has served the required financial disclosures — FL-142 and FL-150 — on the other party.

Failing to serve the preliminary disclosure on time, or serving it without the required attachments, can stall the case, expose a party to sanctions, or prevent the court from entering a judgment.

 

Why FL-140 Matters

California Family Code requires both parties in a dissolution or legal separation case to exchange a full and accurate picture of their financial situation before any judgment is entered. FL-140 is the mechanism that formally initiates this exchange, signed under penalty of perjury.

 

When Is FL-140 Required?

•     The petitioner must serve their Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure at the same time as or shortly after serving the petition

•     The respondent must serve their own within 60 days of filing their response

•     A Final Declaration of Disclosure is also required before judgment, unless waived using FL-144

•     FL-140 is served on the other party — not filed with the court. Proof of service is documented via FL-141

 

What Must Be Served with FL-140

•     FL-142 — Schedule of Assets and Debts

•     FL-150 — Income and Expense Declaration

•     A copy of the two most recent federal and state tax returns

•     All documents referenced in completing the above forms

 

How to Complete FL-140: Section-by-Section Guide

1. Case Caption

Enter party names and case number exactly as they appear on FL-100 and all other filed documents.

2. Petitioner or Respondent Designation

Indicate whether the form is being served by the petitioner or the respondent. Each party serves their own separate FL-140 package.

3. Declaration of Service

Confirm that FL-142, FL-150, and copies of the most recent tax returns have been served on the other party. This section is signed under penalty of perjury.

4. Date and Signature

FL-140 must be signed by the party — not just the attorney. Confirm the client has reviewed and understands the full disclosure package before signing.

 

Preliminary vs. Final Declaration of Disclosure

•     Preliminary — served early in the case at or shortly after the petition is filed. Required in all cases.

•     Final — served before judgment is entered. Must reflect updated financial information.

•     FL-144 — both parties can agree to waive the final disclosure, which is common in uncontested cases where circumstances have not changed

 

Mistakes and Best Practices

The most common problems to avoid:

•     Serving FL-140 without the complete attachment package

•     Missing the service deadline

•     Having the attorney sign instead of the party

•     Failing to file FL-141 with the court after serving FL-140

•     Inconsistencies between FL-142 and FL-150 in the same package

 

And the workflow habits that prevent them:

•     Prepare FL-140, FL-142, and FL-150 as a single package — never serve FL-140 alone

•     Cross-check all figures across FL-142 and FL-150 before the client signs FL-140

•     File FL-141 with the court immediately after the disclosure package is served

 

Companion Forms Filed with FL-140

•     FL-142 — Schedule of Assets and Debts

•     FL-150 — Income and Expense Declaration

•     FL-141 — Declaration Regarding Service of Declaration of Disclosure

•     FL-144 — Stipulation and Waiver of Final Declaration of Disclosure

•     FL-160 — Property Declaration

 

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-140 filings, party names, case numbers, and financial data entered once are available across FL-142, FL-150, FL-141, 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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