|
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 family law cases in California, Form FL-150 — the Income and Expense Declaration — is one of the most frequently required documents in your filing package. It appears in divorce proceedings, custody disputes, domestic violence cases, and any matter where the court needs to evaluate support. Getting it right is not optional.
An incomplete or inaccurate FL-150 can undermine a support request, trigger a continuance, or give opposing counsel grounds to challenge the declaration. For attorneys and paralegals, the goal is to prepare it thoroughly, consistently, and in alignment with the rest of the financial disclosure package.
Why FL-150 Matters
California courts cannot make informed support orders — whether spousal, partner, or child support — without reliable financial information from both parties. FL-150 is the primary document that provides it.
Unlike many CJC forms that are filed once and rarely revisited, FL-150 has a shelf life. Courts treat declarations older than 90 days as stale, and judges routinely require updated versions before hearings. That means FL-150 is not a one-time task — it is a recurring part of active case management.
When Is FL-150 Required?
FL-150 is required in any family law matter where support is at issue, including:
• Dissolution of marriage or domestic partnership proceedings involving spousal or child support
• Requests for temporary support orders
• Modifications of existing support orders
• Contempt proceedings involving support obligations
• Domestic violence restraining order hearings where support is requested
• Legal separation matters involving support
It is typically filed alongside FL-100 or a Request for Order (FL-300) whenever support is part of the relief being requested.
How to Complete FL-150: Section-by-Section Guide
1. Employment Information
Identify your client’s current employer, job title, and how long they have been employed there. If self-employed, indicate that here and be prepared to provide additional documentation. Accuracy is critical — inconsistencies between FL-150 and pay stubs or tax returns create credibility problems.
2. Age and Education
Enter the party’s age and highest level of education completed. Courts use this information to assess earning capacity, which becomes relevant in long-term marriages or cases where one party has been out of the workforce.
3. Tax Information
Indicate the most recent tax filing status and how many exemptions were claimed. If taxes have not been filed recently, note that and be prepared to explain why. Attach the most recent federal tax return if required by local rules or court order.
4. Other Party’s Income
Enter your best estimate of the other party’s monthly income. If unknown, indicate that clearly rather than leaving it blank. Courts understand that parties do not always have access to the other side’s financials, but a blank field without explanation raises questions.
5. Income
This section is the core of FL-150. List all sources of gross monthly income including:
• Wages and salary
• Overtime, commissions, and bonuses
• Self-employment income
• Rental income
• Dividends and interest
• Unemployment, disability, or workers’ compensation
• Social Security or pension income
• Any other regular source of income
Use average monthly figures where income fluctuates. Attach pay stubs covering the last two months — this is a standard requirement in most California courts.
6. Investment and Business Assets
Disclose interests in real property, businesses, stocks, bonds, and other investment assets. This section is often underreported, which courts notice when comparing FL-150 to other financial disclosures in the case.
7. Deductions
List all mandatory payroll deductions including taxes, Social Security, Medicare, state disability insurance, union dues, and required retirement contributions. These reduce gross income to arrive at net monthly income, which is what most support calculations are based on.
8. Monthly Expenses
Itemize monthly living expenses for the party and any children in their care. Be specific and realistic — courts are experienced at identifying inflated or underreported expense declarations. Common categories include housing, utilities, food, transportation, health insurance, childcare, and education.
9. Assets
List all assets including cash, bank accounts, vehicles, real property, retirement accounts, and personal property of significant value. This section overlaps with the Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure (FL-140) and the values must be consistent.
10. Installment Payments and Debts
Disclose all recurring debt obligations — credit cards, loans, and any other monthly payment commitments. Courts consider debt load when assessing ability to pay support.
Mistakes and Best Practices
Because FL-150 directly influences support calculations, errors here have immediate financial consequences. The most common problems to avoid:
• Reporting gross income without clearly distinguishing it from net income
• Omitting irregular income sources such as bonuses, commissions, or rental income
• Leaving the other party’s income section blank without explanation
• Filing a declaration that is more than 90 days old at the time of the hearing
• Inconsistencies between FL-150 figures and attached tax returns or pay stubs
• Underreporting assets or expenses in ways that contradict other filed documents
And the workflow habits that prevent them:
• Collect pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements during intake — do not wait until the hearing is scheduled
• Cross-check FL-150 figures against the Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure (FL-140) and Schedule of Assets and Debts (FL-142) before filing
• Calendar a 90-day review date whenever FL-150 is filed so it can be updated before it goes stale
• Use the same income and expense figures consistently across all financial forms in the case
• Have the client review the completed declaration carefully before signing — they are attesting to its accuracy under penalty of perjury
Companion Forms Filed with FL-150
FL-150 rarely stands alone. The standard financial disclosure package in a dissolution case includes:
• FL-140 — Preliminary Declaration of Disclosure (required in most dissolution cases)
• FL-142 — Schedule of Assets and Debts
• FL-160 — Property Declaration (for cases with significant assets)
• FL-300 — Request for Order (when filing for temporary support)
• Pay stubs — covering the most recent two months (typically attached as an exhibit)
How SuperDocs Can Help
SuperDocs helps California firms prepare FL-150 and its companion forms faster by centralizing financial information in a structured workflow and reusing it across all relevant documents. Income figures entered once populate consistently across FL-150, FL-140, and related forms — eliminating duplicate entry and reducing the risk of inconsistencies between filings.
Spend less time reconciling numbers across forms, more time preparing your client for the hearing.
• Enter financial data once — FL-150 and companion forms populate automatically
• Fields validated for consistency across FL-140, FL-142, FL-150, and FL-160
• Review and edit any field before printing or downloading
• Save client profiles and update declarations as case financials change
|
Ready to Automate Your Court Forms? SuperDocs auto-populates CJC court forms in seconds. Try it free for 3 months — no payment required. Get Started Free at superdocs.com |