How To Complete California Divorce Form FL-180 (2024 Forms)

Form FL-180 is the judgment for dissolution of marriage used in California. It functions as the face sheet for the judgment and tells the court and the parties what orders are being entered: custody, support, spousal support, property division, and more. When handling an uncontested or default divorce, completing this form correctly prevents delays and rejections.

What FL-180 is for

Think of FL-180 as the summary page for the court’s judgment. It records how the respondent came under the court’s jurisdiction, the orders being entered, and the attachments that make up the rest of the judgment. The court will rely on it to know what supplemental orders and exhibits to look for, so accuracy matters.

Step-by-step: filling out the important parts

1. Case typeIndicate whether the case is default, default with agreement, or uncontested. This determines what supporting documents you must attach and how jurisdiction was acquired.
2. How the respondent came under the court’s jurisdictionCheck the box that describes how the respondent was served and enter the date. Acceptable dates include:
   • The date the respondent signed a Notice of Acknowledgment of Receipt
   • The date of personal service
   • The date a written response was filed (this shows the respondent appeared)
3. Box that says “The court order is good cause appearing” (do not fill the date)Leave the specific date line blank. The court will fill in the date when it signs the judgment. Entering a date here yourself is a common reason the court rejects the judgment.
4. Children and parentageList minor children’s names and dates of birth exactly as they appear on the petition. If any child was born before the marriage and parentage was not established on the petition, attach a Declaration of Parentage (or equivalent) and mark the box that parentage is established for children of this relationship.
5. Child custodyIf there are minor children, mark the custody box and attach the local custody form—typically FL-341 or the court’s custody attachment. Use the form the court provides instead of drafting your own language.
6. Child supportAlways attach a child support order. If the parties agree there will be no child support, you still must include a child support order reflecting that agreement. Do not skip this step.
7. Spousal supportAttach the spousal support order, usually FL-343. Indicate whether spousal support is ordered now, reserved for the future, or terminated. Make sure the FL-180 options match the attached spousal support form.
8. Property and debt divisionEvery judgment must address property division. For simple asset situations the information can fit into the spaces on FL-180 or use FL-345 for detailed property and debt division. Attach the supporting order.
9. Settlement agreement and signaturesIf the parties have a marital settlement agreement or stipulation, attach it. Many people get stuck because the printed forms don’t have a clear place to sign. Include a separate signature page or a full written marital settlement agreement with signature blocks so the court and both parties can sign.
10. Page countCount every page beyond page two of FL-180 (all attachments and additional pages) and enter the total number of attached pages on the face sheet. The court uses that number to check that all attachments are present.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Filling in the court date in the “good cause appearing” area. The court fills that date—do not enter it yourself.
• Not attaching a child support order. Even if there is no child support, an order confirming that must be attached.
• Skipping the spousal support form. Attach FL-343 to reflect whether support is ordered, reserved, or terminated.
• Mismatched names or dates for children. Child names and birth dates must match the petition exactly.
• Forgetting to attach parentage documents. If parentage was not established on the petition, include the Declaration of Parentage now.
• No signature page for settlement agreements. If the judgment relies on a written agreement, provide a signature block so both parties can sign.
• Incorrect page count. Count all pages beyond page two and show the correct total on FL-180.

Quick checklist before filing FL-180

1. Case type box checked correctly (default, default with agreement, or uncontested).
2. Service/jurisdiction box checked and correct date entered.
3. Do not fill the court’s sign date for “good cause appearing.”
4. Children listed exactly as on the petition, with DOBs; parentage documents attached if needed.
5. Child custody form attached (FL-341 or local equivalent) when minors are involved.
6. Child support order attached even if zero.
7. Spousal support order attached (FL-343) and the correct option marked for reserved/terminated/ordered.
8. Property division order attached (use FL-345 when necessary).
9. Marital settlement agreement or stipulation attached with signature block(s).
10. All attachment pages counted and total entered on FL-180.

Helpful forms referenced

• FL-180 — Judgment for Dissolution of Marriage (face sheet)
• FL-341 — Child custody/parenting-time attachment
• FL-343 — Spousal or partner support attachment
• FL-345 — Property and debt division attachment
• Declaration of Parentage or equivalent if parentage was not established on the petition

Completing FL-180 carefully will save time and reduce the chance the court rejects your judgment. If anything is unclear, consult the court’s self-help center or a family law professional to make sure your attachments and markings accurately reflect the parties’ agreement or the court’s intended orders.