When is the FL-150 filed or served?

Published October 27, 2026

California's Income and Expense Declaration, form FL-150, turns up at several points in a family law case, and the rules differ at each one. Sometimes it is only served on the other party; sometimes it is filed with the court too. This guide lists the main occasions with the rule that sets each one, from the Family Code as cited on form FL-140 and from the California Rules of Court (2026 edition). It is general information, not legal advice. Deadlines can be extended or changed by agreement or court order, so check your own case with a lawyer or the court's self-help center.

At a glance

Disclosure: the 60-day window

In a dissolution, legal separation or nullity case, each party serves a preliminary declaration of disclosure on the other. Form FL-140 lists the FL-150 as one of its attachments, with the FL-142 Schedule of Assets and Debts and two years of tax returns (see FL-150 versus FL-142). On timing, FL-140 says:

The petitioner must serve a preliminary declaration of disclosure at the same time as the Petition or within 60 days of filing the Petition. The respondent must serve a preliminary declaration of disclosure at the same time as the Response or within 60 days of filing the Response. The time periods may be extended by written agreement of the parties or by court order (see Family Code section 2104(f)).

FL-140 also says that neither the preliminary nor the final declaration of disclosure is filed with the court. What is filed is a declaration that the disclosure was served, on form FL-141. And it says that "Service of preliminary declarations of disclosure may not be waived by an agreement between the parties."

Requests for support orders

When you ask the court for support, the FL-150 goes in with your Request for Order. Rule 5.92(b)(2) covers spousal or domestic partner support, attorney's fees and costs, and other orders about property or finances; rule 5.92(b)(3) covers child support. Both say the FL-150 is filed with the Request for Order, must be current as described in rule 5.260, and must include the documents the FL-150 itself lists to show income: pay stubs for the last two months and proof of any other income (see how many bank statements for the FL-150).

Rule 5.92(f)(4) adds that when the person asking serves their own FL-150 or FL-155, a blank FL-150 goes to the other party along with a blank Responsive Declaration.

Responding to a request

Rule 5.92(g)(3) says the responding party's FL-150 is filed with the Responsive Declaration to Request for Order (form FL-320), under the same requirements as the request. Rule 5.260(a)(2) says the same for anyone responding to a request for support orders.

How recent it has to be

Rule 5.260(a) says both parties must file and serve a current FL-150 for all hearings involving child, spousal or domestic partner support, except as the rule provides. Rule 5.260(a)(3) defines current:

"Current" means the form has been completed within the past three months providing no facts have changed.

The rule adds that it must contain enough for the court to make an order. By that definition, an FL-150 signed five months ago is not current, and neither is a recent one if the facts on it have changed.

The simplified alternative

Rule 5.260(a)(4) says that in child support hearings a party may use a current Financial Statement (Simplified), form FL-155, instead of the FL-150 if they meet that form's requirements. Rule 5.260(a)(5) says the FL-155 is not appropriate for spousal or domestic partner support, family support, or attorney's fees and costs. Whether you qualify is set out on the FL-155 itself.

Financial Affidavit Numbers gives you the FL-150 figures as a worksheet with the date range it covers, so redoing them for a new hearing means adding the newest statements. It does not fill in, serve or file the form; you do.

Common questions

Is the FL-150 filed with the court?

It depends on the occasion. As part of the preliminary declaration of disclosure it is served on the other party, not filed. With a Request for Order about support or fees, or with a Responsive Declaration, it is filed with the court and served (California Rules of Court 5.92 and 5.260).

How recent does an FL-150 need to be?

Rule 5.260(a)(3) says 'current' means the form has been completed within the past three months providing no facts have changed.

When is the preliminary declaration of disclosure due in California?

Form FL-140 says the petitioner serves it with the Petition or within 60 days of filing the Petition, and the respondent with the Response or within 60 days of filing the Response. The periods can be extended by written agreement or court order (Family Code 2104(f)).

Can I use the FL-155 instead of the FL-150?

In child support hearings, rule 5.260(a)(4) allows a current Financial Statement (Simplified), form FL-155, if you meet its requirements. It is not for spousal or domestic partner support, family support, or attorney's fees and costs.

More guides: FL-150 monthly averages from bank statements · How many bank statements for the FL-150 · FL-150 item 13, line by line · FL-150 last month vs average monthly · FL-150 vs FL-142 · Florida short form vs long form · Florida: weekly and biweekly to monthly · Florida financial affidavit, section by section · Florida financial affidavit deadline · Credit card payments vs purchases · Transfers between your own accounts · Irregular income on a financial affidavit · Financial affidavit tools compared · A financial affidavit in a spreadsheet