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FL-300-INFO - Information Sheet for Request for Order (Family Law)
Summary
Information Sheet for Request for Order (Family Law)
Text
Form ID: FL-300-INFO
Title: Information Sheet for Request for Order (Family Law)
Effective Date: 2026-01-01
Mandatory Form: no
Languages: 汉语, 한국어, español, Tiếng Việt
Info Page: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/FL-300-INFO
Primary Download URL: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fl300info.pdf
Alternate Download URLs: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fl300infoc.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fl300infok.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fl300infos.pdf, https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fl300infov.pdf
Form Detail Page:
Information Sheet for Request for Order (Family Law)
(FL-300-INFO)
Explains how to fill out Request for Order (form FL-300) to ask the court to make decisions (orders) in your family law case. It includes: steps to get a hearing date on the court's regular calendar or ask for emergency orders, information about serving the papers to the other party, and resources if you have questions or need legal help.
Get form FL-300-INFO
汉语
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(Korean)
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(Spanish)
Tiếng Việt
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(Vietnamese)
Effective: January 1, 2026
Go to
How-to instructions for Custody
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Custody Form Packets
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How-to instructions for Child Support
Go to
Child Support Form Packets
PDF Text:
Judicial Council of California, courts.ca.gov
Rev. January 1, 2026, Optional Form FL-300-INFO, Page 1 of 4Information Sheet for Request for Order
(Family Law)
FL-300-INFO Information Sheet for Request for Order
1 USE Request for Order (form FL-300):
• To schedule a court hearing and ask the court to make new orders or to change orders in your case.
• When Restraining Order After Hearing (form DV-130) has expired, and you want to change the orders that are
still in effect (examples: child custody, visitation (parenting time), child support, and other orders).
• To change or end Juvenile Restraining Order After Hearing (form JV-255) when the case is closed (dismissed)
and the order was granted under the Code of Civil Procedure.
2 DO NOT USE Request for Order (form FL-300):
• To ask for a restraining order against your spouse or domestic partner, a former spouse or domestic partner, or
someone you have a child with. Read How to Ask for a Temporary Restraining Order (form DV-505-INFO).
• To ask to change or end a Restraining Order After Hearing granted under the Domestic Violence Prevention
Act, including form DV-130 and form JV-255 in a juvenile case. For more information, read How Do I Ask to
Change or End a Domestic Violence Restraining Order? (form DV-300-INFO).
• Before you have filed a Petition to start your family law case (form FL-300 may be filed with the Petition).
• If you and the other party have an agreement. For information about how to write up your agreement, get it
approved by the court, and filed in your case, see selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/family-law/agreements, speak with an
attorney, or get help at your court’s self-help center or family law facilitator’s office.
• When specific Judicial Council forms must be used to ask the court for other orders. For example, to askfor an
order for contempt, use form FL-410; to set aside a child support order, use form FL-360 or
form FL-640; to set aside a voluntary declaration of paternity, use form FL-280.
3 Forms checklist
a. Form FL-300, Request for Order, is the basic form you need to file with the court. Depending on your request,
you may need the forms listed in items b through h, below:
b. To request child custody or visitation (parenting time) orders, you may need to complete some of these forms:
FL-105, Declaration Under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
FL-311, Child Custody and Visitation (Parenting Time) Application Attachment
FL-312, Request for Child Abduction Prevention Orders
FL-341(C), Children’s Holiday Schedule Attachment
FL-341(D), Additional Provisions—Physical Custody Attachment
FL-341(E), Joint Legal Custody Attachment
c. If you want child support, you need this form:
A current FL-150, Income and Expense Declaration. You may use form FL-155, Financial Statement
(Simplified), instead of form FL-150 if you meet the requirements listed on page 2 of form FL-155.
d. If you want spousal or partner support or orders about your finances, you may need or want to use these forms:
A current FL-150, Income and Expense Declaration
FL-157, Spousal or Partner Support Declaration Attachment
e. If you want attorney’s fees and costs, you need these forms:*
A current FL-150, Income and Expense Declaration
FL-319, Request for Attorney’s Fees and Costs Attachment (or provide the information in a declaration)
FL-158, Supporting Declaration for Attorney’s Fees and Costs (or provide the information in a declaration)
(*The above forms are not required when asking for attorney's fees and costs under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act.)
f. To request temporary emergency (ex parte) orders, you need these forms:
FL-305, Temporary Emergency Orders, to serve as the proposed temporary emergency orders.
Your declaration describing how and when you gave notice about the request for temporary emergency
orders. You may use form FL-303, Declaration Regarding Notice and Service of Request for Temporary
Emergency (Ex Parte) Orders.
Other forms required by local courts. See item 9 on page 3 of this form for more information.
g. If you plan to have witnesses testify at the hearing, you may want to use:
FL-321, Witness List
h. If you want to request a separate trial (bifurcation) on an issue, you need form:
FL-315, Request or Response to Request for Separate Trial
Rev. January 1, 2026 FL-300-INFO, Page 2 of 4Information Sheet for Request for Order
(Family Law)
4 Complete form FL-300 (Page 1)
Caption: Complete the top part with your name,
address, and telephone number. Below that, fill in
the court's address.
Write the name of the Petitioner, Respondent, or
Other Parent/Party. (You must use the party names
as they appear in the petition.)
In the next section, check “CHANGE” if you want
to change an existing order. Check “TEMPORARY
EMERGENCY (EX PARTE) ORDER” if you are
asking that the court make emergency orders that
will be effective until the hearing date.
Then, check the boxes that apply to the orders
you are requesting. Finally, in the box on the
right, write your case number.
Item 1: List the name(s) of the other person(s)
in your case who will receive your
request. In some cases, this might include
a grandparent who is joined as a party
in the case, a local child support agency,
or a lawyer who represents a child in the
case.
Item 2: Leave this blank. The court clerk will
fill in the date, time, and location of the
hearing.
Item 3: This is a notice to all other parties.
Items Leave these blank. The court will
4–5: complete them if the orders are granted.
Item 6: In some counties, the court clerk will
check item 6 and provide the details for
your required child custody mediation or
recommending counseling appointment.
Other courts require the party or the
party’s lawyer to make the appointment
and then complete item 6 before filing
form FL-300.
Ask your court’s Family Law Facilitator
or Self-Help Center to find out what your
court requires.
Items Leave these blank. The court will
7–8: complete them, if needed.
Complete form FL-300 (pages 2–4)5
7 File your documents
Give your paperwork and the copies you made to
the court clerk to process. You may take them to the
clerk’s office in person, mail them, or, in some
counties, you can e-file them.
The clerk will keep the original and give you back
the copies you made with a court date and time
stamped on the first page of the Request for Order.
The procedure may be different in some courts if
you are requesting temporary emergency orders.
8 Pay filing fees
A fee is due at the time of filing.
If you cannot afford to pay the filing fee, and you
do not already have a valid fee waiver order in this
case, you can ask the court to waive the fee by
completing and filing form FW-001, Request to
Waive Court Fees, and form FW-003, Order on
Court Fee Waiver.
6 Complete additional forms and make copies
Complete any additional forms that you need to file
with the Request for Order. Make at least two
copies of your full packet.
FL-300-INFO Information Sheet for Request for Order
Rev. January 1, 2026 FL-300-INFO, Page 3 of 4Information Sheet for Request for Order
(Family Law)
FL-300-INFO Information Sheet for Request for Order
9 Temporary Emergency (Ex Parte) Orders
(nondomestic violence restraining orders)
Courts can make temporary orders in your family
law case to respond to emergencies that cannot wait
to be heard on the court’s regular hearing calendar.
The emergency must involve an immediate or
irreparable harm to a party or children in the case,
or an immediate loss or damage to property.
Under Family Code section 3064, "immediate harm
to a child" includes, but is not limited to, a child:
• Whose parent has committed acts of domestic
violence; or
• Who is a victim of sexual abuse.
When deciding whether there is immediate harm to
a child, the court will consider whether a parent
has illegal access to firearms or ammunition.
To request these orders:
• Complete form FL-300. Describe the emergency
and explain why you need the temporary
emergency orders before the hearing.
• Complete form FL-305 to serve as your proposed
temporary orders.
• Include a declaration describing how and
when you notified the other parties (or why you
could not give notice) about your request and the
hearing (see form FL-303).
• Complete forms required by local court rules.
• Follow your court’s local procedures for
reserving the day for the hearing, submitting your
paperwork, and paying filing fees.
10 General information about “service”
“Service” is the act of giving your legal papers to
all persons named as parties in the case so that they
know what orders you are asking for and have
information about the hearing.
If the other parties are NOT properly served, the
judge cannot make the orders you requested on the
date of the hearing.
11 Serve the Request for Order, blank forms
The other party must be “served” with a:
• Copy of the Request for Order and all the other
forms and attachments filed with the court clerk.
• Copy of temporary emergency orders granted.
• Blank form FL-320, Responsive Declaration to
Request for Order.
• Blank form FL-150, Income and Expense
Declaration (if you served form FL-150 or
FL-155).
12 Who can be a “server”
You cannot serve the papers. Have someone else
(who is at least 18 years old) do it. The server can
be a friend, a relative who is not involved in your
case, a sheriff, or a professional process server.
13 “Personal service”
Personal service means that your server walks up to
each person to be served, makes sure the right
person is served, and then hand-delivers a copy of
all the papers (and the blank forms). If the person
served does not take the papers, the server may
leave the papers near the person.
Note: Sometimes the papers may be personally
served on the other party’s lawyer (if the other party
has one) in the family law case.
“Service by mail” Service by mail means that
your server places copies of all the documents (and
blank forms) in a sealed envelope and mails them
to the address of each party being served (or to the
party’s lawyer, if the party has one).
14
The server must be 18 years of age or over and
live or work in the county where the mailing took
place.
Important! For questions about personal service or
service by mail, talk with a lawyer or check with your
court’s family law facilitator or self-help center at
selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/court-based-self-help-services.
For your protection and privacy, please press the Clear
This Form button after you have printed the form.
Rev. January 1, 2026 FL-300-INFO, Page 4 of 4Information Sheet for Request for Order
(Family Law)
FL-300-INFO Information Sheet for Request for Order
15 When to use personal service or service by mail
Personal Service
Personal service is the best way to make sure the
other adults in your case are correctly served.
Sometimes you must use personal service.
You must use personal service when the court:
Ordered personal service;
Granted temporary emergency orders;
Does not yet have the power to make orders that
apply to the other party because the person has
either NOT previously:
• Been served with a Summons and Petition;*
OR
• Appeared in the case by filing a:
a. Response to a Petition;
b. Appearance, Stipulations, and Waivers;
c. Written notice of appearance;
d. Request to strike all or part of the Petition; or
e. Request to transfer the case.
*Note: A Request for Order may be served at the
same time as the family law Summons
and Petition.
1. After serving, the server must fill out a Proof of
Personal Service (form FL-330) and give it to
you. If the server needs instructions, give them
form FL-330-INFO, Information Sheet for
Proof of Personal Service.
2. Take the completed Proof of Personal Service
form to the clerk’s office (or e-file it, if
available in your court) at least 5 court days
before your hearing.
Deadline: The deadline for personal service is 16
court days before the hearing date, unless the court
orders a different deadline.
Service by Mail
If you are not required to use personal service, you
may use service by mail.
Important! Check with your court’s Family Law
Facilitator’s Office or Self-Help Center, or ask a
lawyer to be sure you are allowed to use service by
mail in your case.
A Request for Order to change a judgment or final
order on the issue of child custody, visitation
(parenting time), or child support may be served by
mail if:
The documents do not include temporary
emergency orders;
The court did not order personal service; and
You have verified the other party’s current
residence or office address. (You may use
Address Verification (form FL-334).)
To change a judgment or final order on any other
issue, including spousal or domestic partner
support, the Request for Order may need to be
personally served on the other party.
1. After serving, the server must fill out a Proof of
Service by Mail (form FL-335) and give it to
you. If the server needs instructions, give them
Information Sheet for Proof of Service by
Mail (form FL-335-INFO).
2. Take the completed Proof of Personal Service
form to the clerk’s office (or e-file it, if available
in your court) at least 5 court days before your
hearing.
Deadline: Unless the court orders a different time,
service by mail must be completed at least 16 court
days PLUS 5 calendar days before the hearing
date (if service is in California). Other time lines
apply for service outside of California.
16 Get ready for your hearing
• Take at least two copies of your documents and filed forms to the hearing. Include a filed Proof of Service form.
• For information about preparing for and presenting your case at the hearing, visit these two online resources:
selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/tips-your-day-court and selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/debt-lawsuits/trial/present-case.
• Information about having the other party or witnesses testify in court (including information about subpoenas) is
online at selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/request-for-order/notice-attend-subpoena.
18 Do you have questions or need help?
• Find a lawyer through your local bar association, the State Bar of California at www.calbar.ca.gov, or the Lawyer
Referral Service at 1-866-442-2529.
• For free and low-cost legal help (if you qualify), go to www.lawhelpca.org.
• Contact the family law facilitator or self-help center for information and assistance, and referrals to local
legal services providers. Go to selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/court-based-self-help-services.
17 After the hearing, form FL-340 Findings and Order After Hearing, must be completed, filed, and served.
Retrieval chunks
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#1
Form ID: FL-300-INFO Title: Information Sheet for Request for Order (Family Law) Effective Date: 2026-01-01 Mandatory Form: no Languages: 汉语, 한국어, español, Tiếng Việt Info Page: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/FL-300-INFO Primary Download URL: https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/fl300info.pdf Alternate …
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#2
• To ask to change or end a Restraining Order After Hearing granted under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, including form DV-130 and form JV-255 in a juvenile case. For more information, read How Do I Ask to Change or End a Domestic Violence Restraining Order? (form DV-300-INFO). • Before you have filed a Peti…
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#3
(*The above forms are not required when asking for attorney's fees and costs under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act.) f. To request temporary emergency (ex parte) orders, you need these forms: FL-305, Temporary Emergency Orders, to serve as the proposed temporary emergency orders. Your declaration describing ho…
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#4
or Self-Help Center to find out what your court requires. Items Leave these blank. The court will 7–8: complete them, if needed. Complete form FL-300 (pages 2–4)5 7 File your documents Give your paperwork and the copies you made to the court clerk to process. You may take them to the clerk’s office i…
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#5
• Complete forms required by local court rules. • Follow your court’s local procedures for reserving the day for the hearing, submitting your paperwork, and paying filing fees. 10 General information about “service” “Service” is the act of giving your legal papers to all persons named as parties in the case so t…
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#6
Personal Service Personal service is the best way to make sure the other adults in your case are correctly served. Sometimes you must use personal service. You must use personal service when the court: Ordered personal service; Granted temporary emergency orders; Does not yet have the power to make orders that …
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#7
in your court) at least 5 court days before your hearing. Deadline: Unless the court orders a different time, service by mail must be completed at least 16 court days PLUS 5 calendar days before the hearing date (if service is in California). Other time lines apply for service outside of California. 16 Get read…