1. Fill out forms.
Fill out, sign, and date:
- Request for Order (form FL-300
) - Income and Expense Declaration (form FL-150)
If the court already made a child support order and judgment in your case (for example, form FL-180 or FL-250), also fill out this form:
Declaration Regarding Address Verification–Postjudgment Request to Modify a Child Custody, Visitation, or Child Support Order (form FL-334).
2. Make copies.
Make 3 copies of each form.
Keep your signed original forms to file later.
3. Have someone mail the unfiled forms.
A server (someone 18 years or older – notyou) mails 1 copy of your forms to the other side (your child’s other parent or your former spouse or partner).
Note: If the court has not made a judgment in your case yet, and the other side has a lawyer, mail the copies to their lawyer instead.
The server must mail:
- 1 copy of your unfiled forms
- 1 blank Responsive Declaration to Request for Order (form FL-320)
- 1 blank Income and Expense Declaration (form FL-150)
The server then fills out form FL-335 , Proof of Service by Mail.
4. File your forms at court and pay your fee.
File at court
- The original plus 2 copies of the forms listed in Step 1, and
- The original plus 1 copy of form FL-335.
You can file the forms in person. Or contact your local court is closed, ask them if you can file:
- by U.S. mail,
- e-mail or e-file, or
- by drop box.
If you file by mail or drop box, you must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
The clerk will charge a fee to file your forms
If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask for a fee waiver
5. Have someone mail the filed forms.
The court will stamp your copies “FILED,” and return them to you. Have a server send the copies of the FILED forms to the other side.
Follow these steps:
- A server (someone 18 years or older – notyou) mails a copy of the FILED forms to the other side.
- The server then fills out a new form FL-335, Proof of Service by Mail for these FILED forms.
Then you file the original plus 1 copy of the newFL-335 before your court date.
6. Update your financial info if…
You need to file and serve an updated form FL-150 at least one week before your court date, if
- Your court date is more than 90 days after you signed your last FL-150, or
- Your financial situation has changed.