Do I need a new FL-150 for my hearing in California?

What the law says

California Rules of Court, rule 5.260(a) requires both parties to complete, file, and serve a current FL-150 for all hearings involving child, spousal, or domestic partner support. The parent asking files it with the Request for Order (FL-300); the parent responding files it with the Responsive Declaration (FL-320). Rule 5.260(a)(3) says current means completed within the past three months providing no facts have changed, and sufficiently completed to allow the court to make an order.

Rule 5.92(b)(2) also requires a current FL-150 with a request for attorney’s fees and costs or other orders about property or finances, except fee requests under Family Code section 6344. In a child support hearing, rule 5.260(a)(4) allows the Financial Statement (Simplified) (form FL-155) instead if you meet that form’s requirements, but rule 5.260(a)(5) says FL-155 cannot be used for spousal support, family support, or attorney’s fees.

The FL-150 itself says to attach copies of your pay stubs for the last two months and proof of any other income, and to take a copy of your latest federal tax return to the hearing.

• California Rules of Court, rule 5.260 (courts.ca.gov)
• California Rules of Court, rule 5.92 (courts.ca.gov)
• Form FL-150, Income and Expense Declaration, Rev. September 1, 2024 (PDF)

What to do next

Compare the date you completed your last FL-150 with the date you will file and serve it, and redo it if more than three months will have passed or any fact on it has changed, such as your income, expenses, or household. If you are responding, FL-320-INFO notes that one FL-150 can answer items 3, 4, and 6 of the FL-320.

• FL-150, section by section
• California child support guide
• Free California child support calculator