WHAT IS FL-180

The FL-180 is the Judgment of Divorce ( OR Legal Separation OR Nullty), also known as your divorce decree. This is the most important form in the family law matter – completion of the process

How to fill FL-180?

FL-180  can be tricky to understand and fill out. In this section, we’ll take you through it step by step, to make it as easy as possible.

At the top, fill in your name, address, and phone number. You may also fill in your fax number or email, if you wish. If you’re acting as your own attorney, write “PRO PER” next to . Then put your county and court address below.

Next, fill in the names of the petitioner and respondent in the appropriate boxes, and your case number, to the right.

In the box below, check either ‘DISSOLUTION’, ‘LEGAL SEPARATION’, or ‘NULLITY’, as appropriate. If you have bifurcated your divorce and wish to be divorced in status only, you should also check the ‘Status only’ box.

If you’re only seeking a judgment on some, not all, issues, check ‘Reserving jurisdiction over the termination of marital or domestic partnership status’.

If you have previously received a ‘status only’ judgment, and are seeking a judgment on the remaining issues of the divorce, check ‘Judgment on reserved issues’.

Below you’ll see a box marked ‘Date marital or domestic partnership status ends’. It is best to leave this blank, as the court clerk will do this for you.

If there are any restraining orders in your case, check box 1, and the appropriate box within item 1. Fill in the relevant page numbers and the expiry date.

In item 2 of FL-180, you have a choice of four boxes:

• If your dissolution was default/uncontested, check the first box.
• If both parties are working together and submitting all of the requirements statements under Family Code section 2336 as part of their judgment, check the second box. It is advised you seek legal advice before checking this box.
• If your dissolution was contested, and you went to trial, check the third box.
• If an agreement was completed in court, check the fourth box and fill out items 2a-f.

Next, we have item 3  of FL-180. You must fill in either the date that the petitioner served the respondent with the original divorce paperwork or the date that the respondent filed a response. For the former, you will need to file a proof of service of the summons.

Item 4 of FL-180  is a little more complex. If you are terminating a marriage or domestic partnership, check box 4a. You can either check box 4a(1) and leave the date blank for the court to fill in, or box 4a(2) if you have chosen another date for the dissolution to be finalized.

If you are legally separating, check box 4b of FL-180. If you are annulling your partnership, check box 4c and provide the grounds for the nullity.

If the judgment will be entered nunc pro tunc, check box 4d and fill in the requested date. The phrase nunc pro tunc means the judgment would apply from a previous date.

If this judgment is only for reserved issues left over from a prior status-only judgment, check box 4e.

If either the petitioner or the respondent wishes to restore their former name, check the appropriate box in 4f and fill in the full restored name.

If you are seeking a status-only judgment and wish for the court to maintain jurisdiction over all other issues, check box 4g.

Finally, if the judgment contains provisions for child support or family support, check box 4h. Each party must complete and file a Child Support Case Registry Form FL-191 within 10 days of the judgment.

Onto page two. Once again, fill in the case number and parties’ names.

If there are any children involved, check boxes 4i and 4i(1), then fill in their names and birthdates.

For custody and visitation, check box 4j of FL-180 and then the appropriate box below:

• If you have a written agreement, check 4j(1).
• If you are filing a form FL-341, check 4j(2).
• If you are filing a form FL-355, check 4j(3).
• If custody and visitation were established in a previous case, check 4j(4) and fill in the case number and court.

For child support, check box 4k of FL-180 and then the appropriate box below:

• If you have a written agreement, check 4k(1).
• If you are filing a form FL-342, check 4k(2).
• If you are filing a form FL-350, check 4k(3).
• If child support was established in a previous case, check 4k(4) and fill in the case number and court.

Next is item 4l of FL-180, which concerns spousal/family support:

• If you wish for the court to maintain jurisdiction and reserve the right to allocate support later on, check box 4l(1) and either ‘petitioner’, ‘respondent’, or both.
• If you wish to terminate the court’s jurisdiction to allocate support, check box 4l(2).
• If you have attached a form FL-343, check box 4l(3).
• If you have attached a written agreement, check box 4l(4).

In item 4m, you can indicate if property division is set out in a written agreement (1), form FL-345, or other (e.g. form FL-160).

Finally, we have item 4n. This dictates how attorney/court costs will be paid, either via a written agreement (1), form FL-346 , or other. If there are no agreements, leave them blank.

You don’t need to sign FL-180, it will be signed and dated by the judge or court clerk. If you know how many pages are attached to the judgment, you can enter this number in item 5.

And that concludes our form FL-180 instructions. Remember to seek good legal advice if you are still unsure about any part of this form, or the general dissolution process.

You can download fillable FL-180 here

CALL 714-390-3766 if you still have questions.