Fill out forms to respond to divorce papers

• Fill out the Response — Marriage/Domestic Partnership (form FL-120).
  This form tells the court about your marriage and what orders you want.

  Your spouse started the case, so they’re the Petitioner, and you’re the Respondent.

• If you and your spouse have children under 18, also fill out:

  Declaration under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) (form FL-105).

  This form tells the court where your children were born and live, and if any other court cases involve them.

Sometimes you may need the court to decide something right away, even before your divorce is final.

For example, you may need:

• A plan for where your children will live

• Financial help from your spouse

• A decision about who stays in the home or pays bills

If you need help with something like this, you can ask for a temporary order. If you do, a judge will make a decision about your request that lasts until your divorce is final.

To ask for a temporary order, you’ll need to fill out more forms.

Learn how to ask for a temporary order

Some courts have extra local forms you must use.

Ask the court clerk, check your court’s website, or contact your self-help center to find out.

After you’ve filled out and signed your forms, make two copies of everything.

You’ll keep one copy and serve the other on your spouse.

📅 After you finish your forms and make copies, you need to file them at the court within 30 days of getting the Petition.

⚠️ If you don’t file in time, your spouse or partner can ask for a default, and the court can decide the case without you.

If it’s been more than 30 days, check with the court clerk to see if a default has been entered.

• If there’s no default, you can still file your Response.

• If there is a default, talk to a lawyer or self-help center to learn what you can do next.

How to file your forms

Take your original forms and 2 copies to the court clerk’s office.

Use the same court address that’s listed on the top of your Response.

The clerk will:

• Keep the original

• Stamp your 2 copies

• Give one copy back to you (keep this for your records)

• You’ll use the other copy to serve your spouse

File by mail or online

You can also file by mail. Send your original forms and 2 copies to the court clerk.

Include:

• The filing fee, and

• A self-addressed, stamped envelope with enough postage for the clerk to mail your copies back to you

If you don’t include the envelope, you’ll need to pick up your copies at the courthouse.

Some courts allow online filing (called e-filing).

Check your court’s website to see if this option is available.

🔗 Find your local court website (link opens in new tab).

💵 Pay the filing fee

You’ll need to pay a filing fee (usually between $435 and $450) when you file.

If you can’t afford the fee, you can ask for a fee waiver.

Ask the clerk for the forms or get them online.

You may qualify for a fee waiver if:

• You get public benefits (like CalFresh or SSI)

• Your income is low

• You can’t pay the fee and still meet your basic needs

Learn how to ask for a fee waiver