FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration (California Family Court)
If your case involves child support or spousal support, you're going to need this form. It's the court's way of understanding the financial picture on both sides before setting support amounts. Here's what's on it, why it matters, and how to fill it out accurately.
Short answer: This page helps you complete the FL-150 — the financial form California courts require from both parties before they can set or change child or spousal support.
What this page does
It explains what the FL-150 is, who has to file it, and exactly what financial information the court needs. It connects you to a guided tool that walks through each section so nothing gets left out — and nothing gets entered wrong.
How it works
- Read what the FL-150 is and confirm your case requires it — most support cases do.
- Gather your documents: recent paystubs, last tax return, and monthly expense records.
- Use the guided tool to enter your income, expenses, assets, and debts one section at a time.
- Review and print the completed form, then file it with the court.
- Once both parties file, the judge uses those numbers to calculate the support amount.
Who this is for
Anyone in a California family court case where child support or spousal support is being decided or changed — whether you filed or are responding. Both sides are typically required to submit this form.
Common questions
What if my income changes month to month?
Average your last 12 months of earnings and enter that as your monthly income. Note on the form that your income varies — for example, if you're self-employed or work on commission — and briefly explain why. Courts understand irregular income; they just need an honest picture.
Do I need an accountant to fill this out?
No. You need your own documents — recent paystubs, your most recent tax return, and a rough sense of your monthly costs. The guided tool asks you one question at a time and explains what each line is actually asking for.
What if I don't know what the other party earns?
You only file your own numbers. The other party files their FL-150 separately, and the court receives both. If the other side refuses to file, the judge can order them to comply — or assign an income to them based on their work history and earning capacity.
What does "imputed income" mean?
If the court believes you are voluntarily earning less than you could be — for example, if you quit a job or reduced your hours — they can assign a higher income to you for calculation purposes. This is called imputed income. It affects how much support you pay or receive, so it's important to be accurate and honest about your situation.
What if I realize I made a mistake after filing?
You can file an amended FL-150 to correct errors. Do it as soon as you notice — it's better to fix a mistake than to let wrong numbers stay in the record. The court uses your filed numbers to calculate support, so accuracy matters throughout the process.
What is the FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration?
The FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration is a sworn financial statement. You're telling the court — under penalty of perjury — what you earn, what you spend, what you own, and what you owe.
The court uses these numbers to run calculations in DissoMaster, the software California uses to determine child and spousal support. This financial disclosure — family court California requires it from both parties — feeds directly into that calculation. If your numbers are wrong or missing, the output won't reflect your real situation — and you could end up with a support order that doesn't fit.
Who is required to complete an FL-150?
Almost anyone in a support case. Courts typically require both parties to file the FL-150 when:
- Child support is being requested or modified
- Spousal or domestic partner support is at issue
- You filed an FL-300 Request for Order that includes a support request
- The other party filed and you're responding to a support request
Even if you think your financial situation is simple, you still have to complete it. The court won't calculate support without it from both sides.
How to fill out the FL-150 accurately
The FL-150 covers four main areas:
- Income — every source: wages, self-employment, rental income, benefits, bonuses, commissions, dividends. Monthly and annual.
- Expenses — monthly costs: rent or mortgage, utilities, food, childcare, medical, transportation, debt payments.
- Assets — what you own: real property, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts.
- Debts — what you owe: loans, credit cards, back taxes, anything that affects your real financial picture.
You'll also be asked about health insurance, childcare costs, and the amount of time each parent has with the children — all of which affect the support calculation.
What happens after submitting financial disclosures?
When figuring out how to fill out FL-150, the two most common mistakes are leaving things blank and using rough estimates. Both can hurt you.
- Gather your last 3 paystubs and your most recent tax return before you start
- Include all income — courts look at gross income, not take-home pay
- Don't round aggressively — ballpark numbers look like they were made up
- If income varies (self-employment, commissions), average the last 12 months
- List childcare expenses separately — they receive a tax credit adjustment in the calculation
- If you're unsure about an asset value, use a reasonable estimate and note it
Once both parties submit their FL-150 Income and Expense Declarations, the court has what it needs to set or modify support. If one side doesn't file, the judge may impute income or continue the hearing. SharpeSystem walks you through each line, explains what the court is actually asking in plain English, and helps you make sure nothing is missing before you file.
SharpeSystem guides you through the FL-150 step by step — in plain English, with no financial or legal jargon. Get it right the first time.
You can complete your FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration using the guided system below.
Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150)