Step 1 of 6 — quick basics

Tell the court who's involved and where your case lives — everything here ends up in the header of your FL-300.

This step now feeds the FL-300 print header directly: court block, case number, party names, and your contact block all move into page 1 of the preview.

Names

Petitioner Full legal name — exactly as it appears on a birth certificate or Social Security card. Respondent Full legal name — exactly as it appears on a birth certificate or Social Security card. Other Parent/Party If there's a third adult who has a legal role in this case (grandparent with custody rights, second parent, etc.), put their name here. Most people leave this blank.

SharpeSystem helps you fill out this form correctly — it is not a lawyer and does not give legal advice. What you do with the completed form is your decision.

Court + Case

Case Number Already filed? Find this on any prior order or the top of your paperwork. Filing for the first time? Leave it blank — the clerk will assign a number when you file. State The state where your case is (or will be) filed. This helps route you to the correct local rules and forms. County The county where you are filing. This determines which specific court rules and filing location apply to your case. Court / Courthouse (if you know it) The specific courthouse or branch where your case will be heard. Many counties have multiple locations. Branch / Division The specific department or division inside the courthouse that handles family law cases (often called "Family Law" or a department number). Court Street Address The physical address of the courthouse where your case is (or will be) filed. This goes in the caption at the top of the FL-300. Court Mailing Address Where the court wants official papers mailed. Often the same as the street address, but some courts use a separate mailing address. Court City + ZIP City and ZIP code for the courthouse. This completes the court’s address block that appears at the top of your forms. Are you filing first, or answering? If you're filing first, you're the petitioner. If someone filed paperwork against you and you're answering it, you're the respondent. On the form, both sides are called "parties" — just court language for the two people involved.

If you choose a courthouse above, we will fill in the branch and address details for you. You can still edit them manually.

Most people filling this out represent themselves. If you have an attorney, click here to add their contact info — it goes in the top-left box on the FL-300.

Not legal advice. This tool helps organize facts and complete forms. You remain responsible for filing decisions.

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Next: You'll tell the court what orders you're asking for.