FL-155 Guidance: Financial Affidavit | Gavel

FL-155 Guidance: Financial Affidavit (California)

The FL-155 Financial Affidavit form is used in California during divorce proceedings for individuals who exclusively receive income from specific sources income types such as wages, UI, or SSI benefits, and need to disclose their simplified financial details to the court. Jump to guide on filling it out.

Official FL-155 PDF Download (ca.gov)

When you need form FL-155

When going through a divorce in California, financial documentation is crucial, and the FL-155 Financial Affidavit form serves as a simplified tool for reporting income details where certain conditions apply. Individuals using this form have limited sources of income: fixed wages, Welfare (CalWORKS, TANF, GR/GA), UI, SSI, SDI, WC or Retirement (CalPERS, CalSTRS, RBP, DB, DC, ER/MBR) only. Individuals using this form are not self-employed and not involved in disputes over spousal support or attorney fees, which would require the use of the more comprehensive Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150) form.

Filed after serving a divorce petition and along with financial disclosures.
Use when you've decided not to ask for spousal support or attorney's fees.
Appropriate if your financial scenario doesn’t require detailed disclosures, but the form requires copies of 2 months income stubs and 2 years of filed income taxes.
Required following early-stage separation when financial statements are demanded by the court.

Consider the FL-155 form in situations where you need to provide basic financial information during an uncontested divorce proceeding or as part of initial disclosures. It is usually preceded by filing a divorce petition (e.g., Form FL-100) and follows after gathering simple financial documentation, aiming to expedite the disclosures without the complexities tied to full financial declarations.

How to file form FL-155

Determine Eligibility: Ensure you qualify to use the FL-155 form by confirming none of the disqualifying conditions apply to you.
Complete the Form: Fill out the FL-155 form with accurate financial information. Type it if possible, or print neatly in black ink.
Attach Documents: Include copies of your pay stubs for the last two months and 2 years of the most recent federal tax return.
Serve Copies: Mail a copy of the completed form and attachments to the other party, their attorney, and the local child support agency if they are involved.
File with the Court: Submit the original completed form and attachments to the court clerk. Follow local court procedures for filing and check instructions for any additional requirements.

Tips for filling out form FL-155

When completing form FL-155, pay special attention to these less obvious sections:

Item 12: Additional Information
Use this section for any information that could impact child support considerations, like special needs of the children or unusual financial circumstances. Attach additional sheets if necessary.
Item 13: Expense Attachment
Although this form is a simplified affidavit, you can still attach a page from FL-150 showing your expenses to provide a fuller financial picture to the court.
Item 1b: Income Application
Even if you have applied for TANF, SSI, or GA/GR but have not yet started receiving benefits, you must check this box. This can affect your eligibility to use the simplified version of this financial statement.
Item 5: Income Sources
Ensure that you only list income sources specified on this form. If you have income from other sources not listed, you may need to use a different form like the FL-150.
Item 6: Child Expenses
Include expenses that are specifically for the well-being of the child, even if they may seem routine, such as after-school activities or tutoring that support the child’s educational needs.
Item 9: Pay Stubs
You must attach pay stubs from the last two months. If you receive income in a different form (e.g., self-employed or no recent pay stubs), a different form might be necessary.

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What to do after filing form FL-155

Keep a copy of the filed Financial Statement (Simplified) for your records to refer back to during the case.
Ensure that the other party has been served with a copy of the filed form, along with copies of your pay stubs and tax return.
Wait for the other party to respond to the Financial Statement (Simplified) form if they choose to do so.
Prepare for any upcoming court hearings by reviewing your case details and ensure you have all necessary documents ready.
Attend the scheduled court hearings, as the court may make a decision based on the submitted information if you are absent.

Related Forms

FL-100: Divorce Petition

The FL-100 Divorce Petition form is used in California to initiate the legal process for dissolving a marriage or domestic partnership, seeking a legal separation, or requesting nullity due to specific legal grounds. View Details

FL-110: Summons

The FL-110 Summons form is used when initiating divorce proceedings in California, notifying the respondent of the legal action and setting forth essential information, including the consequences of not responding within 30 days, as well as listing the automatic temporary restraining orders ("ARTOs") against both parties until the court resolves the matter. View Details

FL-105: UCCJEA

The FL-105 UCCJEA form is used in California during child custody cases, often as part of and required to complete divorce proceeding, to declare the child's residential history and identify any existing custody orders in order to ensure proper jurisdiction and enforcement under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. View Details

FL-115: Proof of Service

The FL-115 Proof of Service of Summons form is used in California family law cases, including those involving parentage, custody, and support, to document that the respondent has been properly served with legal documents to commence the action. View Details

FL-117: Notice and Acknowledgement of Receipt

The FL-117 Notice and Acknowledgment of Receipt form is used in California divorce proceedings to document a recipient's acknowledgment of consent to and receiving legal documents related to the case by mail, ensuring the process of serving these documents is legally recognized. View Details

FL-141: Declaration Regarding Service of Declaration of Disclosure and Income and Expense Declaration

The FL-141 form must be completed during divorce proceedings in California to officially declare that a Preliminary or Final Declaration of Disclosure, along with an Income and Expense Declaration, has been served to the other party, ensuring both parties have exchanged essential financial information as required by law. View Details

FL-300: Request For Order

The FL-300 Request for Order ("RFO") form is used by individuals seeking the court's intervention to modify or request orders related to child custody, support, visitation, spousal support, attorney's fees or other family law matters in California that cannot wait until the end of the case. View Details

FL-311: Child Custody and Visitation

The FL-311 Child Custody and Visitation form is used when parents or parties involved in a child custody case in California need to detail arrangements for custody and parenting time, including any special conditions like supervised visitation or transportation instructions. View Details

FL-335: Proof of Service by Mail

Use the FL-335 Proof of Service by Mail form when you need to confirm that you have served court documents to another party by mail in a legal proceeding in California, ensuring compliance with procedural rules. View Details

FL-341: Child Custody and Visitation (Parenting Time)

The FL-341 Child Custody and Visitation (Parenting Time) Order Attachment form is used in California when there is a need to outline specific child custody and visitation arrangements following a court decision or agreement, ensuring lawful compliance with agreed-upon parenting terms. View Details

FL-342: Child Support Order

The FL-342 Child Support Order form is used when a court needs to establish or modify a child support order as part of a legal proceeding, ensuring that all required financial details and agreements are documented for the welfare of the child involved. View Details

FL-140: Declaration of Disclosure

The FL-140 Declaration of Disclosure form is used in both contested and uncontested California divorce proceedings to provide an accurate and complete disclosure of financial information, including assets, debts, and investment opportunities, which must be exchanged between parties as part of both preliminary ("PDD") and final ("FDD") legal requirements before a court will issue a divorce decree. View Details

FL-142: Schedule of Assets and Debts

The FL-142 Schedule of Assets and Debts form is used during divorce proceedings in California to list all known community and separate assets and debts, providing a detailed account of the financial situation for equitable distribution. View Details

FL-144: Waiver of Final Declaration of Disclosure

The FL-144 Waiver of Final Declaration of Disclosure form is used during a divorce in California when both parties agree to waive the requirement for a final declaration of disclosure, having already exchanged preliminary declarations and current financial information, thereby simplifying the finalization process of their divorce. View Details

FL-145: Form Interrogatories

The FL-145 Form Interrogatories—Family Law are pre-established set of questions and demands used during divorce proceedings in California to quickly and efficiently exchange relevant information regarding assets, debts, and other financial matters between spouses or domestic partners. View Details

FL-150: Income and Expense Declaration

The FL-150 Income and Expense Declaration form is used in California divorce proceedings to provide detailed information about a party's financial situation, including income, expenses, and assets, to assist the court in determining matters such as spousal support, child support, and attorney fees. View Details

FL-155: Financial Affidavit

FL-160: Declaration of Assets

The FL-160 form is used in California divorce proceedings to declare and itemize both community and separate property assets and debts, providing a clear proposal for their division between parties involved. This can be used as an attachment to Declaration of Disclosure (FL-140) or you may use Schedule of Assets and Debts (FL-142) instead. View Details