Once a California family law case is open, most requests that follow, whether it is a change to custody, a new support number, or a request for attorney's fees, go through the same form: FL-300, Request for Order. It is one of the forms you are likely to file more than once over the life of a case.
Key Takeaway: FL-300 is how you ask the court for orders while a case is open, or ask the court to change orders that already exist. It covers custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, attorney's fees, and other issues, and it sets a hearing date. It is generally filed with a supporting declaration and, depending on what you are requesting, Form FL-311 or a current FL-150.
Form FL-300 is the California Judicial Council form titled "Request for Order." It is used within an existing family law case (dissolution, legal separation, parentage, or a domestic violence case with related family law issues) to ask the court to:
- Make a new order on an issue that has not yet been decided
- Change or terminate an order the court already made
Filing FL-300 puts the issue in front of a judge and sets a hearing date. It is a separate step from opening the case itself, which is why it is filed on its own, after the initial Petition or Response, whenever a request comes up.
FL-300 covers two different situations, and it is worth being clear about which one applies to you.
Requesting New Orders
If an issue, such as custody, visitation, or support, has never been addressed by a court order in your case, FL-300 is how you ask the court to decide it for the first time. This is common early in a case, before a full judgment resolves every issue, when one party needs a temporary order in the meantime.
Requesting to Modify Existing Orders
If the court already made an order and your circumstances have changed, FL-300 is also how you ask the court to change or end that order. Courts generally expect you to describe what has changed since the last order was made and why the change supports a new outcome. Simply disagreeing with an order that already exists is usually not enough on its own; the declaration needs to explain the change in circumstances.
<h2 id="what-you-can-request">What You Can Ask For on FL-300</h2>FL-300 is a general purpose form, so it is used for a wide range of requests, including:
- Temporary child custody and visitation (parenting time) orders
- Child support, including a new order or a change to an existing one
- Spousal support, including a new order or a change to an existing one
- Attorney's fees and costs
- Property control orders and other financial matters while the case is pending
- Other requests permitted under California family law
You can request more than one type of order on a single FL-300 if the issues are related, rather than filing a separate request for each one.
<h2 id="emergency-orders">Emergency (Ex Parte) Orders</h2>Most FL-300 requests go through the regular process: you file, serve the other party, and both sides are heard at a scheduled hearing. In situations where waiting for that regular hearing date could cause real harm, such as an immediate risk to a child's safety, FL-300 also supports an ex parte request for temporary emergency orders on shortened notice.
Ex parte requests are held to a high standard. Courts expect a genuine showing of urgency and immediate need, not simply a preference for a faster hearing. If you believe your situation may qualify, confirm the specific requirements and shortened notice rules with your county Superior Court self-help center.
Here is what you will actually fill in on the form itself.
1. Case Information
At the top, you will enter the county, case number, and the names of the parties, matching how they appear on the existing case.
2. Type of Hearing
You will indicate whether you are requesting a regular hearing or an emergency (ex parte) hearing, along with the date and time once one is assigned or requested.
3. Orders Requested
This is the core of the form. You will check boxes for each type of order you are requesting, such as child custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, attorney's fees, or other relief, and briefly describe what you are asking for under each one.
4. Facts Supporting the Request
FL-300 asks you to state the facts that support your request. Because the space on the form itself is limited, this is almost always where you reference an attached declaration rather than writing the full explanation directly on the form.
5. Time for Service
You will indicate how you plan to have the other party served with the Request for Order, which affects how much notice they receive before the hearing.
<h2 id="supporting-declaration">The Supporting Declaration</h2>A Request for Order is rarely persuasive on the form alone. Courts expect the facts behind your request to be laid out in a declaration, which is your written, signed statement of what happened and why you are asking for what you are asking for.
You generally attach this declaration in one of two ways:
- Form MC-031, Attached Declaration, a general-purpose declaration form used across California courts
- A typed declaration, formatted to your court's requirements (such as numbered lines and proper caption information), if you prefer to write it out yourself
Whichever format you use, keep the declaration factual and specific. Describe what happened, when it happened, and why it matters to the request, rather than general statements or arguments about the other party's character.
Beyond the declaration, what else you attach depends on what you are requesting.
| If You Are Requesting | Typical Attachment |
|---|---|
| Child custody or visitation orders | Form FL-311, Child Custody and Visitation Application Attachment |
| Child support, spousal support, or attorney's fees | A current Form FL-150, Income and Expense Declaration |
| Any request | A supporting declaration (MC-031 or typed) |
Form FL-311 walks the court through the specific custody and visitation schedule you are proposing. Form FL-150 gives the court the financial picture it needs before ruling on support or fees. If you have not yet completed your financial disclosure, see our companion guide: How to Fill Out Form FL-150.
If your request involves custody or visitation, it also helps to understand how California approaches these decisions generally before you describe your proposed schedule. See California Child Custody Laws Explained for that background.
<h2 id="serving-the-other-party">Serving the Other Party Before the Hearing</h2>Filing FL-300 with the court clerk is not the last step. After filing, you generally must have the other party served with:
- The completed Request for Order (FL-300)
- Your supporting declaration
- Any attachments, such as FL-311 or FL-150
- Any blank response forms required by your local court rules
Service must generally happen by someone over 18 who is not a party to the case, within the time required before your hearing date under California law and your county's local rules. If service is not completed properly and on time, the court may not be able to rule on your request at the scheduled hearing, which can delay the outcome you are asking for.
Pro Tip: Confirm your exact service deadline with your county Superior Court self-help center as soon as your hearing date is set. Deadlines can vary depending on the type of hearing and how service is completed.
- Filing FL-300 without an attached declaration explaining the facts behind the request
- Requesting support or attorney's fees without attaching a current FL-150
- Requesting a custody or visitation change without attaching FL-311 or describing the proposed schedule clearly
- Missing the service deadline, which can push the hearing or prevent the court from ruling that day
- Treating FL-300 as a place to argue rather than to state facts, especially in the declaration
- Forgetting to describe what has changed when asking to modify an existing order, rather than just restating disagreement with it
What is Form FL-300 used for?
Form FL-300 is the California Judicial Council Request for Order, often called an RFO. It is how a person asks the court for orders while a family law case is already open, or asks the court to change orders that already exist. It is commonly used for requests involving child custody and visitation, child support, spousal support, and attorney's fees, and it sets a court hearing date.
What is the difference between FL-300 and FL-100?
FL-100 is the Petition that opens a divorce, legal separation, or nullity case. FL-300 is filed after a case is already open, whenever a party needs the court to make a new order or change an existing one. Many cases involve one FL-100 at the start, and one or more FL-300 requests later as circumstances change.
Do I need to file a declaration with FL-300?
Yes, generally. FL-300 asks you to state the facts supporting your request, and courts typically require these facts in an attached declaration, either the general form MC-031, Attached Declaration, or a typed declaration formatted to court requirements. The declaration is where you explain, in your own words, why the court should grant what you are asking for.
What attachments do I need with FL-300?
Attachments depend on what you are requesting. If your request involves child custody or visitation, you typically attach Form FL-311, Child Custody and Visitation Application Attachment. If you are requesting child support, spousal support, or attorney's fees, you typically attach a current Form FL-150, Income and Expense Declaration, so the court has the financial information it needs.
What is an ex parte request on FL-300?
An ex parte request is a request for temporary emergency orders, heard on shortened notice because waiting for a regular hearing date could cause immediate harm. Courts apply a high standard to ex parte requests and generally require a strong showing of urgency, such as an immediate risk to a child's safety. Most FL-300 requests are not ex parte and instead follow the regular noticed hearing process.
Do I have to serve the other party after filing FL-300?
Yes. After filing FL-300, you generally must have the other party served with the completed Request for Order, the supporting declaration, and any attachments before the hearing date, within the time required by California law and your local court rules. The court cannot grant most requests at the hearing if the other party was not properly and timely served.
Can FL-300 be used to change a custody or support order that already exists?
Yes. FL-300 is the standard form for asking the court to modify an existing order, not just to request a brand new one. You will generally need to show a change in circumstances since the last order, and the same supporting declaration and attachment rules apply as with a new request.
How Virdix Helps With FL-300
A Request for Order is only as strong as the paperwork behind it: the right boxes checked, a clear declaration, and the correct attachments for what you are asking for. Virdix is built to help you get it right:
- Guided questions, to identify exactly which orders you are requesting and route you to the right attachments
- Declaration support, plain-language prompts to help you organize the facts behind your request
- Attachment checklists, so FL-311 and FL-150 are included whenever your request calls for them
- Service reminders, so you know what needs to happen, and by when, before your hearing
We don't replace an attorney for contested custody disputes or complex support fights, but for straightforward requests, Virdix helps make sure your FL-300 is complete and consistent from the start.
Start Your California Request for Order →
Last updated: July 2026. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed California family law attorney.
Sources: California Courts Self-Help Center (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov), Judicial Council of California