When the other party in your family law case files a Request for Order (form FL-300) asking the court for custody, support, fees, or other orders, you get a chance to respond before the judge decides anything. That response is Form FL-320, Responsive Declaration to Request for Order.
Key Takeaway: FL-320 lets you consent to or oppose each specific request made on the other party's FL-300, and gives you a place to state your supporting facts. If support or fees are at issue, you generally attach a current Income and Expense Declaration (FL-150). Filing and serving your response by the required deadline matters, since a missed deadline can leave the court with only the other side's version of events.
Form FL-320 is the California Judicial Council form titled "Responsive Declaration to Request for Order." It is the standard way to respond when someone (usually the other parent or spouse in your case) has filed an FL-300 asking the court to make or change an order about:
- Child custody or visitation (parenting time)
- Child support
- Spousal or partner support
- Attorney fees and costs
- Property control, restraining orders, or other requests available on FL-300
FL-320 mirrors the structure of FL-300 closely on purpose. For each type of order the other party requested, you get a corresponding place on FL-320 to say whether you agree, disagree, or ask for something different.
Whoever receives an FL-300 and wants to respond files the FL-320. This is often, but not always, the other spouse or parent in an ongoing case; sometimes the requesting party themselves has to respond if the other side later files their own separate request.
Filing an FL-320 does not concede anything about the underlying FL-300. It simply puts your position, and the facts supporting it, in front of the court before the hearing. If you have not yet read through the request you are responding to, our guide on How to Fill Out Form FL-300 walks through what each section of that form is asking for, which makes it easier to respond point by point.
<h2 id="companion-forms">Forms Filed Alongside FL-320</h2>Depending on what the FL-300 is asking for, your Responsive Declaration is often filed together with other documents.
| Form | Purpose | When It's Required |
|---|---|---|
| FL-320 | States your response to each request on the FL-300 | Always, when you choose to respond |
| FL-150 (Income and Expense Declaration) | Gives the court your current financial picture | Required if child support, spousal support, or attorney fees are requested |
| MC-031 (Additional Page) | Extra space for your supporting declaration | Only if the space on FL-320 is not enough |
| Proof of Service | Shows the other party was properly served with your response | Always |
Our guide on How to Fill Out Form FL-150 covers that financial form section by section if support or fees are part of your case.
<h2 id="section-by-section">Section-by-Section Walkthrough of FL-320</h2>Here is the general process for completing FL-320, matched to the order the requests usually appear in on the FL-300 you received.
1. Case Information
At the top, fill in the county, case number, and the names of both parties exactly as they appear on the FL-300 and other case documents.
2. Review Each Order Requested on the FL-300
Go through the FL-300 you were served with, item by item. FL-320 is organized the same way, with matching sections for custody and visitation, child support, spousal or partner support, attorney fees, and other orders.
3. Check Consent or Opposition for Each Request
For every request the other party made, FL-320 gives you a box to check indicating whether you:
- Consent to the order as requested
- Do not consent, and want the request denied
- Do not consent to the request as written, but want a different order instead
You can mix these responses across different sections. Consenting to a proposed holiday visitation schedule while opposing a proposed change in your custodial time, for example, is common.
Address every request listed on the FL-300, not just the ones you disagree with. Leaving a section blank can be read as not having a position, which is not the same as consenting or opposing.
4. Provide Supporting Facts
Wherever you oppose a request, or want the court to understand the reasoning behind your position, use the declaration section of FL-320 to explain the relevant facts. If you need more room, attach a declaration on form MC-031 and reference it on the main form.
Keep your statements factual and specific. Judges reviewing an FL-320 are generally looking for concrete facts about the children, finances, or circumstances at issue, not general arguments.
5. Attach a Current FL-150 If Support Is at Issue
If the FL-300 requests child support, spousal support, or attorney fees, attach a current, fully completed FL-150, Income and Expense Declaration. The court needs current financial information from both sides to evaluate any support or fee request, and an incomplete or outdated FL-150 can slow down your hearing.
<h2 id="serving-your-response">Filing and Serving Your Response on Time</h2>Once your FL-320 (and any attachments) are complete, you must:
- File the original with the court clerk
- Serve a copy on the other party, or their attorney if they are represented
- File a Proof of Service showing when and how the other party was served
All of this needs to happen before your hearing, within the deadline set out in the paperwork you received with the FL-300. Because the exact number of days can vary based on your case and how service is completed, confirm your specific filing and service deadline with your county Superior Court self-help center as soon as you receive the FL-300, rather than estimating it yourself.
<h2 id="common-mistakes">Common Mistakes to Avoid</h2>- Missing the filing and service deadline, which can limit what the court considers at the hearing
- Not attaching a current FL-150 when child support, spousal support, or attorney fees are requested
- Leaving one or more requests unaddressed instead of checking consent or opposition for each one
- Writing a general objection instead of specific, factual supporting statements
- Serving the other party late, or failing to file the Proof of Service afterward
- Using outdated financial figures on the attached FL-150
Filing an FL-320 is not mandatory, but skipping it has real consequences. If you do not respond, the judge at the hearing generally has only the requesting party's FL-300 and supporting declarations to work from. That makes it harder for the court to hear your side of custody, support, or fee questions before deciding, and the resulting order may look closer to what the other party originally asked for.
Even a brief FL-320 addressing the main points, filed and served on time, is generally better than no response at all.
<h2 id="filing-fee">Filing Fee and Fee Waiver</h2>Responding to a Request for Order can involve a filing fee, generally in the same $435 to $450 range charged for other family law filings, though fees are set locally and vary by county and by the type of request. If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask the court to waive it by filing Form FW-001, Request to Waive Court Fees.
Pro Tip: Confirm the current fee for responding to an FL-300, and your county's specific filing and service deadlines, with your Superior Court self-help center. These details can vary by county and can change over time.
What is Form FL-320 used for?
Form FL-320 is the California Judicial Council Responsive Declaration to Request for Order. You file it when the other party has filed a Request for Order (form FL-300) asking the court for custody, visitation, child support, spousal support, attorney fees, or other orders, and you want to tell the court your position on each request before the hearing.
Do I have to respond to every FL-300 I receive?
You are not legally forced to file an FL-320, but responding is generally in your interest. If you do not file a response, the judge at the hearing only has the requesting party's version of events in front of them, which can make it harder for the court to fully weigh your side before making a decision.
Can I agree with some requests on the FL-300 and oppose others?
Yes. FL-320 is built so you can consent to some requested orders and oppose others within the same form. You are not required to take an all-or-nothing position; the form has a separate checkbox for each type of order the other party requested.
Do I need to attach a declaration to my FL-320?
If you are opposing a request, or you want the court to understand facts behind your position, you should attach a declaration stating those facts. Many people use an attached declaration (often on form MC-031, Additional Page) when the space on FL-320 itself is not enough.
Why do I need to attach Form FL-150 to my Responsive Declaration?
If the FL-300 you are responding to involves child support, spousal support, or attorney fees, the court needs current, complete financial information from both sides to make those decisions. Attaching a current FL-150, Income and Expense Declaration, lets the court see your income and expenses alongside the other party's.
When is my FL-320 due?
FL-320 must be filed with the court and served on the other party before your hearing date, within a deadline set by California rules and stated in your FL-300 paperwork. Because the exact number of days can depend on your case and how you serve the other party, confirm your specific deadline with your county Superior Court self-help center as soon as you receive the FL-300.
Can Virdix tell me whether to consent to or oppose a request on FL-320?
No. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and cannot advise you on whether to agree with or fight a specific request. Virdix helps you complete the FL-320 form itself, attach the right supporting documents, and keep your answers consistent. For advice about what position to take, consult a licensed California family law attorney.
How Virdix Helps With FL-320
Responding to an FL-300 under a deadline is stressful, and the details matter: matching your response to each specific request, attaching the right financial disclosure, and keeping your declaration consistent with the rest of your case. Virdix is built to help with the paperwork itself:
- Guided questions, so you can work through each request on the FL-300 in plain language
- Consistency checks, so your FL-320 lines up with your FL-150 and other filed documents
- Complete responses, so no request from the FL-300 gets left unaddressed
- County-specific filing details, including current deadlines and where to file and serve
We do not tell you whether to consent to or oppose a specific request, that is a legal decision for you and, if you choose to involve one, your attorney. Virdix helps make sure the paperwork reflects your position clearly and completely.
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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