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Fill out forms to respond to divorce papers

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Before you start

Your first step is to fill out a Response form.

This tells the court how you want things like child custody, property, and support handled.

Before you fill it out, it helps to know a few key ideas you’ll see in your forms:

Community and separate property: things you and your spouse own together and things you owned before marriage or got as a gift or inheritance
Date of separation: the day you stopped living as a married couple or partners
Spousal support: money one spouse pays to the other after separating
Child custody and visitation: who your children live with and how time is shared
Child support: money a parent pays to help support their children

📅 You have 30 days after getting the Petition to file your Response. If you don’t, your spouse or partner can ask the court for a default.

If there’s a default, the court won’t let you file a Response and can decide the case without you.

If it’s been more than 30 days, check with the court clerk to see if a default has been entered.

If there’s no default yet, you can still file your Response.
If there is a default, talk to a lawyer or self-help center to learn what you can do next.

🔗 All form links open in a new tab.

Fill out the Response form
- Fill out the Response — Marriage/Domestic Partnership (form FL-120).
  This form tells the court about your marriage and what orders you want.
  
  Your spouse started the case, so they’re the Petitioner, and you’re the Respondent.
- If you and your spouse have children under 18, also fill out:
  
  Declaration under Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) (form FL-105).
  
  This form tells the court where your children were born and live, and if any other court cases involve them.
Ask for temporary orders
Sometimes you may need the court to decide something right away, even before your divorce is final.

For example, you may need:
- A plan for where your children will live
- Financial help from your spouse
- A decision about who stays in the home or pays bills
If you need help with something like this, you can ask for a temporary order. If you do, a judge will make a decision about your request that lasts until your divorce is final.

To ask for a temporary order, you’ll need to fill out more forms.

Learn how to ask for a temporary order
Check for local forms

Some courts have extra local forms you must use.

Ask the court clerk, check your court’s website, or contact your self-help center to find out.
Make copies of your forms

After you’ve filled out and signed your forms, make two copies of everything.

You’ll keep one copy and serve the other on your spouse.

Respond to divorce papers

After you finish your forms and make copies, file them at the court within 30 days of getting the Petition.

Then have someone else give (serve) a copy of your Response to your spouse.