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Confidential Client Questionnaire
Response to a Request for Order
California Family Law ยท FL-320 Responsive Declaration Document Preparation for Self-Represented Parties
LDA #23-003 ยท Placer County ยท Registered & Bonded
Welcome โ let's get started.
Someone filed papers asking a judge to make an order, and you've been given a court date. This questionnaire collects the information JoHanna needs to prepare your response documents. Please be as detailed and specific as you can so I have the information needed to prepare your documents accurately from the information and instructions you provide.
What NewLeaf does: NewLeaf can prepare documents from the information and instructions you provide and assist with the filing and service process. I am a registered Legal Document Assistant, not an attorney. I cannot give you legal advice, tell you whether to agree or disagree with anything, tell you what to ask the court for, or tell you how a judge is likely to rule. Those choices belong to you. If you want advice, please speak with a California family-law attorney.
Please answer honestly. Anything that becomes part of a declaration will be signed by you under penalty of perjury.
This questionnaire is confidential. Submitting it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
1
What Court Papers Did You Receive?
Let's start with the actual paperwork in your hands โ not what you think it means. Look at the top right corner of each page. California court forms have a form number printed there, like FL-300 or DV-109. Check everything you received.
๐ Please pause here. It looks like your papers may involve a Domestic Violence Restraining Order proceeding. Different response forms and procedures may apply depending on the documents you received. Please upload the complete papers below, or contact NewLeaf at (916) 751-6498, so I can identify the document-preparation service that applies before you continue.
You are welcome to finish uploading your documents, but please don't complete the rest of this questionnaire until we've spoken.
๐ Please stop and speak with a California family-law attorney. Contempt proceedings are different from a standard Request for Order response and can carry serious consequences, including fines, community service, or jail. Because of that, a person facing contempt may have the right to a court-appointed attorney. This is not something that can be handled through NewLeaf's standard response service. Please call (916) 751-6498 and JoHanna will point you toward resources.
๐ธ That's completely normal โ a lot of people aren't sure. Please upload everything you received below, or text a photo of page 1 to (916) 751-6498. JoHanna will identify the forms for you. Please don't guess.
Please upload the FL-300 and every attachment, declaration, exhibit, and order that came with it โ all pages, front and back. You don't need to figure out which pages are important. Upload what you have and JoHanna will sort it out.
Photos taken with your phone are fine. If files are too large to send here, email them to newleafoffice.us@gmail.com.
2
Are You Representing Yourself?
โ ๏ธ This needs to be confirmed before document preparation begins. If you currently have an attorney representing you in this case, NewLeaf cannot prepare documents directly for you as a self-represented client.
Because you are currently represented by an attorney in this case, NewLeaf cannot prepare documents directly for you. Please contact your attorney regarding the court papers you received.
NewLeaf may need to confirm that you are currently self-represented before document preparation begins. Depending on the county and available court records, this may be confirmed through the court's online case information, documents you provide, or additional court records.
That's okay. NewLeaf will let you know if additional information or documentation is needed to confirm that you are currently self-represented before document preparation begins.
3
Your Court Date
Look at page 1 of the FL-300, in the box that says a court hearing will be held as follows.
โฑ๏ธ About timing. Responsive papers are generally due at least 9 court days before the hearing unless the court ordered a different deadline. Court holidays, shortened-time orders, service issues, and other circumstances can affect timing. NewLeaf will review the hearing information and court papers before confirming timing requirements. The sooner you send everything in, the more options you have.
4
About the FL-305 You Received
An FL-305 is the form used when someone asks for temporary orders before the hearing. Whether the court actually made any orders depends on what the judge signed.
The court may have made temporary emergency orders that are currently in effect. Please upload the signed FL-305 so NewLeaf can review what was granted, denied, or modified. Please also call (916) 751-6498 so this can be discussed directly.
Please upload the FL-305. NewLeaf will review whether the court signed or entered any temporary orders.
5
Case Information
Copy these exactly as they appear on your papers โ spelling and all. The court matches on these.
A judgment is the final order that ends a case. "Not sure" is a fine answer.
Because this appears to be an older or previously active case, NewLeaf may need to review the case history before confirming document preparation.
Existing custody, support, or property orders โ and the judgment if there is one.
6
What Is the Other Party Asking the Court to Do?
Look at the top of page 1 of the FL-300. Which boxes are checked under Request for Order? Check all that apply here. Questions for each one will open up below.
If it's checked, they may be asking to change an order that already exists rather than create a new one.
๐ That's okay. Please make sure you've uploaded the complete FL-300 above. JoHanna will read the form and go over it with you. You can keep filling out the rest of this questionnaire, or stop here and call (916) 751-6498.
7
Your Response to Each Request
For each item, tell me where you stand. You can agree with some things and disagree with others โ most responses are a mix. There is no right answer here, and I will not suggest one. If you want advice about whether you should agree or disagree with a request, you should consult a California family-law attorney.
๐ง Child Custody
No problem โ please make sure the complete FL-300 and any attachments are uploaded, and JoHanna will go over the request with you. You can keep going without stating a position.
๐ Visitation / Parenting Time
No problem โ please upload the complete papers and JoHanna will go over the request with you.
๐ต Child Support
No problem โ please upload the complete papers and JoHanna will go over the request with you.
๐ Spousal or Partner Support
No problem โ please upload the complete papers and JoHanna will go over the request with you.
โ๏ธ Attorney's Fees and Costs
NewLeaf cannot give an opinion about whether a court can or should award attorney's fees in your situation. That is a legal question for a California family-law attorney. What I can do is record what was requested and what you want your response to say.
No problem โ please upload the complete papers and JoHanna will go over the request with you.
๐ Property Control
No problem โ please upload the complete papers and JoHanna will go over the request with you.
This request involves a property or financial issue that may require additional review before NewLeaf can confirm document preparation and pricing. Please continue the questionnaire and upload all related documents.
๐ Other
The Other box on the FL-300 can cover almost anything, so this part is important. Please copy their wording rather than summarizing it โ that way you don't have to figure out what legal category it belongs to.
This request involves a property or financial issue that may require additional review before NewLeaf can confirm document preparation and pricing. Please continue the questionnaire and upload all related documents.
No problem โ please upload the complete papers and JoHanna will go over the request with you. You can continue without stating a position.
Deeds ยท preliminary title reports ยท escrow documents ยท recorded notices ยท prior property orders ยท settlement agreements ยท judgments ยท loan or mortgage statements ยท anything else about the property.
8
The Children
This section only appears because a custody or parenting-time issue is involved.
When custody or parenting time is involved, the court asks for this history. Approximate dates are fine.
9
Financial Information
This section only appears because support or fees are involved. Estimates are fine โ nothing here is final, and JoHanna will go over it with you.
Which of these do you have available?
Your Income
Your Monthly Expenses estimates are fine
Pay stubs, tax returns, insurance and childcare costs, any FL-150 you already have.
10
Your Own Words
This part is yours. A declaration is your own statement to the judge. What you write here goes into your declaration in your own words โ I will not rewrite it, add to it, or change what you meant. I organize and format what you provide.
โ๏ธ Your declaration is signed under penalty of perjury. Please write only what you know to be true.
11
Safety
Safety concerns can come up in any family law case, whatever forms were filed. You only need to share what you're comfortable sharing here.
Thank you for telling me. Depending on what you are asking the court to do, different or additional forms may be appropriate, and some situations are better handled with the help of an attorney or a local support organization. JoHanna will review this with you before preparing documents. Please call (916) 751-6498 if you'd rather talk than type.
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 โ free and available 24/7. These resources are provided for your safety and are separate from document preparation.
12
Is There Something New You Want the Judge to Order?
Your FL-320 is generally used to respond to what the other party asked the court to decide. If you also want the judge to make a separate order about something they did not request, additional paperwork may be needed.
What's the difference? Here's a simple example.
Just responding:
"The other parent is asking to change custody. I want the judge to deny that request and keep the current schedule."
That is still responding to what the other party asked for โ even though you're asking the judge to say no.
Possibly asking for something new:
"The other parent is asking to change custody, and I also want the judge to order them to reimburse me for an unrelated expense they never mentioned in their request."
That second part is a new subject the other party did not raise, so it may need separate paperwork.
Not sure which one you are?
That's fine โ pick "I'm not sure" below and describe it. Sorting that out is JoHanna's job, not yours.
Good to flag now. Asking the court for an order about an issue the other party did not raise may require your own Request for Order (FL-300) and separate document preparation. NewLeaf will review your documents and what you described before confirming whether additional paperwork or services are needed.
13
Your Documents & Evidence
Please don't try to decide what's legally important โ upload what you have and JoHanna will review it.
If files are too large, email them to newleafoffice.us@gmail.com and mention your case number.
14
Serving the Other Side & Your Hearing
If documents are prepared and filed, a copy also goes to the other side. That part cannot be done by you personally โ it has to be someone else who is 18 or older and not a party to the case.
15
Final Review
Please read and check each box before submitting.
Something went wrong sending your answers. Your progress is still saved on this device โ please try again in a moment, or email JoHanna at newleafoffice.us@gmail.com.
๐ฟ Received โ Thank You
Thank you. I will review the court papers and information you submitted to determine what document-preparation services are appropriate. If anything is missing or I need clarification before preparing documents, I will contact you.
If you still have documents to send, please email them to newleafoffice.us@gmail.com with your case number.
(916) 751-6498 โ call or text anytime
NewLeaf Document Services ยท JoHanna C. Cody, LDA #23-003 ยท Placer County ยท Registered & Bonded
3334 Sankey Road, Pleasant Grove, CA 95668 ยท (916) 751-6498 ยท newleafoffice.us@gmail.com ยท NewleafDocumentServices.com Not a Law Firm. Not an Attorney. A Legal Document Assistant is authorized to prepare documents at the specific direction of a person representing themselves. I cannot give legal advice, choose forms for you, tell you what to ask the court for, or predict how a judge will rule. This questionnaire is confidential. Submitting it does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice or representation, please consult a licensed California attorney.
