FL-191 is a California family court form used to collect detailed information about the parties in any case involving child support. It is required whenever a judgment or order for child support is established or modified. The purpose of FL-191 is to give the court and the California Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) the information they need to track, enforce, and manage child support orders. This form does not create support orders—it supports the administration and enforcement of them.

The form gathers essential identifying information about both parents, including full legal names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, birthdates, and employer details. It also collects information about the children involved, such as their names, birthdates, and residence history. This data helps state and county child support agencies locate parents, process payments, and ensure that support obligations are properly enforced. Because enforcement may involve wage garnishment or income withholding, employer information is especially important.

FL-191 is kept strictly confidential and is not placed in the public court file. It is used only by the court and child support agencies for administrative and enforcement purposes. This protects the privacy of the parties while still allowing the support enforcement system to function effectively. Parties must still complete the form even if they do not want agency involvement, as the court requires it to finalize child support orders.

The form must be updated if any of the information on it changes, such as a parent’s address, employer, or contact information. Keeping FL-191 current ensures that support payments are properly routed and that both parents can be contacted if modifications or enforcement actions become necessary. Failing to update the form can lead to delays in receiving payments or enforcement difficulties.

In summary, FL-191 is an essential administrative document used to support the accuracy, enforcement, and management of child support orders in California. It ensures that child support agencies have the information needed to process payments, enforce orders, and communicate with both parents. Completing and maintaining this form is a required step in any case involving child support and plays a key role in keeping support orders functioning smoothly.