FL-180 is the California family court form used to enter a final judgment in cases involving divorce (dissolution), legal separation, or annulment (nullity) of a marriage or domestic partnership. It represents the official court order that legally ends the marital or domestic partnership relationship or formally changes its status. This form is essential because it summarizes all final rulings in the case and becomes the legally binding document that controls the parties’ rights and obligations moving forward.

The form outlines every major issue resolved during the case, including child custody and visitation, child support, spousal or partner support, division of community property, confirmation of separate property, and payment of debts. FL-180 acts as a cover sheet for the judgment packet and incorporates all attached agreements, settlement documents, and court orders. Whether the judgment was reached by default, agreement (stipulated judgment), or after a hearing, FL-180 is the document the judge signs to finalize everything.

FL-180 also specifies the type of judgment being granted. For dissolution, it states the effective date of the termination of marital or partnership status. This date is extremely important because it determines when the parties are legally single again and allowed to remarry or register a new domestic partnership. For legal separation or nullity cases, the form confirms the new legal status and ensures all associated rulings are properly recorded.

In addition, FL-180 confirms that required financial disclosures were completed and exchanged, unless both parties properly waived final disclosures. Because transparency is a key requirement in California family law, the court cannot issue a judgment until disclosure obligations have been satisfied. The form includes checkboxes to document compliance and ensures the judge has all necessary information to approve the final orders.

In summary, FL-180 is the final, authoritative judgment document in California family law cases involving the end or redefinition of a marriage or partnership. It collects all required orders, confirms compliance with legal procedures, and formally sets the terms for support, custody, property division, and status termination. Once the judge signs FL-180, the case is officially concluded and all stated orders become enforceable.