FL-330 is a California family court form used to prove that a party in a family law case has been personally served with court documents. Personal service means someone—who is at least 18 years old and not a party to the case—hand-delivered the documents directly to the person being served. This is one of the strictest and most reliable forms of service because it ensures the recipient actually received the papers. FL-330 is the official record the court uses to confirm that this requirement was properly completed.

The form lists exactly which documents were served, such as a Summons (FL-110), Petition, Request for Order (FL-300), or any other family law filings. It also identifies the date, time, and location where personal service occurred. This gives the court a clear timeline and ensures the receiving party was given proper legal notice. Without proper service—and without FL-330—the court cannot move forward, issue orders, or enter a default judgment.

Because personal service must be completed by a neutral third party, the server fills out and signs FL-330 under penalty of perjury, confirming that the information is true and accurate. The server must describe the person served, and must confirm that the documents were handed directly to them. If the server fails to correctly complete this form, the court may reject the proof of service, requiring service to be repeated and potentially delaying the case.

Once FL-330 is completed, it must be filed with the court. Filing the Proof of Personal Service provides the judge with legal verification that the other party was notified and has had the required amount of time to respond. This starts important timelines, including the 30-day response period for a Summons and Petition or the deadline to respond to a Request for Order. The court relies on FL-330 to determine whether due process has been met.

In summary, FL-330 is a crucial form for advancing any California family law case. It proves that the other party was personally handed the required documents, ensuring fairness and compliance with legal notice requirements. Without a properly completed and filed FL-330, the court cannot proceed or enforce the deadlines needed to move the case forward.