FL-305 is a California family court form used when a party is requesting temporary emergency orders, also known as ex parte orders, in a family law case. These orders are designed for urgent situations where waiting for a regular hearing could cause immediate harm or significant risk to a child or a party. FL-305 is typically attached to a Request for Order (FL-300) when the requesting party asks the court to take immediate action before the other side has a chance to respond.

This form is commonly used in cases involving immediate threats to a child’s safety, domestic violence, risk of abduction, urgent medical needs, or severe financial emergencies. With FL-305, a party can request temporary changes to custody, visitation, travel restrictions, protection orders, or financial controls. Because emergency orders bypass the standard notice timeline, the form requires the requesting party to clearly explain why the situation cannot wait for a regular hearing and what specific harm may occur without immediate intervention.

FL-305 also outlines the temporary orders the requesting party wants the judge to issue. These orders remain in place only until the full hearing is held, at which point the court can modify, extend, or terminate them. The form requires detailed descriptions of the requested orders, factual explanations, and supporting evidence such as declarations, police reports, medical records, or messages showing imminent danger. Judges rely heavily on the information provided to determine whether an emergency truly exists.

Because emergency orders affect the rights of the other party without a full hearing, the court takes these requests very seriously. FL-305 also includes a section on notice—whether the requesting party informed the other side before filing the emergency request, and if not, why notice should be waived. In most cases, the requesting party must make reasonable efforts to give notice unless doing so would increase the danger or is impossible under the circumstances.

In summary, FL-305 is a critical form used to request fast, temporary protection or relief in urgent family law situations. It allows the court to step in quickly to prevent immediate harm while a full hearing is scheduled. When completed thoroughly and supported with strong evidence, FL-305 helps ensure that the court has the information it needs to make emergency decisions that protect children and vulnerable parties.