FL-335 is the Judicial Council of California form that records service of court papers by mail. The person who mailed the documents completes it to tell the court what was mailed, to whom, when and from where. It is used in family law cases, where the page header carries the petitioner, respondent and case number. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form and its instructions are published by the California courts.
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What is FL-335?
Form FL-335, Proof of Service by Mail, is the Judicial Council of California form on which a person declares, under penalty of perjury, that they served copies of specified documents on another person by mail, and states when and where the envelope was mailed.
The California courts' self-help page describes it as the form that tells the court you had the other party served legal papers by mail. It lists the papers that were served, when and where they were mailed, and who served them. The form cites Code of Civil Procedure, §§ 1013, 1013a, and is marked "Form Approved for Optional Use." The revision printed on it is Rev. January 1, 2012.
The form has one page. The top carries the case caption (court, petitioner/plaintiff, respondent/defendant, other parent/party, case number, hearing date, time and department). Items 1 to 4 cover the server's eligibility, address, the documents served and the mailing details. Item 5 applies when the papers served include a request to modify a child custody, visitation or child support judgment or permanent order with an address verification declaration. Item 6 is the declaration under penalty of perjury.
A notice at the top says that temporary restraining orders must be served by personal service and refers you to form FL-330. FL-335 is therefore not the form for proving service of a temporary restraining order. Form FL-334 is the declaration regarding address verification that item 5 mentions.
Who needs to file FL-335?
The person who actually mailed the documents completes and signs Form FL-335. Item 1 sets the conditions: that person must be at least 18 years of age, must not be a party to the action, and must be a resident of or employed in the county where the mailing took place. A party to the case cannot sign it for their own mailing.
Use it when the papers were served by mail. The form gives two ways of mailing in item 3: depositing the sealed envelope with the United States Postal Service with postage fully prepaid, or placing the envelope for collection and mailing under the server's ordinary business practices. You check the one that applies.
Do not use it to prove service of a temporary restraining order. The form's notice states that such orders must be served by personal service and points to form FL-330.
If the documents mailed include a request to modify a child custody, visitation or child support judgment or permanent order with an address verification declaration, item 5 applies. Form FL-334 may be used for that declaration.
When to file FL-335
Complete Form FL-335 after the documents have been mailed, because the declaration says you served them and asks for the date mailed (item 4c) and the place of mailing (item 4d). The person who did the mailing signs and dates it at the end, under item 6.
The form prints no filing deadline of its own. Any time limit depends on the court papers being served and on the court handling the case, so check the instructions for the underlying documents and the California courts' how-to instructions for proof of service. The caption has boxes for the hearing date, time and department, which you fill in when the served papers relate to a scheduled hearing.
How to fill out FL-335
Complete the party and attorney block
At the top left, enter the name, State Bar number (if any) and address of the attorney or party without attorney, plus telephone number. FAX NO. and E-MAIL ADDRESS are optional. Add the party the attorney represents on ATTORNEY FOR.
Enter the court information
Fill in the county on SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF, then the street address, mailing address, city and ZIP code, and branch name of the court. Leave the FOR COURT USE ONLY box blank.
Add the case caption
Enter PETITIONER/PLAINTIFF, RESPONDENT/DEFENDANT and, if applicable, OTHER PARENT/PARTY, then the CASE NUMBER.
Enter the hearing details
Fill in HEARING DATE, HEARING TIME and DEPT. when the documents mailed relate to a scheduled hearing.
Confirm your eligibility in item 1
Item 1 states that you are at least 18, not a party to this action, and a resident of or employed in the county where the mailing took place. Only the person who did the mailing completes the form.
Give your address in item 2
Enter your residence or business address in item 2.
List the documents and the mailing method
In item 3, specify each document you served. Then mark 3a if you deposited the sealed envelope with the United States Postal Service with postage prepaid, or 3b if you placed it for collection and mailing under ordinary business practices.
Describe how the envelope was addressed
In item 4, enter the name of the person served (4a), the address on the envelope (4b), the date mailed (4c) and the place of mailing, city and state (4d).
Check item 5 if it applies
Mark item 5 only if you served a request to modify a child custody, visitation or child support judgment or permanent order that included an address verification declaration. Form FL-334 may be used for that declaration.
Sign, date, review and download
Under item 6, enter the date, type or print your name and sign. Check every entry, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and deliver it as the court requires.
How to submit FL-335
The form itself names no filing address, portal or other channel. It carries a "FOR COURT USE ONLY" box and the caption of the Superior Court of California where the case is pending, so it belongs in that case.
- Where it goes: the California courts' self-help page describes FL-335 as the form that tells the court that the other party was served by mail. Confirm with the court clerk of your case how that court accepts it.
- Instructions: the self-help page at https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/jcc-form/FL-335 links to instructions for form FL-335 and to how-to instructions for proof of service.
- Before you send it: the person who mailed the papers must sign and date the form.
The form advises pressing the Clear This Form button after you print it, for your protection and privacy. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the court's channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Having a party to the case sign the form. Item 1 requires the person who mailed to be at least 18 and not a party to the action.
- Using FL-335 to prove service of a temporary restraining order. The form's notice says these orders must be served by personal service (see form FL-330).
- Signing as the server when you do not live or work in the county where the mailing took place, which item 1 requires.
- Leaving item 3 vague instead of specifying each document served, or not marking whether you used 3a (U.S. Postal Service deposit) or 3b (business collection practice).
- Leaving out the date mailed or the city and state of mailing in items 4c and 4d.
- Not checking item 5 when the papers served were a request to modify a child custody, visitation or child support order that included an address verification declaration.
- Printing the form without signing and dating it under item 6. The declaration is made under penalty of perjury.
- Forgetting to press the Clear This Form button after printing, which the form recommends for your privacy.
Frequently asked questions
What is the FL-335 form used for?
FL-335 is the Judicial Council of California Proof of Service by Mail. It tells the court that papers were mailed to the other party, listing which documents were served, to whom, when and where they were mailed, and who did the mailing. The server signs it under penalty of perjury.
Who can sign Form FL-335?
The person who mailed the documents signs it. Item 1 requires that person to be at least 18, not a party to the action, and a resident of or employed in the county where the mailing took place. A party to the case cannot be the server on this form.
Can I use FL-335 to serve a temporary restraining order?
No. The notice printed on the form says temporary restraining orders must be served by personal service and refers you to form FL-330. FL-335 documents service by mail only.
What is the difference between items 3a and 3b on FL-335?
Item 3a says you deposited the sealed envelope with the United States Postal Service with postage fully prepaid. Item 3b says you placed it for collection and mailing under your business's ordinary practices, and that it is deposited the same day. Mark the one that matches how you mailed.
When do I check item 5 on FL-335?
Check item 5 if the papers you served were a request to modify a child custody, visitation or child support judgment or permanent order that included an address verification declaration. The form says that form FL-334 may be used for that declaration.
Where do I file the FL-335 proof of service?
The form prints no filing address. It carries the caption of the Superior Court where your case is pending and a FOR COURT USE ONLY box, so ask that court's clerk how it accepts it. The California courts' self-help page links to instructions for form FL-335.
Can I fill out FL-335 online?
Yes. You can fill out the FL-335 PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file or serve anything: you deliver the signed form to the court through the court's own channels.
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