How to Fill Out California Form FL-343 (w/Examples) + FAQs

Yes, you can complete California Judicial Council Form FL-343, the Spousal, Partner, or Family Support Order Attachment, on your own by carefully filling in case identifiers, checking the boxes that describe your support order, entering exact dollar amounts, choosing payment terms, and signing under penalty of perjury. The form attaches to a larger order, like a Findings and Order After Hearing on Form FL-340, a Judgment on Form FL-180, or a Stipulation, and it tells the court and the paying party exactly how much support to pay, when, how, and for how long.

Mistakes on FL-343 cause real harm. According to the California Department of Child Support Services 2024 Annual Report, California courts process more than 1.1 million active support cases every year, and unclear or incomplete support attachments are a leading reason wage assignments bounce back unprocessed, delaying payments by 30 to 90 days.

Here is what you will learn in this guide:

• 📝 How to complete every check box and dollar field on the official Judicial Council FL-343 form, line by line, with plain-English explanations.
• ⚖️ Which California Family Code sections drive each box, including sections 3600, 4320, 4330, 4336, and 4337.
• 💰 How to calculate temporary support using county-specific guideline calculators like DissoMaster and the Santa Clara guideline.
• 🚨 The seven most common mistakes self-represented spouses make on FL-343 and the financial consequences of each.
• 📅 How to use Gavron warnings, Smith/Ostler bonus clauses, and step-down dates to protect your rights for years after the order is signed.

What Form FL-343 Is and Why It Exists

Form FL-343 is the official California Judicial Council attachment used to spell out the details of any spousal support, domestic partner support, or family support order. It is not a standalone order. The form attaches to a parent document, like a Findings and Order After Hearing, a Stipulation and Order, or a Judgment, and the parent document only becomes enforceable when the boxes on FL-343 are filled in clearly.

The form exists because California courts handle a huge volume of support cases, and a generic order that says “Husband shall pay spousal support” is impossible to enforce. The state needs the exact amount, the exact start date, the exact payee, and the exact termination event, all written in standard language. Without that standard language, the California State Disbursement Unit cannot process wage assignments under Family Code section 5230.

The consequence of skipping FL-343 or filling it out wrong is severe. Your support order may be unenforceable, your employer may refuse to honor the wage withholding, and you may have to come back to court to fix it, paying filing fees and attorney costs all over again. A real-world example: Maria, a paralegal in Riverside, filed a Stipulation for Spousal Support without an FL-343 attached. Her ex-husband’s employer rejected the wage assignment, and Maria lost three months of payments before the judge signed an amended order.

A common misconception is that FL-343 is only for divorce cases. It is not. The form also attaches to orders in Domestic Violence Prevention Act cases under Form DV-100, to legal separation orders, and to nullity orders.

When You Must Use FL-343

You use FL-343 any time a California court is being asked to make, modify, or terminate a support order between spouses, registered domestic partners, or as part of a family support package. That includes temporary “pendente lite” orders under Family Code section 3600, permanent post-judgment support under Family Code section 4330, and modifications under section 3651.

The form is not used for child support alone. Child support gets its own attachment, Form FL-342. If a case has both child support and spousal support, you attach both FL-342 and FL-343 to the parent order.

A common misconception is that you only need FL-343 if you and your spouse disagree. Even when both spouses agree on every term, the court still requires FL-343 so the agreement is enforceable, the State Disbursement Unit can process payments, and the order is clear if either party later wants to modify or terminate it.

The Three Types of Support on FL-343

The top of the form has three check boxes: spousal support, domestic partner support, and family support. Each one has different legal rules, different tax consequences, and different termination triggers, so you must check the right box at the start.

Spousal support is paid between people who are or were married, governed by Family Code sections 4320 through 4360. Domestic partner support is paid between people who registered as domestic partners under Family Code section 297, and the legal rules largely mirror spousal support. Family support is a single combined payment of spousal and child support, allowed under Family Code section 92, often used for tax-planning reasons even after the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 changed the federal deductibility of spousal support.

The consequence of checking the wrong box is real. If you check “spousal support” when you meant “family support,” you lose the combined-payment treatment and the parties may calculate taxes wrong for years.

Before You Open FL-343 — Gather These Documents

You cannot fill out FL-343 accurately without certain numbers and dates in front of you. Going line-by-line without prep almost always leads to a do-over.

Pull the parties’ three most recent pay stubs, the most recent two years of federal Form 1040 tax returns, and the most recent Income and Expense Declaration on Form FL-150. Pull any prior support order and the Property Declaration on Form FL-160 if it exists. Confirm the marriage date, the date of separation, and the children’s birth dates if family support is involved.

The consequence of guessing on income is huge. If you list a wrong income figure, the guideline support number is wrong, and either the supported spouse is shortchanged or the paying spouse is overcharged for years. A real-world example: David, a small business owner in Los Angeles County, listed his K-1 distribution but forgot his draws. The court used the lower number, and his ex-wife had to file a Request for Order on Form FL-300 two months later to fix it.

A common misconception is that you can attach pay stubs to FL-343 and the judge will sort it out. The judge will not. FL-343 needs final, calculated dollar figures, not raw documents.

Step-by-Step: Filling Out FL-343 Line by Line

The form has a caption at the top, followed by ten numbered items. Each item has its own check boxes and fill-in fields. We work through every box, in order.

Caption: Attorney, Court, and Case Information

The caption is the top block of the form. You enter the attorney or self-represented party’s name, address, and phone number, the State Bar of California number if any, the court’s name and street address, the petitioner’s name, the respondent’s name, any “other parent or party,” and the case number.

The case number must match exactly the case number on your petition under Form FL-100. One transposed digit and the clerk will reject the filing under California Rules of Court rule 2.100. The consequence of a rejected filing is days or weeks of delay, and during those weeks, no support is owed.

A real-world example: Aisha, filing in Alameda County, listed her case number as RG24-123456 instead of HF24-123456. The clerk rejected her filing, and her temporary support hearing was continued by 45 days, during which her ex-husband paid nothing.

A common misconception is that the caption is “just paperwork” and small errors will be ignored. They are not. The clerk’s office uses the caption to route the filing, and any error sends the document back.

Item 1: Identifying the Order

Item 1 is the very first numbered box. You check whether this attachment is to a Findings and Order After Hearing, a Judgment, a Stipulation and Order, or “other.” You also check whether it is for spousal support, domestic partner support, or family support.

The consequence of checking “Judgment” when you meant “Findings and Order After Hearing” is that the order may be treated as final when it was meant to be temporary, or as temporary when it was meant to be final. This affects how and when either side can modify the order. Modifications to a temporary order are easier under Family Code section 3603; modifications to a Judgment require a “material change of circumstances” under In re Marriage of Stephenson (1995) 39 Cal.App.4th 71.

A real-world example: Carlos, in San Diego, checked “Judgment” when his attorney intended a “Findings and Order After Hearing.” Two years later, when his income dropped, the judge applied the higher modification standard, and Carlos had to keep paying the original amount.

A common misconception is that you can fix this later. You can, but only by filing a Request for Order on Form FL-300 and paying a new filing fee.

Item 2: Who Pays Whom

Item 2 names the payor and the payee. You write the full legal name of the person who must pay support and the full legal name of the person who receives it.

The consequence of using a nickname is that the State Disbursement Unit may not match the order to its system. If the wage assignment under Form FL-195 goes out under “Bob Smith” but the payor’s W-2 says “Robert J. Smith,” the employer may refuse to withhold.

A real-world example: Jennifer in Sacramento listed her ex as “Mike,” and his employer rejected the wage withholding for two pay periods until she filed an amended order with “Michael R. Garcia.”

A common misconception is that initials are fine. Use the same name that appears on the person’s W-2 and driver’s license.

Item 3: Support Amount and Start Date

Item 3 is the heart of the form. You enter the dollar amount of monthly support, the date the first payment is due, and whether payments are due on the first of the month, the fifteenth, or both.

For temporary support, most California counties use a guideline calculator, often DissoMaster, XSpouse, or SupportTax, under local rules like Santa Clara County Local Rule 3.A. For permanent support, the judge weighs the fourteen factors in Family Code section 4320, and there is no guideline.

The consequence of entering the wrong amount is straightforward: you owe what is on the order, not what you meant. A real-world example: Priya, in Orange County, typed $2,500 when she meant $1,500, and her ex-husband held her to the higher amount until she filed a corrected order.

A common misconception is that the start date is automatic. It is not. If you leave the start date blank, the court may default to the date of the order, which can cost the receiving spouse a full month of back support.

Sub-box: Half on the 1st, Half on the 15th

The form lets you split monthly support into two semi-monthly payments. This often matches the payor’s pay schedule, which makes the wage assignment cleaner.

The consequence of choosing “1st of the month” when the payor is paid on the 15th and 30th is that the wage assignment may pull the full month from a single check, leaving the payor short on rent.

Sub-box: Until Further Order or Step-Down Date

You can write “until further order of the court,” a specific termination date, or a step-down schedule. A step-down lowers the support amount on a future date, which is common in long-term marriages where the supported spouse is expected to become self-supporting under Family Code section 4320(l).

The consequence of leaving termination open-ended in a short marriage is that the support may run longer than the law allows under Family Code section 4336, which presumes a “reasonable period” is one-half the length of the marriage for marriages under ten years.

Item 4: Wage Assignment

Item 4 sets up the Earnings Assignment Order on Form FL-195. California law under Family Code section 5230 requires a wage assignment for every support order unless both parties agree to stay it.

You check whether the wage assignment is “issued and served,” “issued and stayed,” or already in effect. A “stayed” wage assignment means the payor pays directly, and the assignment only activates if a payment is missed.

The consequence of staying a wage assignment with an unreliable payor is that the receiving spouse may have to chase late payments for months before reactivating the assignment under Family Code section 5261.

A real-world example: Linda, a teacher in Fresno, agreed to a stayed wage assignment because her ex promised to pay on time. He missed four months, and Linda spent six weeks reactivating the assignment.

A common misconception is that you cannot un-stay a wage assignment without a hearing. You can. You file an Ex Parte Application to Activate Wage Assignment under Family Code section 5261.

Item 5: Payment Method

Item 5 explains how the payor sends money. Options include direct deposit, the State Disbursement Unit, check by mail, or another agreed method.

If the case involves child support arrears or any Title IV-D services, payments must go through the California State Disbursement Unit under federal law at 42 U.S.C. § 654b. The consequence of paying directly when the case is IV-D is that the payor gets no credit for the payments, even after they cleared the bank.

A real-world example: James, in Kern County, sent his ex $1,800 a month directly for a year, but the case was IV-D. The state credited nothing, and James owed $21,600 in arrears even though he had bank records of every payment.

A common misconception is that bank records always count. In a IV-D case, only payments routed through the SDU count toward the official ledger.

Item 6: Earnings Assignment Stayed Conditions

Item 6 sets the conditions for staying a wage assignment, if the parties agreed to stay it under Item 4. The condition is usually “as long as payments are made on time.”

The consequence of leaving Item 6 blank is that the stay has no enforceable trigger, and the receiving spouse may need a court hearing to lift it.

A real-world example: Sandra, in Contra Costa County, left Item 6 blank. When her ex missed two payments, she had to file a Request for Order to lift the stay, costing her a $435 filing fee and a six-week wait under Government Code section 70677.

A common misconception is that “as long as payments are timely” is automatic. It is not. You must write the condition on Item 6.

Item 7: Smith/Ostler Bonus Language

Item 7 is where you add a Smith/Ostler clause from In re Marriage of Ostler & Smith (1990) 223 Cal.App.3d 33. This clause says the payor pays a percentage of any bonus, commission, or overtime income above the base used to calculate guideline support.

The consequence of leaving out a Smith/Ostler clause when the payor earns big bonuses is that the receiving spouse gets no share of that variable income. A real-world example: Diana, married to a tech executive in Santa Clara, did not include Smith/Ostler. Her ex earned a $400,000 bonus the next year, and she received zero share.

A common misconception is that bonuses are automatically captured. They are not. Without specific Smith/Ostler language with a stated percentage, the bonus is not part of support.

Item 8: Gavron Warning

Item 8 includes a Gavron warning under In re Marriage of Gavron (1988) 203 Cal.App.3d 705 and now codified at Family Code section 4330(b). The warning tells the supported spouse that they are expected to become self-supporting within a reasonable time.

The consequence of skipping the Gavron warning is that the paying spouse cannot later argue the supported spouse failed to make reasonable efforts. A real-world example: Robert, in San Mateo, did not include a Gavron warning in 2018. When he tried to reduce support in 2024 because his ex had not worked, the judge refused, citing the missing warning.

A common misconception is that the warning is automatic in long marriages. It is not. The court must give it expressly, and the FL-343 is the place to record it.

Item 9: Retention of Jurisdiction

Item 9 lets the court retain jurisdiction to modify or terminate support in the future. For marriages of long duration under Family Code section 4336, defined as ten years or more, the court keeps jurisdiction unless the parties agree otherwise.

The consequence of failing to retain jurisdiction is that the court loses power to change support later, even if circumstances change. A real-world example: Tom, in Ventura, agreed to terminate jurisdiction in 2015 in exchange for a property buyout. When he became disabled in 2023, the court could not order his ex to help, because jurisdiction was gone.

A common misconception is that jurisdiction is automatic forever. It is not. The parties can terminate jurisdiction by stipulation, and once gone, it is gone.

Item 10: Other Orders

Item 10 is a free-text box for any other terms. Common entries include life insurance requirements under Family Code section 4360, tax-filing instructions, or specific language about vocational examinations under section 4331.

The consequence of using vague language in Item 10 is that the term may be unenforceable. A real-world example: Elena, in San Bernardino, wrote “husband shall maintain reasonable life insurance.” The court later refused to enforce it because “reasonable” was undefined.

A common misconception is that Item 10 is for “extra wishes.” It is for binding terms, and every term should have a dollar amount, a date, or a measurable trigger.

Three Common Scenarios with FL-343

Below are the three most common fact patterns we see, with the action and the financial result.

Scenario 1: Long-Term Marriage, Stay-at-Home Spouse

Decision on FL-343	Financial Result
Check “spousal support,” 22-year marriage, $4,500/month, no termination date, full Gavron warning, retain jurisdiction.	Supported spouse receives $4,500 monthly, knows she must seek work, and either side may modify in the future under Family Code section 4336.

Scenario 2: Short-Term Marriage, Two Earners

Decision on FL-343	Financial Result
Check “spousal support,” 4-year marriage, $800/month for 24 months, hard termination date, no jurisdiction retained past termination.	Supported spouse receives $19,200 total, then support ends absolutely under the half-the-marriage presumption in Family Code section 4320(l).

Scenario 3: Domestic Partnership with Self-Employment Income

Decision on FL-343	Financial Result
Check “domestic partner support,” $2,200/month base, 25% Smith/Ostler on net K-1 distributions over $120,000/year, wage assignment stayed.	Supported partner receives $26,400 base plus a calculable share of upside, with In re Marriage of Ostler & Smith language ensuring true-up if business income spikes.

Three Named Examples Showing FL-343 in Action

Marcus and Jenna divorced in Los Angeles after 14 years. Marcus earned $180,000 a year; Jenna had been a stay-at-home parent. Their FL-343 set $3,200/month, retained jurisdiction, and added a step-down to $2,400 after three years tied to Jenna’s expected return to teaching credentialed work. The step-down language, drafted under Family Code section 4320(l), saved Marcus from a future court fight.

Yusuf and Amira registered as domestic partners in 2014 and dissolved in 2024. Yusuf, a software engineer, had a base of $190,000 and a typical bonus of $80,000. Their FL-343 set $1,800/month base support and a 20% Smith/Ostler share of bonus income, citing In re Marriage of Ostler & Smith. When Yusuf earned a $150,000 bonus the next year, Amira received $30,000 automatically.

Beth and Ron used family support, not separate child and spousal support, because Ron’s tax advisor wanted a single combined payment under Family Code section 92. Their FL-343 listed $5,000/month total, with a step-down when each child reached age 18. The clear language let the IRS treat the family support deduction consistent with the TCJA rules at IRC section 71 for pre-2019 instruments and prevented IRS audits.

Mistakes to Avoid on FL-343

Self-represented filers and even experienced lawyers make repeat errors on this form. Each one has a measurable cost.

• Leaving the start date blank. The court defaults to the order date, often costing the receiving spouse 30 days of back support.
• Using a nickname instead of a legal name. The wage assignment bounces, and the payor falls behind by a pay period or two.
• Skipping the Gavron warning. The paying spouse later cannot reduce support, even after years of the other spouse not seeking work.
• Forgetting Smith/Ostler language. Bonuses, commissions, and overtime escape the support order entirely.
• Writing “reasonable life insurance” instead of a dollar amount and policy term. The clause becomes unenforceable.
• Checking “Judgment” when the order is actually a temporary findings and order. Modifications later require the harder material-change standard.
• Staying the wage assignment without writing conditions in Item 6. The receiving spouse must hold a hearing to lift the stay.
• Listing the wrong case number. The clerk rejects the filing and the hearing gets continued.
• Using “until further order” in a short marriage with no end date. Support may run longer than the half-the-marriage rule under Family Code section 4320(l).
• Failing to attach FL-343 to the parent order. The order is unenforceable on its face.

Key Entities You Will Encounter

The California Judicial Council publishes and revises FL-343, last revised January 1, 2020. The Family Code is the master statute book. The California State Disbursement Unit (SDU) processes wage assignments. The Department of Child Support Services (DCSS) handles IV-D cases. The California Courts Self-Help Center publishes plain-language guides.

The leading cases include In re Marriage of Gavron (1988) 203 Cal.App.3d 705, In re Marriage of Ostler & Smith (1990) 223 Cal.App.3d 33, In re Marriage of Cheriton (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 269 on high-earner cases, and In re Marriage of Stephenson (1995) 39 Cal.App.4th 71 on the modification standard.

The federal players matter too. The Internal Revenue Service decides tax treatment, and after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, spousal support paid under instruments executed after 2018 is no longer deductible to the payor or taxable to the payee.

Dos and Don’ts

Do these things, and your FL-343 will be enforceable, clear, and modifiable.

• Do use the latest revision of FL-343 from the Judicial Council site so the boxes match current law.
• Do attach FL-343 to the parent order every time, because the parent order alone is unenforceable.
• Do include a Gavron warning in any marriage of more than five years, because future modifications depend on it.
• Do write Smith/Ostler language any time the payor earns bonuses, commissions, or overtime, because base support alone leaves money on the table.
• Do retain jurisdiction in long-term marriages under ten years, because losing it is permanent.

Don’t make these errors, because each one creates a real cost.

• Don’t guess at income figures, because every dollar wrong becomes years of wrong support.
• Don’t leave Item 10 vague, because vague terms are unenforceable.
• Don’t stay the wage assignment with an unreliable payor, because chasing missed payments costs months.
• Don’t sign the form without reading every check box, because every box has a consequence.
• Don’t file without serving the other party under Code of Civil Procedure section 1005, because lack of service voids the order.

Pros and Cons of Self-Filing FL-343

Self-filing FL-343 is realistic for many people, especially in agreed cases. It also carries risks.

Pros of self-filing include:

• Lower cost, because filing without an attorney saves $3,000 to $10,000 in legal fees.
• Speed, because you control your own timeline and do not wait on attorney calendars.
• Direct knowledge, because you know your numbers better than anyone.
• Simpler agreed cases, because spouses who agree on every term can finish in weeks.
• Free help, because the Family Law Facilitator’s Office reviews forms at no charge.

Cons of self-filing include:

• Missed clauses, because Smith/Ostler and Gavron are easy to overlook.
• Tax errors, because TCJA rules differ for pre-2019 and post-2018 orders.
• Form rejections, because clerks reject any caption mismatch under California Rules of Court rule 2.100.
• Enforcement gaps, because vague language fails when you need it most.
• Complex income, because self-employed payors require forensic analysis you may not have.

Court Rulings That Shape FL-343

The form embeds rulings from decades of California case law. Knowing the cases helps you draft.

In re Marriage of Gavron (1988) 203 Cal.App.3d 705 created the warning that supported spouses must make reasonable efforts to become self-supporting. The Legislature codified the warning at Family Code section 4330(b). The consequence of skipping it is that future motions to reduce support face a much harder road.

In re Marriage of Ostler & Smith (1990) 223 Cal.App.3d 33 created the bonus-percentage clause that bears its name. The court approved a percentage of bonus income on top of base support, and this approach is now standard in California family law treatises.

In re Marriage of Cheriton (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 269 ruled that high-earner cases must still meet the children’s “needs” but allow significant lifestyle support. The case shapes how Item 3 amounts are set in cases over $1 million in income.

In re Marriage of Stephenson (1995) 39 Cal.App.4th 71 set the “material change of circumstances” rule for modifying permanent support. The case is why Item 1 matters; checking “Judgment” triggers the higher standard.

Filing FL-343: Service, Fees, and Timing

After you complete FL-343, you file it as an attachment to your parent order. The clerk’s filing fees vary by case type, with most family law filings ranging from $0 (when accompanied by a Fee Waiver on Form FW-001) to about $435 under Government Code section 70677.

Service rules apply. For Requests for Order, you serve at least 16 court days before the hearing, plus 5 days for mailing, under Code of Civil Procedure section 1005. The consequence of missing service is a continued hearing and another month with no order.

A common misconception is that emailing FL-343 to your spouse counts as service. It does not, unless the parties have a signed agreement under California Rules of Court rule 2.251.

Modifying or Terminating Support Set by FL-343

Once FL-343 is signed, support continues until modified or terminated. To modify, you file Form FL-300 with a new FL-343 attached showing the proposed terms. To terminate, you file a termination order, often with a stipulation.

Family Code section 4337 terminates spousal support automatically on the death of either party or the remarriage of the supported spouse. The consequence of paying after a remarriage is that the payor may have a hard time recovering the overpayment without a court order.

A common misconception is that cohabitation by the supported spouse ends support. Cohabitation only creates a rebuttable presumption of decreased need under Family Code section 4323, and you still need a court order to actually reduce support.

Tax Treatment Under Current Federal Law

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 changed federal tax rules for spousal support. For divorce or separation instruments executed after December 31, 2018, spousal support is not deductible to the payor and not taxable to the payee, under Internal Revenue Code section 215 (repealed) and section 71 (repealed).

For pre-2019 instruments, the old rules still apply unless the parties modified the instrument after 2018 and elected the new rules. The consequence of mishandling this on FL-343 is years of wrong tax filings. A real-world example: Karen, divorced in 2017, modified her spousal support in 2021 and accidentally elected new rules. She lost a $9,400/year deduction.

A common misconception is that California follows the federal change. It does not for state taxes. California still allows the payor to deduct and requires the payee to report, under Revenue and Taxation Code section 17081, so good FL-343 drafting accounts for both layers.

FAQs

Do I have to file FL-343 in every California spousal support case?

Yes. Every California spousal, partner, or family support order needs FL-343 attached to the parent order, because the parent order alone lacks the specific terms required for enforcement and wage assignment.

Can I use a typed attachment instead of FL-343?

No. California Rules of Court require Judicial Council mandatory forms when a Judicial Council form exists, and FL-343 is the mandatory attachment for support orders.

Do I need a lawyer to fill out FL-343?

No. Many self-represented spouses complete it with help from the Family Law Facilitator, but complex income, long marriages, or bonus structures usually justify hiring counsel.

Does FL-343 cover child support too?

No. Child support uses Form FL-342. If your case has both, you attach both FL-342 and FL-343 to the parent order so each support type is clearly stated.

Is the wage assignment automatic?

Yes. Family Code section 5230 requires a wage assignment in every support order unless the parties stay it on Item 4 of the form, with a specific condition for lifting the stay.

Can we agree to no spousal support at all?

Yes. Parties can stipulate to zero support and even waive jurisdiction, but the waiver of jurisdiction is permanent and risky in long-term marriages, so think carefully before signing.

Does cohabitation end support automatically?

No. Cohabitation creates a rebuttable presumption of reduced need under Family Code section 4323, but the paying spouse still must file Form FL-300 to actually change the order.

Does spousal support end at retirement?

No. Retirement is a possible change of circumstances under cases like In re Marriage of Reynolds, but it is not automatic; the payor must file a Request for Order with a new FL-343.

Is spousal support deductible on my federal taxes?

No. For instruments executed after December 31, 2018, spousal support is no longer deductible federally, although California still allows the deduction at the state level.

Can I modify FL-343 myself after the judge signs it?

No. Once signed, you cannot edit it; you must file a new Request for Order with a fresh FL-343 reflecting the proposed changes and serve it on the other party.

What happens if I miss a payment under FL-343?

Yes, consequences hit fast: missed payments accrue 10% interest under Code of Civil Procedure section 685.010, the wage assignment activates if stayed, and the receiving spouse may file contempt.

Do I need to file FL-343 if both spouses agree?

Yes. Even fully agreed cases require FL-343 attached to the Stipulation and Order, because the State Disbursement Unit and any future judge need the standard form to enforce the agreement.