California Form JUD-300 is the Notice of Entry of Judgment that the court clerk issues to confirm a judgment has been formally entered into the case record, and it is the document that starts the clock for appeals, motions to vacate, and the six-month waiting period for divorce finality under Family Code §2339. The form is mandated by Code of Civil Procedure §664.5, and getting it wrong, or missing it entirely, can quietly destroy a litigant’s right to appeal under California Rules of Court 8.104.
The Judicial Council currently lists the revised November 1, 2024 version as the controlling edition, and you must confirm that revision date in the lower-left corner of the form before filing. According to the Judicial Council’s 2024 Court Statistics Report, California family courts process more than 130,000 dissolution judgments each year, and a meaningful share of those judgments are delayed because the clerk’s Notice of Entry of Judgment was filled out incorrectly or never served on the parties.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📋 What JUD-300 is, who actually completes it, and which agency receives it
- 🗂️ Every document and date you must gather before opening the form
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of every box on JUD-300, with named examples
- 👨👩👧 Three full filled-out scenarios for dissolution, parentage, and nullity cases
- ⚖️ The deadlines, mistakes, and misconceptions that quietly cost litigants their appeal rights
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form JUD-300 is the official Notice of Entry of Judgment used in California superior courts to give every party written notice that a judgment has been entered in the case file. The form is a Judicial Council form, meaning it is approved for optional use by the Judicial Council of California under rule 1.31 of the California Rules of Court, but in practice every superior court uses it because it satisfies the statutory mailing requirement.
The statutory backbone is Code of Civil Procedure §664.5, which directs the clerk to mail notice of entry to all parties who have appeared in the action. The plain-English meaning is simple. Once a judge signs the judgment, the clerk stamps it as entered in the register of actions, and JUD-300 is the proof of that entry that goes out by mail. The consequence of skipping this step is large because the time to appeal does not start running until either the clerk serves a Notice of Entry or a party serves one, and a missing JUD-300 can leave a case in legal limbo for months.
Most filers do not file JUD-300 themselves because the court clerk is the party who completes and serves it. However, attorneys, paralegals, and self-represented parties often prepare a draft JUD-300 and submit it with the proposed judgment so the clerk can sign and serve it without delay. A common misconception is that JUD-300 is the judgment. It is not. The judgment is a separate document, often FL-180 in family law cases, and JUD-300 is only the notice that the judgment was entered.
The form is used in family law dissolutions, legal separations, nullity (annulment) actions, parentage (paternity) cases, and certain civil judgments. For every divorce, the date stamped on JUD-300 is the trigger date for the six-month-and-one-day waiting period under Family Code §2339, which means a wrong date here can block a remarriage or push back a tax filing status change.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Before you open JUD-300, gather every document and data point listed below. A missing item almost always sends the form back from the clerk’s window with a correction notice, and each rejection costs days that compound when court calendars are busy. The Judicial Council’s self-help center recommends building this packet before you walk into the courthouse.
- The signed judgment itself, usually FL-180 Judgment for family cases, because the clerk needs the conformed copy to enter the judgment in the register of actions.
- The case number as it appears on every prior filing, because a single transposed digit routes the notice to the wrong file.
- The full case caption including both party names exactly as written on the petition, because the clerk cross-checks the caption against the docket.
- Current mailing addresses for every party who has appeared, because CCP §664.5 requires service on each appearing party at their last known address.
- The names and California State Bar numbers of all attorneys of record, because attorneys must be served instead of their clients once they have appeared.
- The exact date the judgment was signed by the judge, because that date drives the date entered field and the appeal clock.
- The marital settlement agreement or stipulation, if any, because the clerk often staples it to the judgment before issuing JUD-300.
- Proof of identity for the filer, such as a California driver license, because some clerks ask for ID before accepting filings at the window.
- A self-addressed stamped envelope for each party, because some counties require the filer to supply envelopes used for the clerk’s mailing.
- The filing fee or fee waiver order (FW-003), because some judgments still carry a residual fee that must be cleared before the clerk will issue the notice.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official, current version of JUD-300 lives on the Judicial Council’s forms page, and it is the only version you should use. County-printed versions sometimes lag the statewide revision by months, and a stale revision date in the lower-left corner is grounds for rejection at intake.
You can download the fillable PDF from the Judicial Council forms search tool by typing JUD-300 into the search bar. The PDF is fully writable in Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is free, and most browsers can also fill it natively. Always save a flattened copy after typing your entries so the data is locked into the file.
If you cannot print, every superior court keeps blank JUD-300 forms at the clerk’s window, and the court locator lists addresses and hours for all 58 counties. Many counties also accept e-filing through vendors such as One Legal or File & ServeXpress, and a few counties run their own portals such as the Los Angeles Superior Court eFiling portal. A common misconception is that the form must be filed on blue-bordered legal paper. It does not. Standard 8.5 x 11 white paper is acceptable as long as the Judicial Council layout is preserved.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form JUD-300 Line by Line
The walkthrough below tracks the form top to bottom in the order the boxes appear on the November 1, 2024 revision. Sample entries are italicized so you can tell them apart from instructions.
Attorney or Party Without Attorney (Top-Left Box)
This top-left caption box asks for the name, State Bar number, and contact information of the lawyer filing the form, or the self-represented party if there is no lawyer. You answer it by typing the filer’s full legal name on the first line, the California State Bar number directly under the name, and the firm name, address, telephone, fax, and email on the lines that follow. Maria Lopez, SBN 245678, Lopez Family Law, 100 Main St., San Diego, CA 92101, (619) 555-0144, maria@lopezlaw.com is a clean example entry.
If you are self-represented, write In Pro Per in place of the State Bar number, because the clerk uses that label to recognize unrepresented parties. The most common mistake here is leaving off the State Bar number, and the consequence is that the clerk may refuse the filing because attorneys must be identifiable for service of future papers. A widespread misconception is that this box is for the party, not the attorney. It is for whoever is signing the document, and once an attorney appears, the attorney’s information replaces the party’s information for all future service.
Attorney For (Name) Field
This short field asks which party the filer represents in the case. You answer by writing the role and the name of the represented party, such as Petitioner Maria Lopez or Respondent David Chen. The field is small but it carries weight because it tells the clerk who must be served and who must serve.
A nuance to watch is dual representation, which is rare and often improper in family law because of conflict-of-interest rules under Rule 1.7 of the California Rules of Professional Conduct. The common mistake on this field is writing Self when you are pro per, and the consequence is that the clerk does not know how to caption your service entries. The misconception is that this field can be left blank if the case is uncontested. It cannot, because every JUD-300 must show whom the filer represents.
Superior Court of California, County of (Court Identification)
This block names the court that holds the case. You answer it by typing the county name and the branch where the judgment was entered, such as Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Stanley Mosk Courthouse, 111 N. Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. The branch matters because Los Angeles, San Diego, and several other large counties hear family matters at specific courthouses only.
If the case was transferred between courthouses inside the same county, use the courthouse where the judgment was signed, not where the case was originally filed. The most common mistake is using the wrong branch address, and the consequence is that the clerk’s mail-service log will not match the courthouse stamp. The misconception that the Hall of Justice is the same as the family law branch in San Diego or San Francisco causes routine rejections, because each courthouse runs its own clerk’s mailing list.
Petitioner / Plaintiff Name
This field shows the moving party’s full legal name as it appears on the original petition. You answer by typing the name in the same format used on every prior filing, such as Maria Elena Lopez. Consistency across filings is the entire point.
If the petitioner has changed their name during the case, use the name on the petition, not the new name, because the docket is keyed to the original caption. The most common mistake is shortening the middle name to an initial when the petition spelled it out, and the consequence is a caption mismatch that delays entry. The misconception that the wife is always the petitioner is wrong, because either spouse can file first, and JUD-300 must reflect whoever signed the original petition.
Respondent / Defendant Name
This field shows the responding party’s full legal name. You answer by typing the name as written on the response, or as written on the petition if the respondent never filed a response. David Andrew Chen is a clean example.
If the respondent defaulted, the name still must appear here, because notice of entry of judgment goes to defaulting parties at their last known address under CCP §664.5. The common mistake is leaving the field blank in default cases, and the consequence is that the clerk cannot generate a service entry. The misconception that defaulting parties have no rights to notice is wrong, because they retain the right to move to set aside the default under CCP §473 for six months.
Other Parent / Other Parties
In parentage and some custody actions, JUD-300 includes a slot for an additional party such as the Other Parent. You answer by typing that person’s full legal name as it appears on the FL-200 Petition to Establish Parental Relationship. Jamal Whitfield is a typical entry.
If a child support agency such as the California Department of Child Support Services is a party under Family Code §17400, name the local child support agency here. The common mistake is omitting the agency, and the consequence is that the agency does not receive notice of entry and cannot enforce the order. The misconception that only parents belong on parentage notices is wrong, because the agency stands in the child’s place for support purposes.
Case Number Field
This field carries the unique number assigned at filing, and it must match every other paper in the file. You answer it by copying the number exactly, including all letters and dashes, such as 24FL004488.
If the case has been consolidated with another, use the lead case number listed in the consolidation order. The common mistake is dropping the year prefix, and the consequence is that the clerk cannot route the notice. The misconception that the case number changes after judgment is wrong, because the case number is permanent and survives appeals, modifications, and enforcement actions.
Type of Judgment Checkboxes
JUD-300 contains a checkbox row identifying the type of judgment entered, including Dissolution, Legal Separation, Nullity, Parentage, and Other. You answer by checking exactly one box that matches the judgment document, such as the Dissolution box for a FL-180 marked Dissolution.
If the judgment is bifurcated, meaning marital status terminated separately from property division, check Status Only if that option appears on your county’s local stamp, and otherwise check Dissolution. The common mistake is checking Legal Separation on a dissolution judgment because the parties separated long before judgment, and the consequence is that the marital status remains intact and a remarriage becomes invalid. The misconception that Nullity and Dissolution are interchangeable is dangerous, because nullity treats the marriage as if it never existed and triggers different property rules under Family Code §2251.
Date of Entry of Judgment
This is the most important date on the form. You answer by writing the date the clerk entered the judgment in the register of actions, in MM/DD/YYYY format, such as 03/14/2026. The date entered is not always the same as the date the judge signed the judgment.
If the judge signed on a Friday and the clerk entered on the following Monday, the Date of Entry is Monday. The common mistake is copying the signed date, and the consequence is a wrong appeal deadline under CRC 8.104, which can either shorten or extend the appeal window in a way that prejudices a party. The misconception that date filed equals date entered is wrong, because filing and entry are separate clerical events.
Effective Date of Termination of Marital Status
For dissolution and nullity judgments, JUD-300 records the effective date on which the marriage legally ends. You answer by copying the date written on the judgment, which must be at least six months and one day after the respondent was served under Family Code §2339. 09/15/2026 is an example for a case where the respondent was served on 03/14/2026.
If the judge enters judgment before the waiting period ends, the effective date must still be the first day after the waiting period closes. The common mistake is using the date of judgment when the waiting period has not closed, and the consequence is that the marriage is not legally dissolved on that date and any remarriage is bigamous. The misconception that the parties can waive the six-month wait is wrong, because the waiting period is jurisdictional and cannot be waived by stipulation.
Clerk’s Certificate of Mailing (Service Block)
The bottom half of JUD-300 is the Clerk’s Certificate of Mailing, which is the clerk’s sworn statement that copies were mailed to the listed parties on a specific date. You answer by listing each party or attorney to be served, with full mailing addresses, and leaving the date mailed line for the clerk.
If a party’s address is unknown, write Address Unknown — last known address followed by the most recent address on file, because CCP §664.5 only requires last known address. The common mistake is sending notice to the party when the party has an attorney, and the consequence is invalid service that does not start the appeal clock. The misconception that the clerk automatically knows current addresses is wrong, because the clerk relies on the addresses written into JUD-300 itself.
Clerk’s Signature and Date
The final block is the clerk’s signature and the date the notice is mailed. You do not sign here. The clerk signs, dates, and stamps after mailing the notice.
If you submit a draft JUD-300 with the proposed judgment, leave this block blank. The common mistake is signing on the clerk’s line, and the consequence is rejection at intake because the certificate of mailing must be signed by court staff. The misconception that any deputy can sign without identifying their role is wrong, because the clerk’s stamp must show the courthouse and the deputy’s name or initials.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three named scenarios that walk a single person through the form from start to finish. Sample entries are italicized.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez — Default Dissolution, No Children
Maria filed a petition for dissolution in San Diego after a 4-year marriage with no children and no real property. Her husband never responded, and the court entered a default judgment.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Attorney or Party Without Attorney | Maria Lopez, In Pro Per, 100 Main St., San Diego, CA 92101 |
| Attorney For | Petitioner in Pro Per |
| Court | Superior Court of California, County of San Diego, Family Law Division |
| Petitioner | Maria Elena Lopez |
| Respondent | David Andrew Chen |
| Case Number | 24FL004488 |
| Type of Judgment | ☒ Dissolution |
| Date of Entry of Judgment | 03/14/2026 |
| Effective Date of Termination | 09/15/2026 |
| Clerk’s Certificate of Mailing | David Andrew Chen, 250 Pine St., San Diego, CA 92103 |
Scenario 2: Janet Reyes — 22-Year Marriage With House and Spousal Support
Janet, represented by counsel, finalized a long marriage in Los Angeles with a marital settlement agreement covering the family home and lifetime spousal support.
| Form Section | What Janet’s Attorney Enters |
|---|---|
| Attorney or Party Without Attorney | Sarah Kim, SBN 312455, Kim Family Law, 555 W. 5th St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 |
| Attorney For | Petitioner Janet Reyes |
| Court | Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles, Stanley Mosk Courthouse |
| Petitioner | Janet Marie Reyes |
| Respondent | Carlos Reyes |
| Case Number | 24STFL00921 |
| Type of Judgment | ☒ Dissolution |
| Date of Entry of Judgment | 04/02/2026 |
| Effective Date of Termination | 10/03/2026 |
| Clerk’s Certificate of Mailing | Eric Tran, SBN 298110, attorney for Respondent, 1200 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90017 |
Scenario 3: Aisha Whitfield — Parentage Judgment With Child Support Agency
Aisha filed a parentage petition in Alameda County, and the local child support agency joined the case under Family Code §17400.
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Attorney or Party Without Attorney | Aisha Whitfield, In Pro Per, 800 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94607 |
| Attorney For | Petitioner in Pro Per |
| Court | Superior Court of California, County of Alameda, Hayward Hall of Justice |
| Petitioner | Aisha Nicole Whitfield |
| Respondent / Other Parent | Jamal Whitfield |
| Case Number | 25AF000771 |
| Type of Judgment | ☒ Parentage |
| Date of Entry of Judgment | 05/12/2026 |
| Effective Date of Termination | N/A |
| Clerk’s Certificate of Mailing | Jamal Whitfield, 412 14th St., Oakland, CA 94612; Alameda County DCSS, P.O. Box 2072, Oakland, CA 94604 |
How to File the Completed Form
JUD-300 is normally lodged with the proposed judgment, and the clerk completes the certificate of mailing after the judge signs. Each filing channel has its own steps, and the chart below walks through them.
In person at the courthouse. Bring the original plus two copies to the clerk’s window at the courthouse where the case is pending, addresses for which are at the court locator. There is generally no separate fee for JUD-300 because it is part of the judgment package, but unpaid filing fees on the underlying case must be cleared. Expect same-day acceptance, and keep the conformed copy as your proof of filing.
By mail. Send the original JUD-300 with the proposed judgment, a stamped self-addressed envelope, and any required cover letter to the clerk of court at the courthouse address. Use certified mail with return receipt because the postmarked receipt is your only proof of filing if the package is lost. Processing takes one to three weeks in most counties, and longer in Los Angeles and Riverside.
By e-filing. Most large counties require e-filing through approved vendors such as One Legal or File & ServeXpress, and Los Angeles uses the LA Court eFiling portal. Vendor fees range from about $7 to $20 per submission, paid by credit card. The portal returns a stamped Filing Receipt PDF, which is your proof of filing.
By fax filing. A small number of counties still accept fax filings under CRC 2.300, but fax filing for JUD-300 is unusual and should only be used when the local rules expressly allow it.
What Happens After You File
Once the judge signs the judgment, the clerk enters the judgment in the register of actions, signs the certificate of mailing on JUD-300, and mails copies to every party at the addresses listed. Within roughly one to three weeks, each party receives the notice in the mail. The mail date stamped by the clerk becomes the trigger for the appeal clock under CRC 8.104, which gives parties either 60 days from service or 180 days from entry, whichever ends first.
For dissolution and nullity cases, the Effective Date of Termination of Marital Status on JUD-300 is the day the marriage ends. From that date forward, both former spouses are legally single and may remarry. Tax filing status changes for the calendar year that includes the termination date, and parties should consult IRS Publication 504 on filing after divorce.
If a party wants to challenge the judgment, the deadlines start running from the date on JUD-300. A motion for new trial must be filed within 15 days of mailing under CCP §659, and a motion to set aside under Family Code §2122 has its own statutory windows. Keep the JUD-300 in a safe place because you will need it for refinances, name changes, passport updates, and any future post-judgment motions.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Writing the signed date instead of the entered date, which corrupts the appeal clock under CRC 8.104.
- Checking Legal Separation on a Dissolution judgment, which leaves the marriage intact and invalidates a later remarriage.
- Omitting the State Bar number, which causes the clerk to reject the form at intake.
- Listing the party instead of their attorney in the certificate of mailing, which voids service.
- Using a stale revision date of JUD-300, which the clerk may refuse under CRC 1.31.
- Leaving the Effective Date of Termination blank in a dissolution case, which leaves marital status unresolved.
- Misspelling a party’s name, which forces a corrective amended notice.
- Forgetting to include the local child support agency in parentage cases, which blocks enforcement under Family Code §17400.
- Signing on the clerk’s signature line, which is grounds for rejection.
- Using a P.O. Box for a party who has a known street address, which can complicate service if the box is closed.
- Skipping the case number prefix, which sends the form to the wrong file.
- Stapling exhibits to JUD-300 itself, which clogs the clerk’s mailing process.
Dos and Don’ts
Do
- Do confirm the November 1, 2024 revision date in the lower-left corner of the form.
- Do match every spelling, accent, and middle name to the original petition.
- Do list attorneys, not parties, once an attorney has appeared.
- Do double-check the Date of Entry of Judgment against the register of actions.
- Do keep a conformed copy of JUD-300 with your divorce papers for life.
- Do send a stamped self-addressed envelope when filing by mail.
Don’t
- Don’t sign the clerk’s certificate of mailing.
- Don’t use Wite-Out or correction tape on the form because counties reject altered originals.
- Don’t assume the appeal clock starts on the date the judge signed; it starts when JUD-300 is mailed.
- Don’t ignore the Effective Date in dissolution cases because it controls remarriage rights.
- Don’t file a JUD-300 before the judge has signed the judgment.
- Don’t rely on the other party to mail JUD-300 because the clerk’s certificate is the safest proof of service.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing pro se
- Saves attorney’s fees, which can run several hundred dollars per hour.
- Gives the litigant complete control over timing.
- Forces the litigant to learn the case file, which helps later modifications.
- Works well in simple default cases like Maria’s.
- Avoids the scheduling delays that come with attorney calendaring.
Cons of filing pro se
- Easy to misread the Date of Entry field and lose appeal rights.
- No second pair of eyes to catch caption errors.
- Pro per filers often miss the address-of-attorney rule and serve the wrong person.
- Self-represented parties must learn local rules that vary by county.
- Mistakes compound across FL-180 and JUD-300 because both forms must agree.
Key Entities, Statutes, and Related Forms
JUD-300 sits inside a network of agencies and rules. The Judicial Council of California publishes the form. The local superior court clerk completes the certificate of mailing. The California Department of Child Support Services is a party in IV-D cases. The California Courts of Appeal use the date on JUD-300 to measure timeliness under CRC 8.104. And the State Bar of California regulates the attorneys whose Bar numbers appear at the top of the form.
The companion forms include FL-180 Judgment, FL-190 Notice of Entry of Judgment which is the family-law-specific cousin to JUD-300, FL-100 Petition, FL-120 Response, and FW-003 Fee Waiver Order.
JUD-300 vs. FL-190 Quick Comparison
| Feature | JUD-300 | FL-190 |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Notice of Entry of Judgment | Notice of Entry of Judgment (Family Law) |
| Use | All civil and family judgments | Family law dissolution, nullity, legal separation |
| Mandatory or optional | Optional Judicial Council form | Mandatory Judicial Council form |
| Effective Date of Termination | Yes | Yes |
| Statutory anchor | CCP §664.5 | Family Code §2338 |
Recap of Key Rulings and Agency Decisions
The California Court of Appeal’s decision in Alan v. American Honda Motor Co. (2007) 40 Cal.4th 894, available through the California Courts opinion archive, tightened the rule that a clerk’s Notice of Entry must be a single self-sufficient document, which is exactly what JUD-300 is built to be. Sunnyside Develop. Co. v. Cambridge Develop. and related decisions reinforce that an unsigned or unmailed JUD-300 does not start the appeal clock.
The Judicial Council’s Invitation to Comment SPR23-08 preceded the November 1, 2024 revision and clarified the Effective Date of Termination line so it would not be confused with the date the judge signed the judgment. Filers should treat that clarification as binding guidance even though it sits in commentary rather than in the rule itself.
FAQs
Does the clerk or the party fill out JUD-300?
No. The court clerk completes and mails JUD-300. Parties or their attorneys may prepare a draft, but only the clerk signs the certificate of mailing under CCP §664.5.
Is JUD-300 the same as the judgment?
No. The judgment is a separate document, often FL-180. JUD-300 is only the notice that the judgment has been entered.
Do I write the date the judge signed or the date entered?
No, never the signed date. Always write the date of entry from the clerk’s register of actions in MM/DD/YYYY format, because that date drives the appeal clock.
Should I check Dissolution or Legal Separation if we lived apart for years?
Yes, check the box that matches the judgment document, not the facts of separation. If the FL-180 says Dissolution, check Dissolution.
Can I leave the Effective Date blank in a dissolution case?
No. Leaving it blank can leave the marital status unresolved and create remarriage problems under Family Code §2339.
Do I serve the attorney or the party?
Yes, always the attorney once they have appeared. Serving the represented party directly is invalid service and does not start the appeal clock.
Is there a filing fee for JUD-300?
No, there is no separate fee. However, any unpaid fees on the underlying case must be cleared before the clerk issues the notice.
Can I file JUD-300 before the judge signs the judgment?
No. JUD-300 follows the signed judgment. Filing it early causes the clerk to reject it because there is nothing to give notice of.
What if the respondent’s address is unknown?
Yes, use the last known address and write Address Unknown next to it, because CCP §664.5 requires only last known address.
Does JUD-300 start the six-month divorce waiting period?
No. The waiting period runs from the date the respondent was served with the petition, not from JUD-300, under Family Code §2339.
Can I e-file JUD-300 in Los Angeles?
Yes, through the LA Court eFiling portal or an approved vendor like One Legal. Most large counties now require e-filing for represented parties.
What is the appeal deadline measured from JUD-300?
Yes, under CRC 8.104, the deadline is 60 days from the clerk’s mailing of JUD-300 or 180 days from entry of judgment, whichever is earlier.
Do I need to attach the marital settlement agreement to JUD-300?
No. The agreement is attached to the judgment itself, not to JUD-300. JUD-300 is a stand-alone notice.
Can I correct a JUD-300 after the clerk mails it?
Yes, by filing an amended notice or moving to correct under CCP §473. Corrections affect only the corrected fields, not the appeal clock unless the date itself was wrong.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out California Form FL-120 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form FL-170 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form FL-190 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form CIV-130 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form APP-003 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form APP-008 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form CIV-010 (w/Examples) + FAQs