Washington Form FL All Family 140, the Confidential Information Form, is the sealed cover sheet that every party in a Washington family law case must file alongside their petition, response, or parenting paperwork so the court can store private identifiers, like Social Security numbers and dates of birth, away from the public file. The Washington Administrative Office of the Courts requires this form under General Rule 22, which governs the sealing of personal data in family law cases.
Filing this form correctly protects your children’s identities, your finances, and your safety, while filing it incorrectly can expose your private data to the public docket or get your case rejected at the clerk’s window. Roughly 56,000 dissolution cases are filed in Washington every year per the Washington Courts Caseload Reports, and a meaningful share are sent back for a missing or incomplete FL All Family 140.
- 📝 What FL All Family 140 is and exactly who must sign and file it.
- 📂 Every document, ID, and number to gather before opening the form.
- ✍️ A line-by-line walkthrough of every box on the current revision.
- 👥 Three real filer scenarios, each shown in a 2-column table.
- ⚖️ The mistakes, myths, and GR 22 sealing rules that trip filers up.
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form FL All Family 140 is Washington’s standardized Confidential Information Form for family law matters. It collects sensitive identifiers, like Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, dates of birth, and employer information, that the court still needs but that are not safe in the public file. The current revision printed at the bottom of the form is 03/2024, and the Washington Courts forms page hosts the latest fillable PDF.
Every party who files an initial pleading in a family law case must complete and file an FL All Family 140. That includes petitioners and respondents in dissolution (divorce), legal separation, parentage, parenting plan modification, child support, committed intimate relationship, and domestic violence-related family law actions. The duty rests on the party, not the lawyer, even when an attorney drafts the form. The form moves with the case, so a respondent files their own copy even if the petitioner already filed one.
The form exists because open court files would otherwise expose your identifiers to identity thieves, abusers, employers, and data brokers. Under GR 22, the clerk seals FL All Family 140 the moment it hits the file. Judges, court staff, the other party, and certain state agencies still see it, but the public does not. Skip it, and the clerk may reject your petition; include sealed data on a public pleading instead, and the court can sanction you under GR 22(g).
The form interacts with RCW 26.09 (dissolution), RCW 26.26A (parentage), and RCW 26.18 (child support enforcement). It also feeds the Washington State Support Registry when child support is at issue, because the registry needs SSNs and employer data to enforce support orders.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Set everything out before you open the PDF. The form looks short, but every box must match an official record exactly, and a single mismatch can stall your case. The clerk does not verify your entries, but later cross-checks at the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services or the IRS will catch errors fast.
- Your Social Security card. You must enter the number exactly as issued, because the Division of Child Support cross-checks names against SSA records, and a mismatch flags the case for manual review.
- Your unexpired driver’s license or state ID. The form asks for the number and issuing state. A suspended license still counts; an expired one does not, because the court treats expired IDs as unverifiable.
- Each child’s Social Security card and birth certificate. Every minor child of the relationship needs a separate row. Missing a child’s SSN can delay child support setup with the registry.
- The other party’s identifiers, to the best of your knowledge. Full legal name, last known address, date of birth, SSN if you know it, and employer. You sign under penalty of perjury that this is your best knowledge, not perfect knowledge.
- Employer name, address, and phone for both parties. Wage withholding under RCW 26.18.070 starts from this entry, so the address must be the payroll office, not the storefront.
- Case caption from the petition. County, case number (if assigned), petitioner name, and respondent name must match the petition character for character.
- Health insurance policy details for any minor child. Carrier, policy number, and group number, because RCW 26.09.105 requires medical support orders.
- Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) substitute address, if enrolled. Survivors enrolled in the Washington ACP must use the program’s substitute address, not their real address, or risk exposing themselves to an abuser.
If anything on this list is missing, pause and gather it. Filing with blanks creates more delay than waiting one more day to file complete.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The only safe source is the Washington Courts family law forms page, which hosts the current fillable PDF. Third-party sites often host outdated versions, and an outdated FL All Family 140 missing the 03/2024 revision date may be rejected at the clerk’s window in some counties.
The form is available three ways. First, as a fillable PDF you download, type into using Adobe Acrobat Reader, and print or upload. Second, as a blank PDF you print and complete by hand in dark blue or black ink. Third, through the Washington LawHelp interactive interview, which builds the form from a guided Q&A and is free for self-represented filers.
If you use the e-filing portal, you must upload the form as a separate PDF labeled “Sealed – Confidential Information Form” so the clerk knows to apply the GR 22 seal. Mislabeling it as a regular pleading risks public exposure of your data, even if the filing is later corrected.
Some counties, like King County and Pierce County, maintain their own local cover sheets, but those do not replace FL All Family 140. You file both. The statewide form controls; the local cover sheet supplements it.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out FL All Family 140 Line by Line
Work through the form top to bottom in the same order the court reads it. Use ALL CAPS for names if you want it to match the court’s data system, write dates in MM/DD/YYYY, and never leave a box blank. If a field does not apply, write N/A so the court knows you considered it.
Caption Box: Court, County, and Case Number
The caption box at the top asks for the Superior Court of Washington, County of ____, the Petitioner name, the Respondent name, and the No. (case number) field. Type the county where you are filing, then the petitioner’s full legal name, then the respondent’s, then the case number if the clerk has already assigned one.
For an initial filing, leave the case number blank — the clerk stamps it on at the counter. Use the same name spelling and order that appears on the petition, because mismatched captions get the whole packet kicked back. Maria Lopez Garcia writes MARIA LOPEZ GARCIA as Petitioner and DAVID LOPEZ as Respondent, with KING in the county slot.
A common edge case: pro se filers who refile after a dismissal sometimes copy the old case number. Always use a fresh case number for a refile, because reusing an old one routes your sealed data into a closed file. The most common mistake here is reversing petitioner and respondent, which causes the clerk to file your sealed data under the wrong party and can cost weeks to fix. The misconception filers carry into this box is that the case number is optional — it is not, once it has been assigned.
Section 1: Information About the Petitioner
This section asks for the petitioner’s full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, driver’s license or state ID number and state, home address, and employer name, address, and phone. Print everything exactly as it appears on the source document. The SSN goes in as nine digits with dashes (123-45-6789).
If the petitioner is in the Address Confidentiality Program, enter the ACP substitute address from Olympia, not the real home address, and check or note the ACP enrollment in the margin if there is room. Aisha Bell, an ACP participant, writes the Olympia substitute box address and her real DOB 07/22/1989.
The most common edge case is a recent move. Use the address where you actually sleep tonight, not where your driver’s license still lists, because the court uses this address for service of orders. The most common mistake is using a P.O. Box as the home address; the form has a separate mailing address line for that, and using a P.O. Box in the home address line can defeat service. The misconception here is that you can leave the SSN blank “for privacy” — the form is sealed, so leaving it blank just delays your case.
Section 2: Information About the Respondent
This section mirrors Section 1 but for the respondent. You fill in what you reasonably know. If you do not know an item, write Unknown and, where helpful, add a short note like Unknown – last known employer was Acme Corp in 2023.
Format dates as MM/DD/YYYY and SSNs with dashes. David Lopez’s row reads DAVID JAMES LOPEZ, 11/03/1982, 987-65-4321, WA DL LOP-EZ-D-482-K, with his current address and his employer Boeing, 100 N Riverside, Renton, WA.
The hardest edge case is a respondent in hiding or whose whereabouts are unknown. Write Unknown and consider asking the court for service by publication under CR 4. The most common mistake is guessing a respondent’s SSN from memory; a wrong SSN sent to the registry can flag an innocent third party for wage withholding. The misconception is that you must have full information about the respondent to file — you do not, you only need your best knowledge.
Section 3: Children of the Relationship
List every minor child of this relationship, not stepchildren or children from prior partners. Each row asks for the child’s full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Use additional pages if you have more children than rows.
Marcus Lee Lopez, born 04/15/2014, SSN 111-22-3333, goes in row one. Children adopted into the marriage count; foster children placed by the state do not. The form is for legal children of the relationship.
The edge case to watch is a child born during the marriage but biologically not the respondent’s. Washington’s marital presumption treats that child as a child of the marriage unless a parentage action says otherwise, so list the child here unless a court order says you should not. The common mistake is leaving an SSN blank because the child is too young — every U.S.-born child has an SSN by hospital discharge in most cases, and the registry needs it to set up support. The misconception is that “children of the relationship” means children living in the home; it means children born or adopted to both parties.
Section 4: Other Parties or Joined Persons
This section captures non-parent custodians, intervening grandparents, alleged fathers in a parentage case, or any third party joined under CR 19. Enter their full legal name, DOB, SSN if known, address, and relationship to the case (e.g., paternal grandmother seeking visitation).
If no third party is joined, write None — do not leave the box blank. Janet Cole, an intervening grandmother in a non-parental custody action, writes her name, DOB 02/09/1955, address, and relationship maternal grandmother — petitioner for non-parental custody.
The edge case is an alleged father in a parentage action where genetic testing is pending. List him with the note alleged father, genetic testing pending. The mistake here is omitting a joined party, which can void any later order against them for lack of due process. The misconception is that this section is only for parents — it covers any joined person.
Section 5: Health Insurance for the Children
Enter the carrier name, policy number, group number, and policyholder name for each child’s current health coverage. If the child has Apple Health (Medicaid), write Apple Health in the carrier line and the client ID as the policy number.
Marcus Lopez is on his father’s Premera Blue Cross plan, policy WA12345678, group 0001234, policyholder David Lopez. If a child has dual coverage, list the primary plan first.
The edge case is uninsured children. Write None — coverage to be addressed in support order, because RCW 26.09.105 requires the order to assign medical support. The mistake is listing only one parent’s plan when both cover the child, which can confuse the support enforcement office. The misconception is that this box decides who pays for insurance — it does not, the support order does.
Section 6: Public Assistance
Check the box if any party or child currently receives, or has received in the last 5 years, TANF, Medicaid/Apple Health, SNAP, or child support enforcement services. If yes, list the program and the case or client ID.
This box matters because public assistance assigns child support rights to the state under RCW 74.20A.030, making DCS a necessary party for support issues. Aisha Bell checks Apple Health with her ProviderOne client ID for her son.
The edge case is short-term emergency assistance, like Pandemic EBT — list it. The mistake is checking No when a parent receives benefits, which can later void a support order for failing to join DCS. The misconception is that listing benefits hurts your case; it does not, it just brings the right agency to the table.
Section 7: Signature, Date, and Penalty of Perjury
Sign and date at the bottom under the I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington that the foregoing is true and correct clause, as required by RCW 9A.72.085. Print your name, then sign, then date MM/DD/YYYY, then enter the city and state of signing.
E-filers may use a typed s/Maria Lopez Garcia electronic signature per the Washington E-Filing Rules. Paper filers must use wet ink; pencil and stamps are rejected.
The edge case is signing while out of state — write the actual city and state, even if it is Phoenix, AZ, because the perjury declaration still works under Washington law as long as you cite Washington. The mistake is forgetting the date, which makes the declaration unenforceable and may void the filing. The misconception is that a notary is required — it is not, the perjury declaration replaces notarization.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three filers come back throughout the article. Each table has the form section in column one and the entry in column two, exactly as the filer types it.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez Garcia — Divorce With Two Minor Children in King County
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption — County | KING |
| Caption — Petitioner | MARIA LOPEZ GARCIA |
| Caption — Respondent | DAVID JAMES LOPEZ |
| Caption — Case No. | (left blank — clerk stamps) |
| Section 1 — Petitioner DOB / SSN | 05/18/1985 / 123-45-6789 |
| Section 1 — Petitioner Employer | Swedish Medical Center, 747 Broadway, Seattle, WA, (206) 386-6000 |
| Section 2 — Respondent DOB / SSN | 11/03/1982 / 987-65-4321 |
| Section 3 — Children | Marcus Lee Lopez, 04/15/2014, 111-22-3333; Sofia Rose Lopez, 09/02/2017, 444-55-6666 |
| Section 5 — Health Insurance | Premera Blue Cross, Policy WA12345678, Group 0001234, Policyholder David Lopez |
| Section 6 — Public Assistance | No |
| Section 7 — Signature / Date | s/Maria Lopez Garcia, 05/22/2026, Seattle, WA |
Scenario 2: Carlos Rivera — Parentage Action in Yakima County
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption — County | YAKIMA |
| Caption — Petitioner | CARLOS RIVERA |
| Caption — Respondent | JESSICA MARIE TORRES |
| Section 1 — Petitioner DOB / SSN | 08/30/1992 / 222-33-4444 |
| Section 1 — Petitioner Address | 412 S 6th Ave, Yakima, WA 98902 |
| Section 2 — Respondent Employer | Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital, 2811 Tieton Dr, Yakima, WA |
| Section 3 — Children | Liam Rivera-Torres, 01/12/2024, SSN 555-66-7777 |
| Section 4 — Other Parties | None |
| Section 5 — Health Insurance | Apple Health, ProviderOne ID 1234567890, Policyholder Jessica Torres |
| Section 6 — Public Assistance | Yes — Apple Health, DCS case 9988776 |
| Section 7 — Signature / Date | s/Carlos Rivera, 05/22/2026, Yakima, WA |
Scenario 3: Janet Cole — Child Support Modification in Spokane County
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Caption — County | SPOKANE |
| Caption — Petitioner | JANET COLE |
| Caption — Respondent | MICHAEL COLE |
| Caption — Case No. | 24-3-01122-32 |
| Section 1 — Petitioner DOB / SSN | 02/09/1979 / 333-44-5555 |
| Section 1 — Petitioner Employer | Spokane Public Schools, 200 N Bernard St, Spokane, WA |
| Section 2 — Respondent Employer | Kaiser Aluminum, 15000 E Euclid Ave, Spokane Valley, WA |
| Section 3 — Children | Ethan Cole, 06/14/2010, 777-88-9999; Ava Cole, 03/22/2013, 000-11-2222 |
| Section 5 — Health Insurance | Regence BlueShield, Policy R55667788, Group SPS-001, Policyholder Janet Cole |
| Section 6 — Public Assistance | No |
| Section 7 — Signature / Date | s/Janet Cole, 05/22/2026, Spokane, WA |
How to File the Completed Form
You file FL All Family 140 with the same packet as your petition or response, never alone. The clerk seals the form on receipt and routes it to the judicial officer assigned to your case. Pick the channel that fits your county and your comfort level.
In person at the Superior Court Clerk. Take two copies and the original to the Superior Court Clerk in your county. Petitions cost $314 in most Washington counties for a dissolution; the FL All Family 140 itself has no separate fee. Pay by cash, check, money order, or card (cards usually carry a 3% fee). The clerk hands you a conformed copy stamped FILED — keep it as proof.
By mail. Mail the original plus a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check for the petition filing fee to the Superior Court Clerk for your county. Processing takes 5 to 10 business days once received. The clerk mails back your conformed copy.
By e-filing. Most counties use the Washington Courts e-filing portal or a county system like King County eFiling. Upload FL All Family 140 as a separate PDF labeled Sealed — Confidential Information. Pay the petition fee with a credit card. The portal returns a file-stamped copy in minutes; save it as your proof.
By fax. A handful of small counties still accept fax filings under local rule, but FL All Family 140 should never be the only document faxed because fax cover pages are not sealed. Call the clerk first.
What Happens After You File
The clerk seals FL All Family 140 the moment it is filed and stores it in the sealed portion of your case file. Public terminal users see only that the form was filed; they cannot see its contents. Court staff, the assigned judge or commissioner, the parties, and the parties’ lawyers can see it.
If child support is at issue, the clerk forwards the data to the Division of Child Support, which opens or updates a registry case. DCS uses the SSNs and employer info to set up wage withholding under RCW 26.18.070. You get a notice in the mail within 2 to 4 weeks if a registry case opens.
If any of your information changes — a move, a new job, a new health plan — file an amended FL All Family 140 within 10 days. The amended form is sealed the same way, and the older version stays in the sealed file but is superseded. Failing to update can cause a wage-withholding order to land on the wrong employer and bounce back, delaying child support to the family.
The other party also files their own FL All Family 140 as part of their response. If they refuse, you can ask the court to compel it under CR 37 and ask for sanctions for the delay.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Each line below names a specific error and the direct consequence. Read them as a self-audit before you sign.
- Putting SSNs on the petition instead of FL All Family 140. Consequence: GR 22 violation; the public can read your SSN until the court redacts it, which can take days.
- Leaving the respondent’s section blank. Consequence: clerk rejection or a delay in child support setup.
- Using an expired driver’s license number. Consequence: identity verification fails at DCS and DOL.
- Skipping a child of the relationship. Consequence: support order omits the child, requiring a costly modification later.
- Writing the ACP real address instead of the substitute address. Consequence: an abuser can locate the survivor, defeating the entire purpose of ACP.
- Forgetting to sign and date. Consequence: the perjury declaration is invalid and the filing may be stricken.
- Reversing petitioner and respondent in the caption. Consequence: sealed data is filed under the wrong party.
- Reusing a closed case number after dismissal. Consequence: data lands in a closed file and is not seen by the active judge.
- Mislabeling the e-filed PDF as a regular pleading. Consequence: the data may post publicly until the clerk seals it.
- Listing stepchildren as children of the relationship. Consequence: the support worksheet inflates and the order is later corrected on motion.
- Guessing the respondent’s SSN. Consequence: an innocent third party can be hit with a wage-withholding notice.
- Failing to file an amended form after a job change. Consequence: wage withholding bounces and arrears build.
Do’s and Don’ts
A short checklist that reflects 30 years of clerk-window patterns.
- Do download the form fresh from the Washington Courts forms page every time, because revisions roll out without fanfare.
- Do match every name to the source ID character for character, because a typo defeats DCS cross-checks.
- Do write N/A in any box that does not apply, because blanks read as “skipped” to the clerk.
- Do keep a personal unredacted copy in a locked file, because you will need to reference it for years.
- Do file an amended form within 10 days of any change, because outdated data freezes enforcement.
- Do label the e-filed PDF Sealed — Confidential Information, because the label tells the system to apply GR 22.
- Don’t email the form to opposing counsel without encryption, because email is not GR 22 protected.
- Don’t include FL All Family 140 data in your declaration or proposed parenting plan, because those are public.
- Don’t sign in pencil, because pencil signatures are rejected as alterable.
- Don’t redact your own SSN before filing, because the form is the redaction; the rest of the file relies on it being whole.
- Don’t rely on a third-party form site, because outdated revisions get rejected.
- Don’t wait until the day of the hearing to file an amended form, because the judge needs current data on the bench.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Most FL All Family 140 forms are filed pro se because the form itself is short. The deeper case around it, though, often justifies help.
- Pro (self): Free — no attorney fees for a 1-page form.
- Pro (self): Faster — you control timing without scheduling around a lawyer.
- Pro (self): Privacy — fewer hands touch your SSN and your children’s SSNs.
- Pro (self): Empowering — you learn the system you will live in for years.
- Pro (self): Washington LawHelp walks you through it for free.
- Con (self): No second eye to catch a typo that breaks DCS matching.
- Con (self): No advice on whether to list a child whose parentage is disputed.
- Con (self): ACP enrollees may miss the substitute address rule.
- Con (self): No help with the harder petition the form attaches to.
- Con (self): No malpractice safety net if a mistake costs you support.
FAQs
Is FL All Family 140 required in every Washington family law case?
Yes. Every family law case under chapters 26.09, 26.26A, 26.10, and 26.27 RCW requires it as a sealed cover sheet for confidential identifiers under General Rule 22.
Does it cost anything to file FL All Family 140?
No. The form has no separate fee; it is filed with the petition or response, which carries the standard $314 family law petition fee in most counties.
Can I leave the respondent’s SSN blank if I don’t know it?
Yes. Write Unknown in the SSN box and add a short note about your last known information so the court sees you tried.
Do I write my maiden name or married name in the petitioner box?
Yes. Use the legal name on your current ID; if you go by a former name, list it as an also known as in the margin so the record is complete.
Is a notary required for FL All Family 140?
No. Washington’s penalty-of-perjury declaration under RCW 9A.72.085 replaces notarization for this form.
Will the public see the information I write on this form?
No. The clerk seals the form under GR 22, and only judges, court staff, the parties, and authorized agencies can read it.
Do stepchildren go in Section 3?
No. Section 3 lists only children of the relationship between the two parties; stepchildren and prior-relationship children belong in a separate worksheet, not here.
Can I e-file FL All Family 140 in any county?
Yes. Most counties accept e-filing through the statewide portal or a local system, but you must label the upload as sealed so the clerk applies the GR 22 protection.
Do I file a new FL All Family 140 if I move?
Yes. File an amended form within 10 days of a move, job change, or new health plan, because outdated data breaks support enforcement.
Is the form different for parentage cases?
No. FL All Family 140 is a single statewide form used across dissolution, parentage, custody, and support actions.
Do I list my child’s SSN if they are an infant?
Yes. Most U.S.-born infants have an SSN within weeks of birth, and the Division of Child Support needs it to set up registry services.
What if I’m enrolled in the Address Confidentiality Program?
Yes. ACP participants must enter the Olympia substitute address, not their real address; using the real address can defeat the program’s protection.
Can I sign the form electronically?
Yes. A typed s/Your Name signature is valid for e-filed documents under Washington’s GR 30 e-filing rule.
Do both parties file their own FL All Family 140?
Yes. The petitioner files one with the petition, and the respondent files one with the response, because each party’s data is their own to disclose.
What happens if I lie on the form?
No. Lying is not safe — the form is signed under penalty of perjury under RCW 9A.72.085, which carries criminal exposure on top of court sanctions.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Florida Form 12.949(a) (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Form FL All Family 001 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Form FL All Family 117 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Form FL All Family 130 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Washington Form FL Divorce 211 (w/Examples) + FAQs
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- How to Fill Out California Form FL-120 (w/Examples) + FAQs