Who fills out this form?

The petitioner fills out this form, which is the person starting the case. The form also has sections for the respondent.

What does this form ask the court for?

The petitioner asks the court to make decisions about parentage, custody, visitation, and financial support for the children.

Is there a fee mentioned?

The form mentions sections for fees and costs of litigation, but it does not state what those fees are.

FL-200Optional

Petition to Determine Parental Relationship (Uniform Parentage)

California · Judicial Council of California · Effective September 1, 2021

This form is used to start a court case asking the judge to make a legal order that identifies who the parents of a child are. It asks the court for determinations about parentage, custody, visitation, and support.

The court describes it as: Start a case to get a court order (judgment) that identifies the legal parents of a child. This is used by parents who are not married.

Open the official PDFfrom Judicial Council of California

Where this fits in a case

Start a case

Start a case
Respond
Motions
Discovery
Hearing
Judgment
After judgment
Appeal

Stage: Start a case

This form is used by parents who are not married and need the court to legally determine the parent-child relationship for the children.

Usually filed by the person starting the case.

Official instructions

How-to guides published by the court for this form.

Common questions

Who fills out this form?: The petitioner fills out this form, which is the person starting the case. The form also has sections for the respondent.
What does this form ask the court for?: The petitioner asks the court to make decisions about parentage, custody, visitation, and financial support for the children.
Is there a fee mentioned?: The form mentions sections for fees and costs of litigation, but it does not state what those fees are.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect September 1, 2021.

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