Your Sworn Financial Statement Packet: Checklists, Samples, and a Judge’s Read (CA, FL, CO, IL)

• What’s inside and how to use it:
  • Print or save the 30‑item checklist and collect everything before you start. Mark any items you don’t have yet and request them today.
  • Open your state’s official form and instructions (links in the State Directory). Keep the instructions page next to the form.
  • Choose the filled sample closest to your situation (W‑2 or self‑employed) and mirror the structure; swap in your numbers and attach the same types of proof.
  • Must‑Do vs. Strategy:
    • Must‑Do: Be complete, current, and consistent with your documents. Sign under penalty of perjury. Update before any hearing if numbers changed.
    • Strategy: Add short notes where your income or expenses are irregular (e.g., “overtime seasonal—averaged over last 12 months”). Judges value clarity.
  • Update triggers to calendar: new job/pay rate; start/stop of health insurance; childcare change; grant/vest of RSUs/options; major swing in self‑employment revenue.
  • Filing/serving rules vary: CA often serves FL‑150 with disclosures and files a current copy when asking for support/fees; FL files and exchanges the affidavit within 45 days; CO files JDF 1111 and exchanges disclosures on a schedule; IL files the statewide affidavit. See State Directory for details.

Use this as your one‑page pull list. Organize by tabs: Income, Expenses & Benefits, Accounts, Business (if any), and Proof of Service.

Identity & Case

1. Photo ID (copy) and case number (if assigned)
2. Current mailing address or ACP authorization letter (if enrolled)
3. Employer info page (HR contact or pay cycle summary)

Income — W‑2/Employment

4. Pay stubs (last 2 months; FL practice often expects 6 months—include if available)
5. Year‑to‑date earnings summary
6. Last 2 W‑2s
7. Overtime/bonus/commission statements (12 months)
8. Tips log (if applicable)
9. Employer benefit summary (health/dental/vision; who’s covered and your share)

Income — Self‑Employed/Gig

10. Profit & Loss (last 12 months) or most recent quarterly P&L
11. Most recent filed tax return with Schedules C/E/K‑1 as applicable
12. 1099‑NEC/1099‑K (current and prior year if available)
13. Business bank statements (last 6 months)
14. List of add‑backs (personal expenses run through business, excessive depreciation, one‑time items)
15. Mileage log/vehicle expense records (if claimed)

Variable & Non‑Cash Compensation

16. Bonus plan/commission plan documents
17. RSU/stock option/ESPP grant and vesting statements
18. Platform payout statements (Uber, DoorDash, Etsy, Amazon, etc.)
19. P2P app income exports (Venmo/Cash App/PayPal/Zelle—12 months if used for goods/services)

Expenses & Benefits

20. Health insurance premium statements (show your monthly share; identify child‑specific portion)
21. Childcare invoices and proof of payment (3–6 months)
22. Unreimbursed medical/dental/vision bills (12 months)
23. HSA/FSA contribution statements (employer and employee portions)
24. Retirement contributions (401(k)/IRA) and employer match details
25. Union dues/mandatory professional fees
26. Mandatory retirement/disability plan deductions (public employees)

Accounts, Assets, and Debts

27. Bank/credit card statements (last 3 months)
28. Mortgage/lease and last month’s ledger/receipt
29. Auto loan/lease statements
30. Child/spousal support orders for other cases (if any)

State notes you’ll see reflected on forms:

• CA: Self‑employed filers typically attach a current P&L or the most recent Schedule C to FL‑150.
• FL: Mandatory disclosure within 45 days; keep six months of income proof ready.
• CO: File JDF 1111 and exchange Mandatory Disclosures (Form 35.1) on schedule; keep tax returns and business financials handy.
• IL: Use the statewide affidavit and include perjury certification.

Use these numbers as a formatting example—swap in your own and attach proof.

• Profile: W‑2 employee, paid bi‑weekly, occasional overtime.
• Attach: Last 2 months of pay stubs, YTD summary, employer benefits sheet, health insurance invoice showing employee share.

Key lines you’ll complete (your form’s labels vary by state):

• Gross monthly wages: $5,200
  • “Your form might call this” examples: CA FL‑150 Item 11; FL 12.902(b)/(c) Income; CO JDF 1111 §1; IL Section I.
• Average monthly overtime: $400
  • Note: Averaged from 12 months; specify seasonality if applicable.
• Other taxable income: $0 (none)
• Non‑taxable income: $0 (none)
• Pre‑tax deductions (list and amounts): 401(k) $260; Health premium (employee + child portion) $250
  • Callout: Courts often want the child‑only share for support worksheets. If the plan doesn’t break it out, add a note and attach the plan rate chart.
• Childcare cost (work‑related): $520/month (attach invoices and proof of payment)
• Extraordinary child expenses: $0 (none)

Callouts judges (and calculators) look for:

• Consistency: Your pay stub YTD ÷ months elapsed ≈ gross monthly on the affidavit. If not, add a short note (“unpaid leave in March”).
• Overtime/bonus averaging: Show the math in one line (“$4,800 OT in 12 months → $400/mo”).
• Health insurance: Attach the page that shows who’s covered and your monthly share.
• Taxes/withholding: Don’t list withholdings as “expenses” unless your form specifically asks; guideline tools compute taxes from gross.

Must‑Do vs. Strategy:

• Must‑Do: Attach proof for every income and expense entry.
• Strategy: If overtime may drop, add a sentence and bring a letter from HR or a recent schedule.

Use this to mirror structure if you run a sole prop/LLC or 1099 mix.

• Profile: Sole proprietor with platform and direct sales.
• Attach: 12‑month P&L (or latest quarter plus prior year Schedule C), 1099‑NEC/1099‑K, business bank statements (6 months), add‑backs list.

Income and deductions example (monthly):

• Gross receipts (all sources): $10,000
• Ordinary and necessary business expenses claimed: $6,500
  • Examples inside: cost of goods, platform fees, advertising, merchant fees, supplies.
• Preliminary net business income: $3,500
• Add‑backs for affidavit purposes (explain briefly):
  • Personal cell portion run through biz: +$80
  • Non‑business meals/entertainment: +$150
  • Depreciation add‑back (judge scrutiny item): +$300
• Affidavit net monthly income: $3,500 + $530 = $4,030

Callouts judges look for:

• Traceability: Bank deposits and 1099‑K totals should tie to gross receipts on your P&L; note timing differences.
• Owner perks: Identify and add back personal expenses paid by the business.
• Depreciation: Many courts add back some or all; show it as a separate line so your math is transparent.
• Variable months: Note averaging period used (e.g., last 12 months) and why it’s reasonable.

Must‑Do vs. Strategy:

• Must‑Do: Provide P&L and either Schedule C/K‑1 or the most recent filed return.
• Strategy: Use a one‑page “income methodology” note: period covered, add‑backs listed, and any seasonality.

Common mistakes that trigger consequences—and how to fix them fast.

1. Missing the affidavit deadline or mandatory disclosure window (e.g., FL 45‑day rule; CO Rule 16.2 schedule)
   • Fix now: File/serve immediately with a short note owning the delay; calendar your next update.
2. Listing take‑home pay instead of gross income
   • Fix now: Use gross from pay stubs/YTD and let the worksheet compute taxes.
3. Omitting variable income (overtime/bonuses/commissions/tips)
   • Fix now: Average over 12 months and show the math.
4. Underreporting self‑employment by leaving out add‑backs (personal expenses, aggressive depreciation)
   • Fix now: Provide an add‑backs list and revised P&L; highlight changes.
5. Hiding or ignoring P2P/platform inflows used for goods/services
   • Fix now: Export 12 months from Venmo/Cash App/PayPal and include relevant entries.
6. Not updating before a hearing when numbers change
   • Fix now: File/serve an amended affidavit and bring stamped copies to court.
7. Inconsistent numbers vs. bank/tax records
   • Fix now: Reconcile and add a one‑line explanation for timing differences.
8. Disclosing a home or work address unsafely
   • Fix now: Ask about Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) use and how to list employer location safely; see Safety & Privacy.

Why this matters: Omissions, misstatements, or late updates can draw sanctions and lead to imputed income. Treat the affidavit like testimony—accurate, current, and supported.

Here’s how your affidavit feeds support worksheets and temporary orders.

• Gross monthly income (each party): Starting point for every child support/maintenance calculation.
• Overtime/bonuses/commissions: Usually averaged; note your averaging period.
• Health insurance premiums for the child: Courts credit only the child’s share. Attach proof.
• Work‑related childcare: List actual monthly cost with receipts.
• Extraordinary medical/educational expenses: List separately with proof.
• Prior support obligations: Usually input from existing orders.
• Parenting time (where applicable): Some child support tools factor overnights into the output—your affidavit won’t, but the judge will consider both together.

Reliable estimator links (estimates only; not orders):

• California: State guideline calculator (Department of Child Support Services)
• New York: State maintenance/child support calculator (useful cross‑check even if you’re not in NY)
• Texas: OAG calculator (for a second cross‑check if helpful)
• Florida: Uses guideline worksheets but no official state‑run online calculator; attorney/third‑party tools vary—treat as rough estimates.

What to bring to any support hearing:

• Current affidavit (signed) + exhibits: pay stubs, P&L/Schedule C, insurance bill, childcare invoices.
• One‑page “sources and math” sheet showing any averages or add‑backs you used.
• A clean copy for the other side and for the court.

Tip: If something changed after you filed, file/serve an amended affidavit before the hearing and be ready to explain the change in one sentence.

Official portals and quick rules of the road. Always check your local court’s instructions.

• California

  • Form: Income & Expense Declaration (FL‑150) — served with disclosures; courts often require a current FL‑150 when you ask for support/fees.
  • Self‑Help/Form: California Courts FL‑150 page.
  • Attachments: W‑2 pay stubs; self‑employed add a current P&L or most recent Schedule C.

• Florida

  • Forms: Financial Affidavit Short Form (income < $50,000) — 12.902(b); Long Form (≥ $50,000) — 12.902(c).
  • Timing: Exchange mandatory disclosures within 45 days of service; file the affidavit and serve the packet. Duty to supplement.

• Colorado

  • Form: Sworn Financial Statement (JDF 1111). File with the court; exchange Mandatory Disclosures (Form 35.1) on the schedule (often ~42 days).
  • Note: Continuing duty of full, candid disclosure; update before hearings.

• Illinois

  • Form: Statewide Financial Affidavit (accepted in all circuits). File with the court; includes penalty‑of‑perjury certification.

Action step: Open your state link, save the PDF to your computer, and fill it with the checklist items at your side. If a county packet exists (facilitator or self‑help), follow the packet’s attachment list exactly.

If disclosing your home or work location could increase risk, take these steps before filing or serving:

• Ask the clerk or a self‑help center whether your state’s Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) can be used on family‑court forms.
• If enrolled in ACP, use the substitute address where the form asks for “home address.” Follow ACP rules for service.
• Employer/workplace fields:
  • If listing the physical location increases risk, ask if you can list the employer’s HR mailing address or ACP substitute, consistent with local rules.
  • Avoid adding schedules or supervisor names in the free‑text fields.
• Digital safety: If sharing PDFs, remove metadata you don’t want revealed and redact account numbers on exhibits (keep an unredacted set for the court if required).
• Paper trail with privacy: Keep a binder at a safe location; store a second, encrypted copy of your packet in secure cloud storage.

Remember: You control what you file vs. what you exchange in discovery—follow your state’s rules and ask the clerk how to handle confidential information.