When it's used
Filed in dissolution proceedings to disclose and characterize all marital assets and liabilities for the court.
Definition
The FL-160 Property Declaration is a Judicial Council form used in California dissolution proceedings to inventory and characterize all of the parties’ assets and liabilities as community property, separate property, or a combination of both. Each asset—real property, bank accounts, retirement accounts, vehicles, businesses, and personal property—must be listed with its estimated current fair market value and the basis for the characterization. The paralegal gathers deeds, account statements, retirement benefit summaries, vehicle registrations, and appraisals to support each entry, applying California’s community property presumption as the baseline while documenting the evidentiary basis for any claimed separate property interest. An accurate, well-documented FL-160 is the foundation of property division negotiations and settlement agreements, and any omissions can expose the omitting party to sanctions or set-aside motions after judgment.