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Rule 5.411.Stipulated judgments

Division 1. Family Rules · Chapter 14. Default Proceedings and Judgments · Adopted 2013 · no amendments on record · Last verified September 10, 2026

In one sentenceRule 5.411 fixes the form of a stipulated judgment, including the signature block, and requires it to dispose of everything or reserve it.

Full Text of Rule 5.411

Text sizeJump to: (a) (b)

(a) Format
A stipulated judgment (which must be attached to form FL-180 or form FL-250) may be submitted to the court for signature as an uncontested matter or at the time of the hearing on the merits and must contain the exact terms of any judgment proposed to be entered in the case. At the end, immediately above the space reserved for the judge’s signature, the stipulated judgment must contain the following: The foregoing is agreed to by: __________________________ ____________________________ (Petitioner) (Respondent) Approved as conforming to the agreement of the parties: ____________________________ ____________________________ (Attorney for Petitioner) (Attorney for Respondent)
(b) Disposition of all matters required
A stipulated judgment must include disposition of all matters subject to the court’s jurisdiction for which a party seeks adjudication or an explicit reservation of jurisdiction over any matter not proposed for disposition at that time. A stipulated judgment constitutes a written agreement between the parties as to all matters covered by the stipulation.
End

Plain-English Summary

A stipulated judgment is attached to the judgment form and may be submitted as an uncontested matter or at the hearing on the merits. It must contain the exact terms of the judgment proposed — not a summary of an agreement kept elsewhere.

The rule prescribes the closing block immediately above the judge’s signature: lines for the petitioner and respondent under "The foregoing is agreed to by," and lines for each party’s attorney under "Approved as conforming to the agreement of the parties."

Like a default judgment, a stipulated judgment must dispose of every matter within the court’s jurisdiction for which adjudication is sought, or explicitly reserve jurisdiction over what is left. And the rule records its dual character: a stipulated judgment constitutes a written agreement between the parties as to all matters the stipulation covers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What has to be in a stipulated judgment?

The exact terms of the judgment proposed to be entered, the prescribed signature block for the parties and their attorneys immediately above the judge’s signature, and disposition of all matters within the court’s jurisdiction or an explicit reservation.

Is a stipulated judgment also a contract?

The rule says a stipulated judgment constitutes a written agreement between the parties as to all matters covered by the stipulation.

Amendment History

Rule 5.411 adopted effective January 1, 2013.

Source & verification. Rule text is reproduced verbatim from the Judicial Council of California. Adopted by the Judicial Council of California. Last verified September 10, 2026. · Official source
Also known as: stipulated judgment California family lawmarital settlement agreement judgmentFL-180 attachment stipulated judgment