Instafill.ai
7 days free
AI form filling · 64 fields · 2 pages · done in seconds

Yes! You can use AI to fill out Form BMD-002, Petition to Establish Fact, Date, and Place of Marriage

Don't type 64 fields by hand. Tell our AI about yourself, or upload a document you already have, and it fills every field in seconds. You check it, then download, print or sign.

7 days free, then $19.99/month · Cancel anytime
AI fills it, no typingEncrypted, never used to train AICancel in two clicks
Form BMD-002, Petition to Establish Fact, Date, and Place of Marriage, page 1
Moderate · 61/100Form Complexity Index

The AI does the filling. You just check it.

No typing into boxes, nothing to install.

Tell the AI about youAnswer a few questions in plain words, or upload a document you already have. That is all the typing there is.
AI fills every field in secondsIt puts each answer in the right box on every page, tables and checkboxes included.
Check it and downloadReview every field, change anything, then download, print or sign the PDF.

What this form asks for

The AI fills all of it, from your answers or your documents.

The California Form BMD-002, Petition to Establish Fact, Date, and Place of Marriage, is a judicial council form used to ask a court to legally recognize a marriage's existence, date, and location. It is typically filed when there is no official record of the marriage or when a certified copy cannot be obtained. Today, this form can be filled out quickly and accurately using AI-powered services like Instafill.ai, which can also convert non-fillable PDF versions into interactive fillable forms.
Fillable fields64
Pages2
Sections19
Tables and lists2
Questions that depend on earlier answers22
Form Complexity IndexModerate, 61/100

The AI checks your answers before you download

14 checks built for this form, so a wrong date or a missing answer is caught before anyone else sees it.

Petitioner Beneficial Interest Selection

Verifies that exactly one checkbox is selected in item 1b to indicate the petitioner's beneficial interest. This is a mandatory, mutually exclusive choice required by the form to establish the petitioner's standing. If no box or multiple boxes are checked, the form is incomplete and the basis for the petition is unclear.

Conditional Relationship Specification

Checks that if the petitioner indicates they are related to a person in the marriage (item 1b(2)), the relationship description field is filled. This detail is necessary to validate the petitioner's claim of beneficial interest. Failure to provide the specific relationship results in an incomplete and potentially invalid petition.

Married Persons Name Completeness

Ensures that both name fields in item 2a are filled out completely. These fields identify the primary subjects of the petition, and leaving either blank makes the petition nonsensical. The system should flag the form for correction if either name is missing.

Marriage Date Format and Plausibility

Validates that the 'Date of marriage' in item 2b is a valid, complete date in a recognized format (e.g., MM/DD/YYYY). The date must be in the past and cannot be a future date. This check prevents data entry errors and ensures the core fact being established is chronologically possible.

Marriage Place Logic

Verifies that the 'Place of marriage' in item 2c is logically complete. The 'City' field must be filled, along with either the U.S. location fields (County and State) or the international location fields (State/Province and Country). This prevents ambiguity and ensures a precise location is recorded as required by law.

Official Record Status Selection

Confirms that exactly one of the two mutually exclusive options in item 3 is checked, indicating either that no official record exists or that a copy cannot be obtained. This selection is the legal premise for filing the petition. The form is invalid if neither or both options are selected.

And 8 more checks
  • Conditional Reason for Unobtainable Record
  • Residence Name Consistency
  • Residence Address Completeness
  • Attachment Count Logic
  • Petitioner Signature Requirement
  • Signature Date Validity
  • Attorney State Bar Number Validation
  • Header and Footer Case Number Consistency

Let AI fill out your BMD-002

No typing. Every field filled in seconds, checked, ready to sign.

7 days free, then $19.99/month · Cancel anytime

How to Fill Out BMD-002 Online for Free in 2026

What the AI walks you through.

  1. Navigate to Instafill.ai and upload or select Form BMD-002.
  2. Provide your personal information as the petitioner, including your name, contact details, and your beneficial interest in the matter.
  3. Enter the full names of the individuals whose marriage is being established, along with the specific date and location (city, county, state/country) of the marriage.
  4. Indicate the reason for the petition, specifying whether there is no official record or if a certified copy cannot be obtained, and provide an explanation if required.
  5. Input the current residential addresses for the persons named in the marriage.
  6. Review the entire form after the AI has populated the fields to ensure all information is accurate and complete.
  7. Date and sign the petition, then print it for filing with the appropriate California Superior Court.

Common Mistakes in Completing BMD-002

The ones the AI is built to catch.

Failing to Prepare the Required Court Order (Form VS 122)
A critical mistake is ignoring the 'Notice to Petitioners' on page one. This notice explicitly requires the petitioner to bring a completed 'Order Establishing Fact of Marriage (form VS 122)' to the court hearing for the judge to sign. Failing to prepare this separate, mandatory form will result in significant delays, a continuance of the hearing, or outright denial of the petition. To avoid this, petitioners must obtain Form VS 122 from the California Department of Public Health and complete it before their scheduled court date.
Neglecting to File the Mandatory Supporting Declaration (BMD-002A)
Item 5 of the petition references the 'Declaration in Support of Petition... (form BMD-002A)' which must be filed concurrently. Many filers mistakenly believe the BMD-002 petition is a standalone document. The BMD-002A is where the actual evidence and factual narrative are presented, and filing without it leaves the petition unsupported. This omission will lead to the court finding the petition incomplete and will likely result in its denial. Always ensure both BMD-002 and BMD-002A are completed and filed together.
Using Inconsistent or Incomplete Names
The full legal names of the married couple must be entered consistently in the case caption ('IN THE MATTER OF'), in item 2a, and on all supporting documents. People often use nicknames, initials, or omit middle names, creating ambiguity that can lead to a defective court order. The names entered should be the full legal names as they would have appeared on the original marriage record. Using an AI form-filler like Instafill.ai can help ensure consistency by auto-populating names across all relevant fields once entered.
Forgetting to Complete the Header on Page 2
The 'CASE NUMBER' and 'IN THE MATTER OF (names)' fields are repeated at the top of page 2 for identification. It is a very common oversight for filers to complete these on the first page but leave them blank on the second. If the pages get separated during processing by the court clerk, this can cause significant delays or require the filer to resubmit the entire package. To prevent this, double-check that all repeating header fields are filled in on every page of the form before submission.
Providing an Ambiguous Place of Marriage
Item 2c has separate, distinct fields for a marriage that occurred within the U.S. versus one that occurred internationally. A common error is to write the full location on a single line or to fill in conflicting information in both the U.S. (County, State) and non-U.S. (State/Province, Country) sections. This ambiguity can prevent the court from establishing a clear, legally sufficient record of the marriage location. Carefully enter the city/town, then fill in *either* the U.S. fields *or* the international fields, but not both.
Incomplete or Incorrect Signatures
The signature block requires a handwritten signature, the date of signing, and the typed or printed name of each petitioner. Common mistakes include forgetting to sign, neglecting to date the signature, or only typing the name without signing. If there are multiple petitioners, all must sign in the designated spaces. An unsigned or improperly executed petition is invalid and will be rejected by the court clerk, halting the entire process.
Misstating the Petitioner and Their Beneficial Interest
The petitioner (item 1a) is the person *filing* the form, who may or may not be one of the married parties (item 2a). Filers must then correctly check a box in item 1b to explain their 'beneficial interest' (e.g., they are one of the spouses, a relative, etc.). Confusion here can lead the court to question the petitioner's legal standing to bring the action. To avoid this, clearly identify who is asking the court for the order and accurately describe their relationship to the matter by checking the correct box and providing any required explanation.
Providing an Inadequate Reason for an Unobtainable Record
When checking box 3b, the petitioner must explain *why* a certified copy of the marriage record cannot be obtained. Vague reasons like 'it was lost' or 'it's unavailable' are often insufficient for the court. The explanation must be specific, detailing the steps taken to locate the record and the precise barrier encountered (e.g., 'The vital records office in that jurisdiction was destroyed by a natural disaster in 1998'). An insufficient reason can cause the court to deny the petition for lack of a valid basis.
Omitting or Incorrectly Filling Court Information
The petitioner is responsible for identifying the correct Superior Court for filing, including the county, street address, and branch name in the header. People often leave this section blank or enter information for the wrong court jurisdiction, which will cause the filing to be rejected by the clerk. Before filling the form, you must verify the correct court and its address based on the petitioner's county of residence. This information is typically available on the court's website.
Submitting an Illegible Handwritten Form
While this form is a fillable PDF, some people print it and fill it out by hand, often resulting in illegible entries. Court clerks must be able to read every detail, and unclear handwriting for names, dates, or addresses can lead to data entry errors or rejection of the entire filing. To ensure clarity, always fill out the form on a computer before printing. If you only have a non-fillable scan, an AI tool like Instafill.ai can convert it into a fillable version, preventing legibility issues.

Frequently Asked Questions About BMD-002

 

Is it really free for 7 days?
Yes. You pay $0 today. Cancel before Oct 31 and you are never charged. Keep it, and it is $19.99 a month for 5 fills of your BMD-002.
Can I fill other forms too?
This plan is for your BMD-002: your own AI agent fills it as often as 5 times a month. To fill other forms and upload your own, choose a Professional plan from your account.
How do I cancel?
From your account, in two clicks, any time. No email, no call.
How does the AI fill out BMD-002?
You answer a few questions in plain words, or upload a document you already have. The AI reads what you give it and puts each answer into the right field of BMD-002, on every page, in seconds. It checks the answers against the form's own rules, and you review and change anything before you download, print or sign.
What happens to my information?
It is encrypted in transit and at rest, and it is never used to train AI.
How complex is BMD-002 to fill out?
BMD-002 has a Form Complexity Index of 61 out of 100, in the moderate tier: 64 fillable fields across 2 pages. Instafill.ai's AI fills it in under a minute, with every field there for you to review before you download.
What is the purpose of Form BMD-002, Petition to Establish Fact of Marriage?
This form is used to ask a California court to legally establish the fact, date, and place of a marriage when an official record of it does not exist or cannot be obtained. It is a court petition to create a legal record for a marriage that has already occurred.
Who needs to fill out this form?
You should fill out this form if you are one of the married persons, a relative, or another party with a valid interest in establishing a legal record of a marriage that is currently unrecorded or whose record is inaccessible.
I lost my marriage certificate. Is this the right form to get a new one?
No, not usually. If an official record of your marriage exists, you should request a certified copy from the county recorder's office where the license was issued. This form is only for situations where no official record was ever created or the record is impossible to obtain.
What other documents do I need to submit with this petition?
You must also file a 'Declaration in Support of Petition' (Form BMD-002A) and provide the court with a completed 'Order Establishing Fact of Marriage' (Form VS 122) for the judge to sign at your hearing.
Where can I get Form VS 122, the Order Establishing Fact of Marriage?
You can obtain Form VS 122 from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Vital Records, a county recorder's office, or a county health department. Information is also available on the CDPH website.
What happens after I file this petition with the court?
After filing, the court will set a hearing date. If the judge approves your petition at the hearing, they will sign the order (Form VS 122), which you can then file with CDPH Vital Records to create an official state record of the marriage.
Do I need a lawyer to file Form BMD-002?
While not strictly required, the form itself recommends consulting a California lawyer. This is a legal proceeding, and an order establishing the marriage may not be recognized as valid for all purposes, so legal advice is highly recommended.
What does it mean to be 'beneficially interested' in Section 1b?
This means you have a direct and legitimate reason for needing the marriage to be legally recorded. This includes being one of the spouses, an heir who needs to establish lineage for an inheritance, or another party with a tangible interest in the matter.
What information do I need to have ready to complete this form?
You will need the full names of the persons who were married, the exact date and place (city, county, state/country) of the marriage, and the current residential addresses for both individuals.
What do I check in Section 3 if a marriage record was destroyed in a fire?
You would check box 3b, which states that a certified copy of the official record cannot be obtained. You would then explain in the space provided that the record was destroyed and is therefore inaccessible.
Can AI tools help me fill out this form?
Yes, services like Instafill.ai use AI to accurately auto-fill form fields from your saved profile, which can save you time and help reduce errors.
How can I fill out Form BMD-002 online?
You can use a service like Instafill.ai to fill out the form online. Simply upload the PDF, and the platform will allow you to fill in all the required fields, sign, and download the completed document.
The PDF version of this form I found is not fillable. What should I do?
You can use a service like Instafill.ai, which can convert flat, non-fillable PDFs into interactive, fillable forms. This allows you to easily type your information directly into the fields online.
Encrypted in transit and at restNever used to train AIDelete your forms any time

Get your BMD-002 filled out by AI

$0 today. Cancel before Oct 31 and you pay nothing.

7 days free, then $19.99/month · Cancel anytime