Family Court Mailing Packets API reference

PostalForm uses the same workflow definition for this API reference and its guided browser form. Fetch the live schema, collect the active required fields and attachments, and validate the completed request. Review the generated PDF, resolved recipient, mailing service and price with the owner before authorizing payment.

Send a top-level form instead of pdf or letter; those three document sources are mutually exclusive. Workflow forms are letters, not postcards. The machine envelope requires buyer, sender and recipient fields. For predefined or computed recipients, the server binds the final recipient to the workflow rules. Inspect the resolved recipient returned by validation; do not substitute a convenient office address.

The template below is structural, not ready to submit: replace every placeholder, complete the active fields, omit unused optional attachments, and use the field options and visibility rules in the schema. Empty strings and unchecked checkboxes are not user answers. Never infer a signature, legal eligibility, factual declaration or consent from a default value.

{
  "request_id": "<new UUID; preserve on retry>",
  "buyer_name": "<buyer name>",
  "buyer_email": "<buyer email>",
  "sender_name": "<sender name>",
  "sender_address_type": "Manual",
  "sender_address_manual": {
    "line1": "<street address>",
    "city": "<city>",
    "state": "<state or region>",
    "zip": "<postal code>",
    "countryCode": "US"
  },
  "recipient_name": "<confirmed recipient name>",
  "recipient_address_type": "Manual",
  "recipient_address_manual": {
    "line1": "<street address>",
    "city": "<city>",
    "state": "<state or region>",
    "zip": "<postal code>",
    "countryCode": "US"
  },
  "mail_class": "standard",
  "double_sided": true,
  "color": false,
  "certified": false,
  "form": {
    "slug": "family-court-mailing-packets",
    "fields": {
      "matter_type": "",
      "document_type": "",
      "document_title": "",
      "case_status": "",
      "case_caption": "",
      "case_number": "",
      "sender_name": "",
      "sender_role": "",
      "sender_address": "",
      "recipient_company_name": "",
      "recipient_name": "",
      "recipient_address": "",
      "filing_deadline": "",
      "packet_notes": "",
      "mail_acceptance_acknowledged": false,
      "requirements_acknowledged": false,
      "no_physical_enclosures_acknowledged": false,
      "service_acknowledged": false,
      "not_filed_acknowledged": false,
      "safety_acknowledged": false,
      "not_legal_advice_acknowledged": false
    },
    "attachments": [
      {
        "id": "primary_document",
        "file_name": "<filename>",
        "base64": "<base64 file content>"
      },
      {
        "id": "supporting_documents",
        "file_name": "<filename>",
        "base64": "<base64 file content>"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Compound fields use nested objects keyed by subfield ID. Evaluate group and field visibility before deciding which fields are active. Conditional requirements, validation rules, recipient rules, attachment formats and compliance policies are preserved in the complete schema below.

{
  "schema_version": 1,
  "workflow_version": 1,
  "slug": "family-court-mailing-packets",
  "name": "Family Court Mailing Packets",
  "description": "Upload completed divorce, custody, support, or other family-court documents and mail them to a verified court or legal recipient.",
  "agent_summary": "Collect a completed family-court document PDF, optional exhibits, matter and document type, existing-case context, party role, sender and one verified recipient, deadline context, and acknowledgements covering mail acceptance, court rules, privacy, protected addresses, service, safety, and the limits of mailing. Each order creates one reviewed mailpiece. Do not represent the workflow as legal-document preparation, legal advice, service of process, filing confirmation, or emergency court access.",
  "form_summary": "Use this upload-first workflow for completed family-court papers you already prepared. Enter one verified court or legal recipient, confirm filing, service, privacy, and protected-address requirements, and review the packet before checkout. Create a separate order for any differently reviewed service or courtesy copy.",
  "data_collected": [
    "Family-court matter type and completed document type",
    "Case caption, optional case number, and sender role",
    "Sender name, role, and a return mailing address safe to disclose under applicable confidentiality rules",
    "Court clerk, family division, attorney, or other verified primary recipient and mailing address",
    "Optional deadline and handling notes",
    "Primary document PDF, optional exhibits, and required family-court process acknowledgements"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "family court",
    "divorce",
    "child custody",
    "parenting time",
    "child support",
    "legal mail"
  ],
  "category": "uploaded_document_packet",
  "publish_state": "published",
  "aliases": [
    "mail-family-court-documents",
    "mail-divorce-papers-to-court",
    "family-law-document-mailing"
  ],
  "llms": true,
  "indexable": true,
  "certified_mail": "optional",
  "recipient": {
    "mode": "user"
  },
  "checkout_flow": "forms_order",
  "published_at": "2026-07-10",
  "updated_at": "2026-07-11",
  "groups": [
    {
      "id": "document",
      "label": "Completed family-court document",
      "description": "Identify the already-prepared document you want printed and mailed.",
      "depends_on": []
    },
    {
      "id": "case",
      "label": "Matter and case details",
      "description": "Add the information used to identify the family-court matter.",
      "depends_on": []
    },
    {
      "id": "sender",
      "label": "Sender",
      "description": "Enter the person sending this packet.",
      "depends_on": []
    },
    {
      "id": "recipient",
      "label": "Court or legal recipient",
      "description": "Enter the exact verified mailing recipient and address.",
      "depends_on": []
    },
    {
      "id": "timing",
      "label": "Deadline and handling",
      "description": "Record relevant timing and follow-up details.",
      "depends_on": []
    },
    {
      "id": "review",
      "label": "Review acknowledgements",
      "description": "Confirm the local family-court requirements and workflow limits.",
      "depends_on": []
    }
  ],
  "fields": [
    {
      "id": "matter_type",
      "label": "Family-court matter",
      "type": "select",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "document",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "options": [
        "Divorce, dissolution, or legal separation",
        "Child custody or parenting time",
        "Child support or family support",
        "Paternity or parentage",
        "Adoption or guardianship",
        "Post-judgment enforcement or modification",
        "Other family-court matter"
      ],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "document_type",
      "label": "Completed document type",
      "type": "select",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "document",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "options": [
        "Petition or complaint",
        "Motion or request",
        "Answer, response, or opposition",
        "Agreement, consent, or proposed order",
        "Declaration, affidavit, or notice",
        "Financial disclosure or supporting filing",
        "Correspondence",
        "Other completed document"
      ],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "document_title",
      "label": "Document or packet title",
      "type": "text",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "document",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "case_status",
      "label": "Is this for an existing case?",
      "type": "select",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "case",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "options": [
        "Yes — an existing case",
        "No — this may start a new case",
        "Not applicable — correspondence or another recipient"
      ],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "case_caption",
      "label": "Case caption or matter name (optional)",
      "type": "text",
      "required": false,
      "placeholder": "Example: In re the Marriage of Smith",
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "case",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "case_number",
      "label": "Case or docket number",
      "type": "text",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "case",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "visibility": {
        "fieldId": "case_status",
        "operator": "equals",
        "value": "Yes — an existing case"
      },
      "depends_on": [
        "case_status"
      ],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "sender_name",
      "label": "Sender full name",
      "type": "text",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": "name",
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "sender",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "sender_role",
      "label": "Your role in the matter",
      "type": "select",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "sender",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "options": [
        "Petitioner or plaintiff",
        "Respondent or defendant",
        "Parent or guardian",
        "Other party",
        "Attorney or authorized representative",
        "Not applicable"
      ],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "sender_address",
      "label": "Return mailing address",
      "type": "address",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "sender",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "recipient_company_name",
      "label": "Court, law office, agency, or recipient organization",
      "type": "text",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "recipient",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "recipient_name",
      "label": "Clerk, family division, attorney, or attention line",
      "type": "text",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "recipient",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "recipient_address",
      "label": "Verified family-court or legal-recipient mailing address",
      "type": "address",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "recipient",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "filing_deadline",
      "label": "Filing, response, or delivery deadline (optional)",
      "type": "date",
      "required": false,
      "meta_class": "date",
      "ui_width": "half",
      "group_id": "timing",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "packet_notes",
      "label": "Packet, service, and follow-up notes (optional)",
      "type": "textarea",
      "required": false,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "timing",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "mail_acceptance_acknowledged",
      "label": "I verified that this court or recipient accepts this document by mail and confirmed the current address.",
      "type": "checkbox",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "review",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "requirements_acknowledged",
      "label": "I reviewed current requirements for signatures, notarization, copies, fees, privacy, exhibits, service, and deadlines.",
      "type": "checkbox",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "review",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "no_physical_enclosures_acknowledged",
      "label": "I confirmed this submission requires no filing-fee check or money order, wet-ink original, self-addressed return envelope, or extra physical copy that is not already printable in my upload.",
      "type": "checkbox",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "review",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "service_acknowledged",
      "label": "I understand this one-recipient order does not automatically satisfy service or proof-of-service requirements, and any service copy requires its own privacy-reviewed mailing.",
      "type": "checkbox",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "review",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "not_filed_acknowledged",
      "label": "I understand mailing or delivery does not prove court acceptance or docketing, and I will verify status with the recipient.",
      "type": "checkbox",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "review",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "safety_acknowledged",
      "label": "I am not relying on this mailing for emergency protection, and I verified that the packet and envelope return address do not disclose a location protected by court order, confidentiality rule, or safety program.",
      "type": "checkbox",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "review",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    },
    {
      "id": "not_legal_advice_acknowledged",
      "label": "I understand PostalForm does not prepare or review family-law documents and does not provide legal advice.",
      "type": "checkbox",
      "required": true,
      "meta_class": null,
      "ui_width": null,
      "group_id": "review",
      "choice_group": null,
      "choice_label": null,
      "depends_on": [],
      "compound": null
    }
  ],
  "attachments": [
    {
      "id": "primary_document",
      "label": "Completed family-court document",
      "required": true,
      "instructions": "Upload one final PDF containing the completed primary document. Confirm signatures, case details, formatting, and required privacy redactions before uploading.",
      "allowed_types": [
        "pdf"
      ],
      "max_files": 1,
      "max_size_mb": 12
    },
    {
      "id": "supporting_documents",
      "label": "Exhibits and supporting documents",
      "required": false,
      "instructions": "Upload cover sheets, certificates, proposed orders, financial documents, exhibits, or other materials that should follow the primary document, in print order.",
      "allowed_types": [
        "pdf",
        "jpg",
        "jpeg",
        "png"
      ],
      "max_files": 20,
      "max_size_mb": 12
    }
  ],
  "attachments_max_total_size_mb": 12,
  "machine_submission": {
    "payload_property": "form",
    "create_paths": {
      "x402": "/api/machine/orders",
      "mpp": "/api/machine/mpp/orders"
    }
  }
}

Validation does not mail the document. For a human checkout, use MCP postalform.create_form_order_draft and present the returned preview, total and checkout URL. Machine API clients must handle the returned MPP or x402 challenge only within owner-approved spending authority. Preserve request_id and the exact payload for retries; changing the content requires a new request ID. After an uncertain payment, retrieve order status before creating another order. Provider handoff is not USPS delivery.