A stranger allegedly forged OnlyFans star Lena the Plug's signature to file a fake divorce from Adam22 in Los Angeles County on June 1, 2026, seeking custody of their 5-year-old daughter, according to E! News. For California residents, this exposes a real vulnerability: courts accept a signed FL-100 but never verify who actually filed it.
Key Facts
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| What happened | Divorce papers seeking child custody appeared in the LA County court system, allegedly filed by a stranger using a forged signature |
| When | Papers filed June 1, 2026; Lena revealed the alleged hoax in a June 4, 2026 video |
| Where | Los Angeles County Superior Court, California |
| Who's affected | Lena Nersesian ("Lena the Plug"), Adam22 (Adam Grandmaison), and their 5-year-old daughter |
| Key rule | California Family Code requires a Form FL-100 signed under penalty of perjury; filing fee is roughly $435 |
| Impact | Fraudulent filing is punishable under Cal. Penal Code § 115 by up to three years in prison |
Why this matters legally
Filing a fraudulent court document in California is a felony, not a prank. Cal. Penal Code § 115 makes it a crime to knowingly file any false or forged document in a public office, and a conviction can carry up to three years in state prison. When someone forges another person's signature on a divorce petition, they have arguably committed multiple offenses at once: forgery, filing a false instrument, and potentially perjury, because California's Form FL-100 is signed under penalty of perjury.
The alleged hoax exposes a structural gap in nearly every American court system. California courts authenticate the document and the filing fee, but they do not authenticate the human being who walked the paperwork to the clerk's window or uploaded it online. A petition that bears a signature and a roughly $435 check or fee waiver gets a case number, regardless of whether the named petitioner ever consented. That gap is what turns a malicious stranger into a court record overnight.
How California law handles this
California treats a divorce petition as a sworn legal instrument the moment it is filed. Under Cal. Fam. Code § 2330, a dissolution proceeding begins by filing a petition, and the Judicial Council's mandatory Form FL-100 must be signed by the petitioner. That signature line sits directly above a declaration that the contents are true and correct under penalty of perjury, which incorporates the criminal exposure of Cal. Penal Code § 118.
When a signature is forged, the filing collapses on two independent legal grounds. First, there is no valid petitioner, because the named party never consented to or verified the document, so the court lacks a genuine party invoking its jurisdiction. Second, the forgery itself violates Cal. Penal Code § 115, which specifically criminalizes procuring the filing of a false or forged instrument in any public office. A victim in this position can move to dismiss or vacate the action, file a declaration disavowing the petition, and refer the matter to the district attorney for criminal investigation.
The custody dimension raises the stakes further. A fraudulent petition that requests orders affecting a 5-year-old child can trigger hearings and temporary orders before the real parent even learns a case exists. California courts apply the best-interest-of-the-child standard under Cal. Fam. Code § 3011 and require proper notice and service before issuing custody orders. A parent who discovers a fraudulent filing should immediately notify the court and seek to set aside any order obtained through fraud, which California permits under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 473 and the court's inherent equitable power to vacate judgments procured by extrinsic fraud.
Practical takeaways
If you discover a divorce or custody case filed in your name without your consent, California law gives you concrete options. Move quickly, because temporary orders can issue within days.
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Pull the case file immediately. Request a copy of the petition and the FL-100 from the Los Angeles County Superior Court clerk or the relevant county, and confirm the case number, filing date, and the signature being attributed to you.
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File a sworn declaration disavowing the petition. Submit a written statement under penalty of perjury stating that you did not sign or authorize the filing, and ask the court to dismiss or vacate the action under Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 473.
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Report the forgery to law enforcement. Filing a forged instrument violates Cal. Penal Code § 115, a felony carrying up to three years in prison; a police report and referral to the district attorney create an official record.
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Protect any affected children first. If the fraudulent filing seeks custody orders, alert the court in writing before any hearing so a judge does not enter orders affecting your child based on a fake petition.
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Document the financial trail. The roughly $435 filing fee or any check used can become evidence; preserve everything and request the payment records from the clerk.
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Consult a California family law attorney before the first hearing. An attorney can file an ex parte application to stay the proceedings and ensure the fraudulent case does not generate enforceable orders against you.
If you believe someone has filed a fraudulent divorce or custody action in your name in California, you do not have to navigate the court system alone. A qualified California family law attorney can help you move to vacate the case, respond to any improper orders, and coordinate with law enforcement on the forgery. Browse our directory to connect with a family law attorney in your county.
This article discusses recent news and provides general legal commentary. It does not constitute legal advice. Every case is unique. Consult a qualified family law attorney for advice specific to your situation.