Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.905(b), Supplemental Petition for
Modification of Child Support (12/10)
CONTESTED... If the respondent files an answer or an answer and counterpetition, which disagrees
with or denies anything in your supplemental petition, and you are unable to settle the disputed issues,
you should file a Notice for Trial, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.924, after you
have complied with mandatory disclosure and filed all of the required papers. Some circuits may require
the completion of mediation before a final hearing may be set. Then you should contact the clerk, family
law intake staff, or judicial assistant for instructions on how to set your case for trial (final hearing). If
the respondent files an answer and counterpetition, you should answer the counterpetition within 20
days using an Answer to Counterpetition, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(d).
Where can I look for more information?
Before proceeding, you should read “General Information for Self-Represented Litigants” found at the
beginning of these forms. The words that are in “bold underline” in these instructions are defined
there. For further information, see chapter 61, Florida Statutes.
Special Notes...
If you do not have the money to pay the filing fee, you may obtain an Application for Determination of
Civil Indigent Status from the clerk, fill it out, and the clerk will determine whether you are eligible to
have filing fees deferred.
With this form, you must also file the following:
Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e). (If
you do not know the other party’s income, you may file this worksheet after his or her financial
affidavit has been served on you.)
Settlement Agreement, if you have reached an agreement on any or all of the issues. Although
there is no form for this in these Florida Family Law Forms, you may construct a settlement
agreement using the pertinent sections contained in Marital Settlement Agreement for
Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Child(ren), Florida Supreme Court Approved
Family Law Form 12.902(f)(1).
Notice of Social Security Number, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(j),
if not previously filed.
Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c).
Certificate of Compliance with Mandatory Disclosure, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure
Form 12.932. (This must be filed within 45 days of service of the supplemental petition on the
respondent, if not filed at the time of the supplemental petition, unless you and the other party
have agreed not to exchange these documents.)
Child Support... The court may order one parent to pay child support to assist the other parent in
meeting the child(ren)’s material needs. Both parents are required to provide financial support, but
one parent may be ordered to pay a portion of his or her support for the child(ren) to the other parent.
Florida has adopted guidelines for determining the amount of child support to be paid. These guidelines
are based on the combined income of both parents and take into account the financial contributions of
both parents. You must file a Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure
Form 12.902(b) or (c), and the other parent will be required to do the same. From your financial
affidavits, you should be able to calculate the amount of child support that should be paid using the
Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e). Because
the child support guidelines take several factors into consideration, change over time, and vary from
state to state, your child support obligation may be more or less than that of other people in seemingly
similar situations.