Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.996(b), Notice to Payor (11/20)
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA FAMILY LAW RULES OF PROCEDURE
FORM 12.996(b)
NOTICE TO PAYOR
(11/20)
When should this form be used?
This form should be used when an Income Deduction Order has been entered by the Court which is to
take effect immediately.
This form should be typed or printed in black ink. After completing this form, you should file this document
with the clerk of the circuit court in the county in which the action is pending. You should keep a copy for
your own records.
What should I do next?
A copy of this form, and a copy of the Income Deduction Order, must be sent to the obligor’s payor by
certified mail, return receipt requested. The return receipt should be sent to the person that prepared
this form so that it can filed with the clerk along with Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form
12.996(c), Notice of Filing Return Receipt.
A copy of this form must also be served on the other party or his or her attorney. Service must be in
accordance with Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.516.
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 section 61.1301, Florida Statutes.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING E-FILING
The Florida Rules of Judicial Administration now require that all petitions, pleadings, and documents be
filed electronically except in certain circumstances. Self-represented litigants may file petitions or other
pleadings or documents electronically; however, they are not required to do so. If you choose to file
your pleadings or other documents electronically, you must do so in accordance with Florida Rule of
Judicial Administration 2.525, and you must follow the procedures of the judicial circuit in which you file.
The rules and procedures should be carefully read and followed.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING E-SERVICE ELECTION
After the initial service of process of the petition or supplemental petition by the Sheriff or certified
process server, the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration now require that all documents required or
Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.996(b), Notice to Payor (11/20)
permitted to be served on the other party must be served by electronic mail (e-mail) except in certain
circumstances. You must strictly comply with the format requirements set forth in the Florida Rules of
Judicial Administration. If you elect to participate in electronic service, which means serving or receiving
pleadings by electronic mail (e-mail), or through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, you must review Florida
Rule of Judicial Administration 2.516. You may find this rule at www.flcourts.org through the link to the
Rules of Judicial Administration provided under either Family Law Forms: Getting Started, or Rules of Court
in the A-Z Topical Index.
SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS MAY SERVE DOCUMENTS BY E-MAIL; HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT
REQUIRED TO DO SO. If a self-represented litigant elects to serve and receive documents by email, the
procedures must always be followed once the initial election is made.
To serve and receive documents by e-mail, you must designate your e-mail addresses by using the
Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form
12.915, and you must provide your e-mail address on each form on which your signature appears. Please
CAREFULLY read the rules and instructions for: Certificate of Service (General), Florida Supreme Court
Approved Family Law Form 12.914; Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address, Florida Supreme
Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915; and Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.516.
Special Instructions. . .
The Obligor’s Social Security Number must be written on the copies of the Notice to Payor that are
mailed to the Obligor’s Payor and served on the other party or his or her attorney. The Social Security
Number should NOT be written on the copy of the Notice to Payor filed with the court.
Remember, a person who is NOT an attorney is called a nonlawyer. If a nonlawyer helps you fill out these
forms, that person must give you a copy of a Disclosure from Nonlawyer, Florida Family Law Rules of
Procedure Form 12.900(a), before he or she helps you. A nonlawyer helping you fill out these forms also
must put his or her name, address, and telephone number on the bottom of the last page of every form
he or she helps you complete.
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.996(b), Notice to Payor (11/20)
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,
IN AND FOR COUNTY, FLORIDA
Case No.:
Division:
,
Petitioner,
and
,
Respondent.
NOTICE TO PAYOR
TO:
Name of Obligor’s Payor:
Payor’s Address:
RE: Obligor Obligee
Name:
Address:
Obligor’s Social Security Number: _________________________________.
NOTE: The Obligor’s Social Security Number should be placed on the copy of the Notice to Payor that
is mailed to the Obligor’s Payor. This line should be left blank on the original Notice to Payor filed
with the court.
YOU, THE PAYOR, ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that, under section 61.1301, Florida Statutes, you have the
responsibilities and rights set forth below with regard to the accompanying Income Deduction Order
and/or any attachment(s):
1. You are required to deduct from the obligor’s income the amount specified in the income deduction
order, and in the case of a delinquency the amount specified in the notice of delinquency, and to pay
that amount to the State of Florida Disbursement Unit. The amount actually deducted plus all
administrative charges shall not be excess of the amount allowed under s. 303(b) of the Consumer
Credit Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. §1673(b) as amended.
2. You must implement income deduction no later than the first payment date which occurs more than
14 days after the date the income deduction order was served on you, and you shall conform the
amount specified in the income deduction order or, in Title IV-D cases, income deduction notice to
the obligor’s pay cycle. The court should request at the time of the order that the payment cycle will
reflect that of the obligor.
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.996(b), Notice to Payor (11/20)
3. You must forward, within 2 days after each date the obligor is entitled to payment from you, to the
State of Florida Disbursement Unit, the amount deducted from the obligor’s income, a statement as
to whether the amount totally or partially satisfies the periodic amount specified in the income
deduction order, or in Title IV-D cases, income deduction notice, and the specific date each deduction
is made. If the IV-D agency is enforcing the order, you shall make these notifications to the agency.
4. If you fail to deduct the proper amount from the obligor’s income, you are liable for the amount you
should have deducted, plus costs, interest, and reasonable attorneys’ fees;
5. You may collect up to $5 against the obligor’s income to reimburse you for administrative costs for
the first income deduction and up to $2 for each deduction thereafter.
6. The notice to payor, or, in Title IV-D cases, income deduction notice, and in the case of a
delinquency, the notice of delinquency, are binding on you until further notice by the obligee, IV-D
agency, or the court or until you no longer provide income to the obligor.
7. When you no longer provide income to the obligor, you shall notify the obligee and provide the
obligor’s last known address and the name and address of the obligor’s new payor, if known. If you
violate this provision, you are subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $250 for the first violation or
$500 for any subsequent violation. If the IV-D agency is enforcing the order, you shall make these
notifications to the agency instead of the obligee. Penalties shall be paid to the obligee or the IV-D
agency, whichever is enforcing the income deduction order.
8. You shall not discharge, refuse to employ, or take disciplinary action against an obligor because of the
requirement for income deduction. A violation of this provision subjects you to a civil penalty not to
exceed $250 for the first violation or $500 for any subsequent violation. Penalties shall be paid to the
obligee or the IV-D agency, whichever is enforcing the income deduction, if any alimony or child
support obligation is owing. If no alimony or child support obligation is owing, the penalty shall be
paid to the obligor.
9. The obligor may bring a civil action in the courts of this state against a payor who refuses to employ,
discharges, or otherwise disciplines an obligor because of income deduction. The obligor is entitled
to reinstatement of all wages and benefits lost, plus reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs incurred.
10. The requirement for income deduction has priority over all other legal processes under state law
pertaining to the same income and that payment, as required by the notice to payor or the income
deduction notice, is a complete defense by the payor against any claims of the obligor or his or her
creditors as to the sum paid.
11. When you receive notices to payor or income deduction notices requiring that the income of two or
more obligors be deducted and sent to the same depository, the payor may combine the amounts
that are to be paid to the depository in a single payment as long as the payments attributable to each
obligor are clearly identified.
12. If you receive more than one notice to payor or income deduction notice against the same obligor,
the payor shall contact the court or, in Title IV-D cases, the Title IV-D agency for further instructions.
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.996(b), Notice to Payor (11/20)
13. In a Title IV-D case, if an obligation to pay current support is reduced or terminated due to the
emancipation of a child and the obligor owes an arrearage, retroactive support, delinquency, or costs,
income deduction continues at the rate in effect immediately prior to emancipation until all
arrearages, retroactive support, delinquencies, and costs are paid in full or until the amount of
withholding is modified.
14. All notices to the obligee shall be sent to the address provided in this notice to payor, or any place
thereafter the obligee requests in writing.
15. An employer who employed 10 or more employees in any quarter during the preceding state fiscal
year or who was subject to and paid tax to the Department of Revenue in an amount of $20,000 or
more shall remit support payments deducted pursuant to an income deduction order or income
deduction notice and provide associated case data to the State Disbursement Unit by electronic
means approved by the department. Payors who are required to remit support payments
electronically can find more information on how to do so by accessing the State Disbursement Unit’s
website https://fl.smartchildsupport.com/. Payment options include Expert Pay, Automated Clearing
House (ACH) credit through your financial institution, www.myfloridacounty.com, or Western Union.
Payors may contact the SDU Customer Service Employer telephone line at 1-877-769-0251.
16. Additional information regarding the implementation of this Notice to Payor may be found at
https://fl.smartchildsupport.com/ .
I certify that a copy of this document was [check all used]: _____ emailed _____ mailed
_____ faxed _____ hand delivered to the person(s) listed below on {date} _________________.
Other party or his/her attorney:
Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip: ________
Telephone Number: ______________________
Fax Number:
Email Address(es): ______________________
Signature of Party or his/her attorney
Printed Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip:
Telephone Number:
Fax Number:
E-Mail Address(es): ___________________________
Florida Bar Number: ___________________________
click to sign
signature
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Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.996(b), Notice to Payor (11/20)
IF A NONLAWYER HELPED YOU FILL OUT THIS FORM, HE/SHE MUST FILL IN THE BLANKS BELOW:
[fill in all blanks] This form was prepared for the {choose only one} _____Petitioner _____ Respondent
This form was completed with the assistance of:
{name of individual} ___________________________________,
{name of business} _______________________________________________________________,
{address} ____________________________________________________________,
{city} ______________________, {state} , {zip code} ________, {telephone number} .