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INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW (Florida)

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY
LAW FORM 12.903(a)
ANSWER, WAIVER, AND REQUEST FOR COPY OF FINAL JUDGMENT OF
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE
(02/18)
When should this form be used?
This form should be used when you have been served with a petition for dissolution of marriage
and you do not wish to contest it or appear at a hearing. If you file this form, you are admitting all
of the allegations in the petition, saying that you do not need to be notified of or appear at the final
hearing, and that you would like a copy of the final judgment mailed to you.
This form should be typed or printed in black ink, and your signature should be witnessed by a
notary public or deputy clerk. After completing this form, you should sign the form before a notary
public. You should file the original with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the
petition was filed and keep a copy for your records. The person filing the petition in a dissolution of
marriage proceeding is also referred to as the petitioner and his or her spouse as the respondent.
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.
What should I do next?
You have 20 days to answer after being served with your spouse’s petition. A copy of this form,
along with all of the other forms required with this answer and waiver, must be mailed, e-mailed, or
hand delivered to your spouse.
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 permitted to be served on the other party must be served by electronic mail (e-mail) except in
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for
Copy of Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (02/18)
certain circumstances. You must strictly comply with the format requirements set forth in the
Rules of Judicial Administration. If you elect to participate in electronic service, which means
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 e-mail,
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.
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...
With this form, you may also file the following:
Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Affidavit, Florida
Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(d), if the case involves a dependent or
minor child(ren).
Child Support Guidelines Worksheet
, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form
12.902(e), if the case involves a dependent or minor child(ren). (If you do not know your
spouse’s income, you may file this worksheet after your spouse’s financial affidavit has
been served on you).
Marital Settlement Agreement for Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor
Child(ren), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(f)(1), or Marital
Settlement Agreement for Dissolution of Marriage with No Dependent or Minor
Child(ren), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(f)(2), if you have
reached an agreement on any or all of the issues.
Notice of Social Security Number, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for
Copy of Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (02/18)
12.902(j).
Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c).
(This must be filed within 45 days of service of the petition on you, if not filed at the time
you file this answer.)
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 petition on you,
if not filed at the time you file this answer, unless you and the other party have agreed not
to exchange these documents.)
Parenting Plan and Time-Sharing. By filing this answer and waiver, you are agreeing to any
parenting plan and time-sharing requests in the petition. The judge may request a parenting plan
recommendation or appoint a guardian ad litem in your case. This means that a neutral person will
review your situation and report to the judge concerning parenting issues. The purpose of such
intervention is to be sure that the best interests of the child(ren) is (are) being served. For more
information, you may consult section 61.13, Florida Statutes.
A parenting course must be completed prior to entry of a final judgment. You should contact the
clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant about requirements for parenting courses where
you live.
Listed below are some terms with which you should become familiar before completing your answer
to the petition. If you do not fully understand any of the terms below or their implications, you
should speak with an attorney before going any further.
Shared Parental Responsibility
Sole Parental Responsibility
Supervised Time-Sharing
No contact
Parenting Plan
Parenting Plan Recommendation
Time-Sharing Schedule
Child Support. By filing this answer and waiver, you are agreeing to any requests for child support
in the petition. Both parents are required to provide financial support for their minor or
dependent child(ren); however, the court may order one parent to pay child support 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 and the number of overnights the child(ren) spend with each
parent. You must file a Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form
12.902(b) or (c), and your spouse 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
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for
Copy of Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (02/18)
state, your child support obligation may be more or less than that of other people in seemingly
similar situations.
Alimony. By filing this answer and waiver, you are agreeing to any requests for alimony in the
petition. Alimony may be awarded to a spouse if the judge finds that one spouse has an actual need
for it and also finds that the other spouse has the ability to pay. If you want alimony, you must
request it in writing in a counterpetition and should not use this form. If you do not request
alimony in writing before the final hearing, it is waived (you may not request it later). You may
request permanent alimony, bridge-the-gap alimony, durational alimony, , and/or rehabilitative
alimony. If alimony is awarded, the judge may order periodic payments, payments in lump sum, or
both.
Marital/Nonmarital Assets and Liabilities. Florida law requires an equitable distribution of marital
assets and marital liabilities. “Equitable” does not necessarily mean “equal.” Many factors,
including child support, time-sharing and alimony awards, may lead the court to make an unequal
(but still equitable) distribution of assets and liabilities. Nonmarital assets and nonmarital liabilities
are those assets and liabilities which the parties agree or the court determines belong to, or are the
responsibility of, only one of the parties. By filing this answer and waiver, you are agreeing to any
requests in the petition regarding division of assets and liabilities.
Final Judgment. You should receive a copy of the Final Judgment in the mail. If, for some reason
you do not, you should contact the clerk’s office to request a copy. It is important for you to review
a copy of the Final Judgment in your case to see what happened and to know what you must do and
what you are entitled to receive.
Nonlawyer. 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.
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for
Copy of Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (02/18)
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE _____________________ JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,
IN AND FOR ______________________________ COUNTY, FLORIDA
Case No: ________________________
Division: ________________________
In re: the Marriage of:
_________________________________,
Petitioner,
and
_________________________________,
Respondent
ANSWER, WAIVER, AND REQUEST FOR COPY OF FINAL JUDGMENT OF
DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE
I, {full legal name} , being sworn, certify that the following
information is true:
1. I answer the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage filed in this action and admit all the allegations.
By admitting all of the allegations in the petition, I agree to all relief requested in the petition
including any requests regarding parenting and time-sharing, child support, alimony, distribution
of marital assets and liabilities, and temporary relief.
2. I hereby waive notice of hearing as well as all future notices in connection with the Petition for
Dissolution of Marriage, as filed and also waive my appearance at the final hearing.
3. I request that a copy of the Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage entered in this case be
provided to me at the address below.
4. If this case involves minor child(ren), a completed Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and
Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Affidavit, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(d),
is filed with this answer.
5. A completed Notice of Social Security Number, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form
12.902(j), is filed with this answer.
6. A completed Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b)
or (c), _____ is filed with this answer or _____ will be timely filed.
Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final
Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (02/18)
___________________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
I certify that a copy of this document was _____ mailed _____ faxed and mailed _____ e-mailed
_____hand delivered to the person(s) listed below on {date} __________________________.
Other party or his/her attorney:
Name: _______________________________________
Address: _____________________________________
City, State, Zip: ________________________________
Fax Number: _________________________________
Designated E-mail Address(es):___________________
I understand that I am swearing or affirming under oath to the truthfulness of the claims made in this
answer and that the punishment for knowingly making a false statement includes fines and/or
imprisonment.
Dated: ______________________ _______________________________________
Signature of Respondent
Printed Name: ___________________________
Address: _______________________________
City, State, Zip: __________________________
Telephone Number: ________________________
Fax Number: _____________________________
Designated E-mail Address(es): _______________
_______________________________________
STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF ____________________
Sworn to or affirmed and signed before me on __________ by ___________________________.
NOTARY PUBLIC or DEPUTY CLERK
[Print, type, or stamp commissioned name of notary or
deputy clerk.]
_____ Personally known
_____ Produced identification
_____ Type of identification produced ________________________________
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 ______Respondent
This form was completed with the assistance of:
{name of individual} _______________________________________________________________,
{name of business} ________________________________________________________________,
{address} ________________________________________________________________________,
{city} ______________, {state} ____, {zip code, }__________, {telephone number} _____________.
Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage, Florida Supreme Court
Approved Form 12.903(a)(02/18)
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW (Florida)

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Completed 21 January 2021

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