in the military service is very complex. If you have any questions about service, you may wish to
consult an attorney regarding these issues.
If personal service is used, the other party has 20 days to answer after being served with your
supplemental petition. Your case will then generally proceed in one of the following three ways:
DEFAULT... If after 20 days, no answer has been filed, you may file a Motion for Default, Florida
Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.922(a), with the clerk of court. Then, if you have
filed all of the required papers, you may call the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial
assistant to set a final hearing. You must notify the other party of the hearing by using a Notice
of Hearing (General), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.923, or other
appropriate notice of hearing form.
UNCONTESTED... If the respondent files either an answer that agrees with everything in your
supplemental petition or an answer and waiver, and you have complied with mandatory
disclosure and filed all of the required papers, you may call the clerk, family law intake staff, or
judicial assistant to set a final hearing. You must notify the other party of the hearing by using a
Notice of Hearing (General), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.923, or other
appropriate notice of hearing form.
CONTESTED... If the respondent files either 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.
If there is a domestic violence case and you want to keep your address confidential for safety
reasons, do not enter the address, telephone number, and fax information at the bottom of this
form. Instead, file a Request for Confidential Filing of Address, Florida Supreme Court
Approved Family Law Form 12.980(h).
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.950(d), Supplemental Petition to
Permit Relocation with Child(ren)(09/10)