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.
Af
ter the Stepparent Adoption: Affidavit of Diligent Search, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form
12.981(a)(4) is filed, the clerk will sign this form. You will need to publish notice once each week for four
consecutive weeks in a “qualified” newspaper in the county where the person was last known to have
resided. When in doubt, ask the clerk which newspapers are “qualified.” The newspaper will charge you
for this service. If you cannot afford to pay the cost of publishing this notice, you may ask the clerk to post
the notice at a place designated for such postings. You will need to file an Application for Determination
of Civil Indigent Status, which you can obtain from the clerk. If the clerk determines that you cannot
afford these costs, the clerk will post the notice of action. You are responsible for locating a “qualified”
newspaper in the county where the other party last resided and paying the cost of publication.
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. For further information, see rule 12.070, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure,
rule 1.070, Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, sections 61.501–61.542, Florida Statutes and chapter 49,
Florida Statutes.
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 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 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 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.
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Form 12.913(a)(3), Notice of Action for Termination of
Parental Rights and Stepparent Adoption (06/18)
