INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW FORM 12.904(a)(1), PETITION FOR SUPPORT UNCONNECTED WITH DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE WITH DEPENDENT OR MINOR CHILD(REN) (02/18) When should this form be used? This form may be used to ask the court to enter a support order if your spouse has the ability to contribute to you and your minor child(ren), but has failed to do so. You can only use this form if a dissolution of marriage has not been filed and based upon the time-sharing schedule, you are entitled to support. If a petition for dissolution of marriage has been filed, you should file a Motion for Temporary Support and Time-Sharing with Dependent or Minor Child(ren), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.947(a), instead of using this petition. Also, if you are requesting that an order be entered for you to pay support to your spouse, you should not file this form. This petition cannot address the issues of property, debts, or parental responsibility and time-sharing with child(ren). It only deals with alimony and child support. This form should be typed or printed in black ink. After completing this form, you should sign the form before a notary public or deputy clerk. You should file the original with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where you live and keep a copy for your records. Because you are filing this petition, you are also referred to as the petitioner and your 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? For your case to proceed, you must properly notify your spouse of the petition. Because this petition concerns child support and alimony, you should use personal service. If your spouse is in the military service of the United States, additional steps for service may be required. See Memorandum for Certificate of Military Service, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.912(a) and Affidavit of Military Service, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.912(b). Service on a spouse who is in the military can be complicated; therefore, you may wish to consult an attorney regarding this issue. Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.904(a)(1), Petition for Support Unconnected with Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (02/18) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Your spouse has 20 days to answer after being served with your 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 contact the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant to set a final hearing. You must notify your spouse 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 your spouse files an answer that agrees with everything in your petition or an answer and waiver, and you have complied with mandatory disclosure and filed all of the required papers, you may contact the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant to set a final hearing. You must notify your spouse 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 your spouse files an answer or an answer and counterpetition, which disagrees with or denies anything in your 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 your spouse 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? - at the beginning of these forms. The words that are in bold underline in these instructions are defined there. For further information, see section 61.09, 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. Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.904(a)(1), Petition for Support Unconnected with Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (02/18) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 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. 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: Notice of Social Security Number, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(j). Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Affidavit, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(d), if the case involves minor or dependent child(ren). 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 petition on the respondent, if not filed at the time of the petition, unless you and the other party have agreed not to exchange these documents.) Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), if you are asking that child support