SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FAMILY COURT Domestic Relations Branch _________________________________ PRINT YOUR SPOUSE’S NAME _________________________________ STREET ADDRESS _________________________________ CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE _______DRB ___________ PLAINTIFF v. , RELATED CASES: __________________________ _________________________________ PRINT YOUR NAME __________________________ _________________________________ STREET ADDRESS _________________________________ CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE  SUBSTITUTE ADDRESS: CHECK BOX IF YOU HAVE WRITTEN SOMEONE ELSE’S ADDRESS BECAUSE YOU FEAR HARASSMENT OR HARM. DEFENDANT. CONTESTED ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR ABSOLUTE DIVORCE AND COUNTERCLAIM Action Involving Child Support  yes  no I, _______________________________, am the Defendant in this case. PRINT YOUR NAME 1. Plaintiff stated that this court was the proper place to decide the divorce and related issues in this case and:  I agree with that.  I disagree with that. This court is not the proper place to decide the divorce and related issues in this case because DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Absolute Divorce (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 1 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 2. With regard to my marriage to my spouse, I answer and state that: [CHECK ONE]  I agree with my spouse’s statement about how, when and where we were married.  I disagree with my spouse’s statement. My spouse and I were married [CHECK ONE]  by ceremony on _________, in ______________________________. DATE CITY AND STATE  by common law on or about ________ , in _______________________. DATE CITY AND STATE 3. With regard to my separation from my spouse, I answer and state that: [CHECK ONE]  I agree with my spouse’s statement about when we separated  I disagree with my spouse’s statement. My spouse and I were separated on or about _______________________. DATE 4. I state the following with regard to my married name: [CHECK ONE]  I did not change my name when I married my spouse.  I changed my name when I married my spouse. I do not wish to return to a former name.  I changed my name when I married my spouse and I now wish to return to my birth name or another legal name I used before my marriage. I have no illegal or fraudulent reason for making this request. The former name I want restored is: ________________________________________________________ PRINT NAME YOU WOULD LIKE THE COURT TO RESTORE Marital Property & Marital Debt 5. With regard to property from my marriage, I answer and state that: [CHECK ONE]  I agree with my spouse’s statement about marital property. DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Absolute Divorce (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 2 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com  I disagree with my spouse’s statement about marital property and state the following: [CHECK ONE]  My spouse and I have no marital property.  My spouse and I have an agreement resolving all of our marital property issues and I am not asking the Court to divide or distribute any marital property.  My spouse and I have a written agreement resolving all of our marital property issues and I am not asking the Court to divide or distribute any marital property.  My spouse and I have marital property that I am asking the Court to divide or distribute, and I have completed and attached the additional information required on Attachment A, which I incorporate into this Contested Answer to Complaint for Absolute Divorce and Counterclaim.  I am not sure if my spouse and I have marital property. 6. With regard to debt from my marriage, I answer and state that: [CHECK ONE]  I agree with my spouse’s statement about marital debt.  I disagree with my spouse’s statement about marital debt and state the following: [CHECK ONE]  My spouse and I have no marital debt.  My spouse and I have an agreement resolving all of our marital debt issues and I am not asking the Court to assign responsibility for it.  My spouse and I have a written agreement resolving all of our marital debt issues and I am not asking the Court to assign responsibility for it.  My spouse and I have marital debt that I am asking the Court to assign responsibility for, and I have completed and attached the additional information required on Attachment A, which I incorporate into this Contested Answer to Complaint for Absolute Divorce and Counterclaim.  I am not sure if my spouse and I have marital debt. DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Absolute Divorce (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 3 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Alimony 7. With regard to my spouse’s statement about financial support, I answer and state that: [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]  I agree with my spouse’s statement about permanent and/or temporary financial support.  I disagree with my spouse’s statement about permanent and/or temporary financial support.  I further state that I need permanent and/or temporary financial support and I believe that my spouse has the ability to pay alimony to me. Custody 8. With regard to my spouse’s statement about children of this marriage, I answer and state that: [CHECK ONE]  I agree with my spouse’s statement about custody.  I disagree with my spouse’s statement about custody, and I have completed and attached the additional information required on Attachment B, which I incorporate into this Contested Answer to Complaint for Absolute Divorce and Counterclaim. Child Support 9. With regard to my spouse’s request for child support, I answer and state that: [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]  I agree with my spouse’s statement about child support.  I disagree with my spouse’s statement about child support.  I further state that I am asking the Court to award child support to me, and I have completed and attached the additional information required on Attachment C, which I incorporate into this Contested Answer to Complaint for Absolute Divorce and Counterclaim. DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Absolute Divorce (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 4 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Attachments 10. I further state that in support of my Contested Answer to Complaint for Absolute Divorce and Counterclaim, I have included the following attachment(s): [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]     No attachments Attachment A (Marital Property and Marital Debt) Attachment B (Custody) Attachment C (Child Support) Request for Relief I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST that the Court: [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]  Grant  Deny my spouse’s request for an Absolute Divorce.  Divide marital property and/or assign marital debts in a manner that is equitable, just and reasonable.  Award alimony in a manner that is fair and just, including: [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]  temporary alimony  permanent alimony  Award custody in the best interests of the child(ren).  Hold a hearing on any request for child support within 45 days of filing and issue a Notice of Hearing and Order Directing Appearance (“NOHODA”) to the other parent with the date and time of the hearing.  Award child support according to the Child Support Guideline of the District of Columbia and other applicable laws, including: [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]  current child support (support starting today and continuing into the future)  retroactive child support (support for time before today)  medical support  Note that we have a written agreement. I request that the Court: [CHECK ONE]  include our written agreement as a part of its order.  not include our written agreement as a part of its order.  Restore me to my former name. DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Absolute Divorce (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 5 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com I ALSO REQUEST that the Court award any other relief it considers fair and proper. [CHECK ONE]  I do not know of any proceedings in the District of Columbia or in any state or territory involving the same claim or subject matter as this case.  I do know of proceedings in the District of Columbia or in any state or territory involving the same claim or subject matter as this case, as listed on the first page of this Complaint (“Related Cases”). I solemnly swear or affirm under c riminal penalties for the m aking of a false statem ent that I have read the foregoing Contested Answer to Complaint for Absolute Divorce and Counterclaim and that the factual statem ents made in it ar e true to the best of my personal knowledge, information and belief. Respectfully Submitted, ____________________________________ SIGN YOUR NAME ____________________________________ DATE (mm/dd/yyyy) ____________________________________ STREET ADDRESS ____________________________________ CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE ____________________________________ TELEPHONE NUMBER  SUBSTITUTE ADDRESS: CHECK BOX IF YOU HAVE WRITTEN SOMEONE ELSE’S ADDRESS BECAUSE YOU FEAR HARASSMENT OR HARM. DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Absolute Divorce (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 6 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FAMILY COURT Domestic Relations Branch _________________________________ PRINT PLAINTIFF’S NAME PLAINTIFF, v. _______DRB ___________ _________________________________ PRINT DEFENDANT’S NAME DEFENDANT. RULE 5 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I certify that I served a copy of my Contested Answer to Complaint for Absolute Divorce and Counterclaim to the other party or the other party’s attorney on __________________. DATE OF SERVICE The papers were delivered: [CHECK ONE]  by handing them to the other party.  by first class mail:  by fax:  by leaving a copy at the other party’s workplace with a clerk or person in charge, or because there was no one in charge, by leaving it in a conspicuous place:  by leaving a copy at the other party’s home with a person of suitable age and discretion who lives there: _____________________________________________________________ PRINT NAME OF PERSON SERVED WITH PAPERS _____________________________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS/FAX # _____________________________ SIGN YOUR NAME DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE _____________________________ DATE (mm/dd/yyyy) Complaint for Absolute Divorce (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 7 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com