SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FAMILY COURT Domestic Relations Branch _________________________________ PRINT PLAINTIFF'S NAME _________________________________ _______DRB ___________ _________________________________ RELATED CASES: _____________________________ STREET ADDRESS CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE PLAINTIFF v. _____________________________ , _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________  SUBSTITUTE ADDRESS: CHECK BOX IF YOU  SUBSTITUTE ADDRESS: CHECK BOX IF YOU PRINT OTHER DEFENDANT'S NAME PRINT YOUR NAME STREET ADDRESS STREET ADDRESS CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE HAVE WRITTEN SOMEONE ELSE’S ADDRESS BECAUSE YOU FEAR HARASSMENT OR HARM. HAVE WRITTEN SOMEONE ELSE’S ADDRESS BECAUSE YOU FEAR HARASSMENT OR HARM. DEFENDANT #2. DEFENDANT. CONTESTED ANSWER TO COMPLAINT FOR CUSTODY AND/OR VISITATION AND COUNTERCLAIM FOR CUSTODY and/or VISITATION Action Involving Child Support  yes  no I, _________________________________, am the Defendant in this case. PRINT YOUR NAME DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Contested Answer to Complaint for Custody/Visitation & Counterclaim Page 1 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 1. The child(ren) in this case: Child’s Full Name Date of Birth Gender 2. My relationship to the child(ren) in this case: [CHECK ONE]  I am the biological or adoptive parent.  I am the caretaker. My relationship to the child(ren) is:_________________________ (e.g. grandparent, brother, aunt, etc.).  Other _______________________________________________________________. 3. The other party’s relationship to the child(ren) in this case: [CHECK ONE]  The other party is the biological or adoptive parent.  The other party is the caretaker. His/Her relationship to the child(ren) is _________________________ (e.g. grandparent, brother, aunt, etc.).  Other _______________________________________________________________. 4. The Plaintiff stated that this court was the proper place to decide the custody issues in this case and: [CHECK ONE]  I agree with that.  I disagree with that. This court is not the proper place to decide the custody issues in this case because DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Contested Answer to Complaint for Custody/Visitation & Counterclaim Page 2 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 5. The minor child(ren) currently live(s) at the following address(es) with the following person(s): Child(ren)’s Name(s) Current Address Since What Date Child(ren) Live(s) With (names) 6. Over the last five years, the child(ren) have lived in the following places, with the following persons: Child(ren)’s Name(s) Previous Address During What Dates Child(ren) Lived With (name and current address) 7. The following people, who are not parties to this case, have physical custody of, or claim rights of legal or physical custody of, or visitation with the child(ren): Name(s) DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Current Address(es) Contested Answer to Complaint for Custody/Visitation & Counterclaim Page 3 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 8. I state the following about other cases involving the child(ren): [CHECK ONE]  There are no other cases concerning custody of, or visitation with, the child(ren), and there are no other cases that could affect this proceeding.  The following cases concern custody of, or visitation with, the child(ren), or could affect this proceeding (e.g., divorce, child support, domestic violence, neglect, etc.) COURT CASE NO. CASE TYPE DATE OF DETERMINATION ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9.  I was  I was not a party or witness or participant of any kind in any other proceeding concerning the custody of or visitation with the child(ren). 10. Legal Custody. I am a fit and proper person to have legal custody of the minor child(ren) and make decisions about their well-being, and I believe that it is in the best interest of the minor child(ren) that I be awarded: [CHECK ONE]  joint legal custody  sole legal custody 11. Physical Custody. I am a fit and proper person to have physical custody of the minor child(ren) and to have responsibility and control of the child(ren), and I believe that it is in the best interest of the minor child(ren) that I be awarded: [CHECK ONE]  joint physical custody  sole physical custody  visitation 12. The presumption in favor of joint custody does not apply in this case because: [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY] There has been domestic violence. There has been child abuse. There has been child neglect. There has been parental kidnapping. AND/OR  Joint custody is not in the best interest of the child(ren).     DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Contested Answer to Complaint for Custody/Visitation & Counterclaim Page 4 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 13. I state the following about visitation: [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]  We can work out a visitation schedule on our own.  We need a specific schedule of visitation.  Any visitation should be supervised because  The other party should not receive any visitation because 14. I state the following about child support: [CHECK ONE]  I am  I am not seeking child support on behalf of the child(ren). Request for Relief I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST that the Court: [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY]  Deny the other party’s request for custody and/or visitation.  Grant me:  sole  joint  Grant me: PHYSICAL CUSTODY  sole  joint LEGAL CUSTODY  Allow _____________________ to visit with the child(ren). NAME  Allow only supervised visitation.  Allow no visitation.  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)  health insurance DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Contested Answer to Complaint for Custody/Visitation & Counterclaim Page 5 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com  Hold a hearing on my request for child support within 45 days of filing and issue a Notice of Hearing and Order Directing Appearance (“NOHODA”) to the other party with the date and time of the hearing.  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. 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 criminal penalties for the making of a false statement that I have read the foregoing Contested Answer to Complaint for Custody and/or Visitation and Counterclaim for Custody and/or Visitation and that the factual statements made in it are 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) Contested Answer to Complaint for Custody/Visitation & 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 v. _______DRB ___________ PLAINTIFF, _________________________________ PRINT DEFENDANT’S NAME DEFENDANT. RULE 5 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I certify that I served a copy of my Contested Answer to Complaint for Custody and/or Visitation 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 # CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE _____________________________ SIGN YOUR NAME DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) _____________________________ DATE (mm/dd/yyyy) Contested Answer to Complaint for Custody/Visitation & Counterclaim Page 7 of 7 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com