COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FAMILY COURT Domestic Relations Branch ________________________________________ PRINT YOUR SPOUSE’S NAME ________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS ________________________________________ CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE PLAINTIFF v. , DR _____________________ 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 LEGAL SEPARATION AND COUNTERCLAIM I, _______________________________, am the Defendant in this case. PRINT YOUR NAME 1. With regard to this Court’s authority to decide my spouse’s request for legal separation and related issues, I answer and state that [CHECK ONE] I agree with m y spouse’s statem ent that this Court has the authority to decide my spouse’s request for legal separation and related issues. I disagree with my spouse’s statement that this Court has the authority to decide my spouse’s request for legal separation and related issues. DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Legal Separation (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 1 of 8 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 about how, when and where we were married. 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 about when we separated. 4. With regard to my spouse’s married name, I answer and state that [CHECK ONE] I agree with my spouse’s statement about his or her name change. I disagree with my spouse’s statement about his or her name change. I further state that I changed my name when I married my spouse and I now wish to return to my birth name or another legal na me I used befo re my marriage. I hav e no illegal or fraudulent reason for making this request. The former name I want restored is: _______________________________________________________________________. PRINT THE FORMER 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, and I agree with all of my spouse’s statements on Attachment A. I disagree with my spouse’s statement about marital property and further state that I have completed and attached the additional information required on Attachm ent A, which I incorporate into this Answer and Counterclaim. 6. With regard to debt from my marriage, I answer and state that [CHECK ONE] I agree with my spouse’s statement that we have m arital debt that we are ask ing the Court to assign, and I agree with all of my spouse’s statements on Attachment A. DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Legal Separation (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 2 of 8 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com I disagree with m y spouse’s statem ent about m arital debt and further state that I have completed and attached the additional information required on Attachment A, which I incorporate into this Answer and Counterclaim. Alimony 7. With regard to my spouse’s statement about temporary financial support, I answer and state that [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY] I agree with my spouse’s statement about temporary financial support. I disagree with my spouse’s statement about temporary financial support at this time and will file an “Oppo sition to Motion for Temporary Alimony” if my spouse files a separate motion requesting temporary alimony. I further state that I need temporary financial support and will file a separate motion (“Motion for Temporary Alimony”) asking the Court to grant this request. 8. With regard to my spouse’s statement about alimony, I answer and state that [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY] I agree with my spouse’s statement about alimony. I disagree with my spouse’s statement about his or her need for alim ony and/or I disagree that I have the ability to pay alimony. I further state that I need alim ony from my spouse and I believe m y spouse has the ability to pay alimony to me. Custody 9. 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 m y spouse’s statem ent about custody, and I have com pleted and attached the additional infor mation required on Attachm ent B, which I i ncorporate into this Answer and Counterclaim. DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Legal Separation (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 3 of 8 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Child Support 10. With regard to my spouse’s statement about my legal obligation to contribute to the support of our eligible child(ren), including any adult disabled children, I answer and state that [CHECK ONE] I agree with my spouse’s statement about my legal obligation. I disagree with my spouse’s statement about my legal obligation. 11. 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, and I have completed and attached the additional infor mation required on Attachm ent C, which I i ncorporate into this Answer and Counterclaim. I further state that I a m asking the Court to award child support to m e, and I have completed and attached the additional information required on Attachm ent C, wh ich I incorporate into this Answer and Counterclaim. Attachments 12. With regard to my spouse’s statement that he or she included attachment(s) to his or her Complaint for Legal Separation, I answer and state that [CHECK ONE] I agree with my spouse’s statement about attachments. I disagree with my spouse’s statement about attachments. 13. I further state that in support of my Answer and Counterclaim, I have included the following attachment(s): No attachments Attachment A (Marital Property and Marital Debt) Attachment B (Custody) Attachment C (Child Support) DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Legal Separation (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 4 of 8 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Request for Relief I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST that [CHECK ALL THAT APPLY] The Court grant my spouse’s request for a Legal Separation. deny my spouse’s request for a Legal Separation. The Court divide m arital property and/or assign m arital debt in a m anner that is equitable, just and reasonable. The Court award alimony in a manner that is fair and just. The Court award custody in the best interests of the child(ren). The Court deny my spouse’s request for child support according to the Child Support Guideline of the District of Columbia and other applicable laws. The Court hold a hearing on an y request for child support within 45 days of filing and issue a Notice of Hearing and Order Directing Appearance (“NHODA”) to the other parent with the date and time of the hearing. The Court award child support according to the Child Support Guideline o f the District of Columbia and other applicable laws, including: current child support (support starting today and continuing into the future) retroactive child support (support for time before today) medical support The Court include our Settlement Agreement as a part of its order. not include our Settlement Agreement as a part of its order. The Court restore me to my former name. grant my spouse’s request to be restored to his or her former name. I ALSO REQUEST that the Court award any other relief it considers fair and proper. DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Legal Separation (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 5 of 8 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com [CHECK ONE] I do not know of any proceedings in the District of Colu mbia or in any state or territory involving the same claim or subject matter as this case. I do know of proceedings in th e District of Columbia or in any state or territory involvin g the same claim or subject m atter as this case, as listed o n the f irst page of this Complaint (“Related Cases”). Respectfully Submitted, ____________________________________ SIGN YOUR NAME ___________________________________________ 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. I, _________________________________, solemnly swear or affir m under criminal penalties for the m aking of a false s tatement that I ha ve read the foregoin g Contested Answer to Complaint for Legal Separation and Counterclaim a nd that the factual statem ents made in it are true to the best of my personal knowledge, information and belief. ___________________________________ SIGN YOUR NAME ______________________________ DATE ___________________________________ PRINT YOUR NAME DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Legal Separation (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 6 of 8 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FAMILY COURT ________________________________________ PRINT PETITIONER’S/PLAINTIFF’S NAME v. PETITIONER/PLAINTIFF, Case No. ___________________ _________________________________ PRINT RESPONDENT’S/DEFENDANT’S NAME RESPONDENT/DEFENDANT. RULE 5 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SERVED THE OTHER PARTY, YOU CAN FIL L OUT AN D FILE THIS CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE ON THE SAME DAY YOU FILE YOUR PAPERS. IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY SERVED THE OTHER PARTY, YOU MUST FILL OUT AND FILE THIS CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE AFTER YOU SERVE THE OTHER PARTY. I certify that I served a copy of my Contested Answer to Complaint for Legal Separation and Counterclaim to the other party or the other party’s attorney on ______________________. PRINT DATE OF SERVICE The papers were delivered [CHECK ONE] by handing it to the other party by first class mail to: ________________________________________________________________________ PRINT NAME OF PERSON SERVED WITH PAPERS ________________________________________________________________________ CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE STREET ADDRESS DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) Complaint for Legal Separation (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 7 of 8 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com by fax to: ________________________________________________________________________ PRINT NAME OF PERSON SERVED WITH PAPERS ________________________________________________________________________ FAX NUMBER 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: ________________________________________________________________________ PRINT NAME OF PERSON SERVED WITH PAPERS ________________________________________________________________________ CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE STREET ADDRESS 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 ________________________________________________________________________ CITY, STATE AND ZIP CODE STREET ADDRESS _____________________________ SIGN YOUR NAME DC Bar Pro Bono Program (revised 9-2011) _____________________________ DATE Complaint for Legal Separation (Contested Answer and Counterclaim) Page 8 of 8 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com