INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW FORM 12.981(a)(4), STEPPARENT ADOPTION: AFFIDAVIT OF DILIGENT SEARCH When should this form be used?Use this form to obtain constructive service (also called service by publication) in a proceedingfor stepparent adoption, Joint Petition for Adoption by Stepparent,O Florida SupremeCourt Approved Family Law Form 12.981(b)(1), when any required consent is unavailablebecause the address or location of the person whose consent is required is not known and cannotbe determined. This form includes a checklist of places you must look for information on the location of theperson whose rights you seek to terminate. You do have to look in all of these places, and thecourt must believe that you have made a very serious effort to get information about the personslocation and that you have followed up on any information you received. Section 63.054,Florida Statutes, requires that in each adoption a search of Floridas Putative Father Registrymust be conducted. You will need an order from the judge to do this, which you can request byfiling a Motion for Search of the Putative Father Registry, O Florida Supreme CourtApproved Family Law Form 12.981(a)(6). This form should be typed or printed in black ink. After completing this form, you should filethe original with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where your petition was filed andkeep a copy for your records. Where can I look for more information?Before proceeding, you should read General Information for Self-Represented Litigantsfound at the beginning of these forms. For further information, see rule 12.070, FloridaFamily Law Rules of Procedure and Rule 1.070, Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. Special notes...Remember, a person who is NOT an attorney is called a nonlawyer. If a nonlawyer helps you fillout these forms, that person must give you a copy of a Disclosure from Nonlawyer, O FloridaFamily Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.900(a), before he or she helps you. A nonlawyerhelping you fill out these forms also must put his or her name, address, and telephone number onthe bottom of the last page of every form he or she helps you complete.Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.981(a)(4), Petition for Stepparent Adoption: Affidavit of Diligent Search(03/04) >>>> 2 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: Division: IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF , Adoptee(s). PETITION FOR STEPPARENT ADOPTIO N: AFFIDAVIT OF DILIGENT SEARCH I, {full legal name} , being sworn, certify that the following information is true: 1. I am the child(ren)s ( ) mother ( ) father. 2. The last known address of the child(ren)s other parent {name} , as of {date} , was: Address City State Zip Telephone No. Fax No. His/her last known employment, as of {date} , was: Name of Employer Address City State Zip Telephone No. Fax No. 3. The other parent is over the age of 18. 4. The other parents current residence is not known and cannot be determined, although I have made a diligent search and inquiry to locate him/her through the following: You must search ALL of the following sources of information and state the results. United States Post Office inquiry through the Freedom of Information Act for the persons current address or any previous address. Result of search: Last known employment of the other parent, including name and address of employer. Result of search: Regulatory agencies, including professional or occupational licensing, in the area where the other parent last resided. Result of search: Names and addresses of relatives to the extent ch can be reasonablysu obtained from the petitioner or other sources, contacts with those relatives and inquiry as to the other parents last known address. You are to follow up any leads of any addresses where the other parent may have moved. Result of search: Information about the other parents possible death and, if dead, the date and location. Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.981(a)(4), Petition for Stepparent Adoption: Affidavit of Diligent Search (03/04)>>>> 3 Telephone listings in the area where the other parent last resided. Result of search: Law enforcement agencies in the area where the other parent last resided. Result of search: Highway Patrol records in the state where the other parent last resided. Result of search: Department of Corrections records in the state where the other parent last resided. Result of search: Hospitals in the last known area of the other parents residence. Result of search: Records of utility companies, which include water, sewer, cable TV, and electric in the last known area of the other parents residence. Result of search: Records of the Armed Forces of the U.S. and their response as to whether or not there is any information about the other parent. (See Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.912(a), Memorandum for Certificate of Military Service.) Result of search: Records of the tax assessors and tax collectors office in the area where the other parent last resided. Result of search: Search of one Internet databank locator service. Result of search: Title IV-D (child support enforcement) agency records in the state of the other parents last known address. Result of search: / if applies: _____ A search of the Putative Father Registry matained by the Office of Vital Statistics of thein Department of Health has been requested, and if granted, the certificate from the State Registrar will be filed in this action. I understand that I am swearing or affirming under oath to the truthfulness of the claims madein this affidavit and that the punishment for knowingly making a false statement includes fines and/orimprisonment. Dated: Signature of Petitioner Printed Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Telephone Number: Fax Number: Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.981(a)(4), Petition for Stepparent Adoption: Affidavit of Diligent Search (03/04)>>>> 4STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF Sworn to or affirmed and signed before me on by . NOTARY PUBLIC or DEPUTY CLERK pe, or stamp commissioned name of notary or [Print, type, or stamp commissioned name of notary or Personally known Produced identification Type of identification produced IF A NONLAWYER HELPED YOU FILL OUT THIS FORM, HE/SHE MUST FILL IN THE BLANKS BELOW: N fill in all blanks] I, {full legal name and trade name o