INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW FORM 12.981(a)(1) STEPPARENT ADOPTION: CONSENT AND WAIVER BY PARENT (11/15) When should this form be used? This form is to be completed and signed by the parent who is giving up all rights to, custody of, and time-sharing with the minor child to be adopted. This consent shall not be executed before the birth of the minor child. For more information about consenting to adoption, you should refer to Chapter 63, Florida Statutes, and sections 63.062 - 63.082, Florida Statutes, in particular. This form should be typed or printed in black ink. It must be signed in the presence of a notary public or deputy clerk and two witnesses other than the notary or clerk. You should file this form with the Joint Petition for Adoption by Stepparent, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.981(b)(1). After completing this form, you should hand deliver a copy or duplicate original to the parent giving consent and have them sign the original saying they received a copy. Then you should file the original with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the Joint Petition for Adoption by Stepparent, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.981(b)(1) is filed and keep a copy for your records. 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. 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. 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 Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.981(a)(1), Stepparent Adoption: Consent and Waiver by Parent (11/15) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 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... Remember, a person who is NOT an attorney is called a nonlawyer. If a nonlawyer helps you fill out these forms, that person must give you a copy of Disclosure from Nonlawyer, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.900 (a), before he or she helps you. A nonlawyer helping you fill out these forms also must put his or her name, address, and telephone number on the 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)(1), Stepparent Adoption: Consent and Waiver by Parent (11/15) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE ___________________________ JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR __________________ COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: ________________________________ Division: _________________________________ IN THE MATTER OF THE ADOPTION OF {use name to be given to minor child(ren)} Adoptee(s). CONSENT AND WAIVER BY PARENT 1. I, {full legal name} ________________________________________________, am the {Choose only one} _____ father or _____ mother of the minor child(ren) subject to this consent who is/are: Birthplace {city, county, state} ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Child's Current Name Gender Birth date a. b. c. d. e. f. 2. I relinquish all rights to, custody of, and time sharing with this (these) minor child(ren), {name(s)}, _____________________________________________________________________________________ with full knowledge of the legal effect of the stepparent adoption and consent to the adoption by the child(ren)'s stepparent whose name is: {Choose only one} _____ {name} _________________________________________ _____ not required for my granting of this consent. 3. I understand my legal rights as a parent and I understand that I do not have to sign this consent and release of my parental rights. I acknowledge that this consent is being given knowingly, freely, and voluntarily. I further acknowledge that my consent is not given under fraud or duress. I understand that there is a "grace period" in Florida during which I may revoke my consent. If the child to be adopted is older than 6 months at the time of consent, this grace period is