INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA FAMILY LAW FORM 12.983(c), ANSWER TO PETITION AND COUNTERPETITION TO DETERMINE PATERNITY AND FOR RELATED RELIEF (11/15) When should this form be used? This form should be used when you are responding to a petition to determine paternity and asking the court for something different than what was in the petition, such as parental responsibility, time-sharing, and child support. The answer is used to admit or deny the allegations contained in the petition, and the counterpetition is used to ask for whatever you want the court to do for you. The other party has 20 days to answer your counterpetition after being served with your counterpetition. This form should be typed or printed in black ink. After completing this form, you should sign the form before a notary public or deputy clerk. You should then file the original with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the petition was 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 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. Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.983(c), Answer to Petition and Counterpetition to Determine Paternity and for Related Relief (11/15) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com What should I do next? You have 20 days to file an answer or answer and counterpetition to the other party's petition. A copy of this form, along with all of the other forms required with this answer and counterpetition, must be mailed or hand delivered to the other party in your case. If you deny that the person named in the petition is the child(ren)'s father, a Motion for Scientific Paternity Testing Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.983(e), should be filed. This is used to ask the court to order a scientific test to determine who is the child(ren)'s father. After you file an answer and counterpetition, the case will then generally proceed as follows: UNCONTESTED. This case is uncontested if you and the other party agree on all issues raised in the petition and the counterpetition. If this is the case, and you and the other party have complied with mandatory disclosure and filed all of the required papers, either party may call the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant to set a final hearing. If you request the hearing, you must notify the other party of the hearing by using a Notice of Hearing (General), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.923, or other appropriate notice of hearing form. CONTESTED. This case is contested if you and the other party disagree on any issues raised in the petition or counterpetition. If you are unable to settle the disputed issues, either party may file a Notice for Trial, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.924, after you have complied with mandatory disclosure and filed all of the required papers. Some circuits may require the completion of mediation before a final hearing may be set. You should contact the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant for instructions on how to set your case for trial (final hearing). Where can I look for more information? Before proceeding, you should read General Information for Self-Represented Litigants for some basic information. The words that are in bold underline in these instructions are defined there. For further information, see chapter 742, Florida Statutes. Special notes... If the child(ren)'s father signed papers at the hospital acknowledging that he was the father, paternity was established as a matter of law. This should be indicated on page 2, section 10a of the counterpetition part of this form. With this answer, you must file the following: Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Affidavit, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(d). Notice of Social Security Number Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(j). Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c). (This must be filed within 45 days of service of the petition on you if not filed with this answer.) Certificate of Compliance with Mandatory Disclosure Florida Family Law Ru