American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Form 12.912(a) and Affidavit of Military Service, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.912(b). Service on a spouse who is in the military can be complicated; therefore, you may wish to consult an attorney regarding this issue. Your spouse has 20 days to answer after being served with your petition. Your case will then generally proceed in one of the following three ways: DEFAULT. If after 20 days, no answer has been filed, you may file a Motion for Default, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.922(a), with the clerk of court. Then, if you have filed all of the required papers, you may contact the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant to set a final hearing. You must notify your spouse 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. UNCONTESTED. If your spouse files an answer that agrees with everything in your petition or an answer and waiver, and you have complied with mandatory disclosure and filed all of the required papers, you may contact the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant to set a final hearing. You must notify your spouse 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. If your spouse files an answer or an answer and counterpetition, which disagrees with or denies anything in your petition, and you are unable to settle the disputed issues, you should 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. Then you should contact the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant for instructions on how to set your case for trial (final hearing). If your spouse files an answer and counterpetition, you should answer the counterpetition within 20 days using an Answer to Counterpetition, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(d). Where can I look for more information? - at the beginning of these forms. The words that are in bold underline in these instructions are defined there. For further information, see section 61.09, Florida Statutes. 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 Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.904(a)(2), Petition for Support and Parenting Plan Unconnected with Dissolution of Marriage (02/18) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 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. Special notes... If you do not have the money to pay the filing fee, you may obtain an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status from the clerk, fill it out, and the clerk will determine whether you are eligible to have filing fees deferred. With this form you must also file the following: Notice of Social Security Number, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(j).Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Affidavit, Florida SupremeCourt Approved Family Law Form 12.902(d), if the case involves minor or dependentchild(ren).Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c).Certificate of Compliance with Mandatory Disclosure, Florida Family Law Rules of ProcedureForm 12.932. (This must be filed within 45 days of service of the petition on the respondent, ifnot filed at the time of the petition, unless you and the other party have agreed not to exchangethese documents.)Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), ifyou are asking that child support be ordered in the final judgment. (If you do not know your served on you.)Parenting Plan, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.995(a), (b), or (c). If theparents have reached an agreement, a signed and notarized Parenting Plan should be attached.If the parents have not reached an agreement, a proposed Parenting Plan may be filed.Alimony. Alimony may be awarded to a spouse if the judge finds that one spouse has an actual need for it and that the other spouse has the ability to pay. If you want alimony, you must request it in writing in the original petition. If you do not request alimony in writing before the final hearing, it is waived (you may not request it later). You may request permanent alimony, bridge-Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.904(a)(2), Petition for Support and Parenting Plan Unconnected with Dissolution of Marriage (02/18) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com the-gap alimony, durational alimony, and/or rehabilitative alimony. If alimony is awarded, the judge may order periodic payments, payments in lump sum, or both. Child Support. Both parents are required to provide financial support for their minor or dependent children; however, the court may order one parent to pay child support to the other parent. Florida has adopted guidelines for determining the amount of child support to be paid. These guidelines are based on the combined income of both parents and take into account the financial contributions of both parents and the number of overnights the child(ren) spend with each parent. You must file a Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c), and your spouse will be required to do the same. From your financial affidavits, you should be able to calculate the amount of child support that should be paid using the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e). Because the child support guidelines take several factors into consideration, change over time, and vary from state to state, your child support obligation may be more or less than that of other people in seemingly similar situations. Parenting Plan and Time-Sharing. If you and your spouse are unable to agree on parenting arrangements and a time-sharing schedule, a judge will decide for you as part of establishing a Parenting Plan. The judge will decide the parenting arrangements and time-sharing based on the Regardless of whether there is an agreement, the court reserves jurisdiction to modify issues relating to the minor child(ren). The judge may request a parenting plan recommendation or appoint a guardian ad litem in your cas