INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW FORM 12.922(c), MOTION TO SET ASIDE DEFAULT OR DEFAULT JUDGMENT (11/15) When should this form be used? If a default or default judgment has been entered against you, and you believe, because of a mistake, inadvertence, excusable neglect, newly discovered evidence, or fraud, that it should not have been entered against you, you can use this form to request that the court set aside the default or default judgment. 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 file the original with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the default was entered 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. What should I do next? After you file this form with the clerk and serve a copy on the other party in the case, you must schedule a hearing so that the court can consider your motion. You should contact the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant to schedule a hearing. Once you have scheduled the hearing date and time, you will need to complete and send out a notice for that hearing. To do so, use Notice of Hearing (General), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.923, or other appropriate notice of hearing form. 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 Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.922(c), Motion to Set Aside Default or Default Judgment (11/15) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 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. Where can I look for more information? Before proceeding, you should read General Information for Self-Represented Litigants found at the beginning of these forms. For further information, see Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.540, and Florida Rules of Civil Procedure 1.500(d) and 1.540(d). 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 12.922(c), Motion to Set Aside Default or Default Judgment (11/15) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE _______________________ JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR ________________________ COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: ___________________________ ___ Division: __________________________________________________________________________________ ________ __________________________________, Petitioner, and __________________________________, Respondent, MOTION TO SET ASIDE DEFAULT OR DEFAULT JUDGMENT I, {full legal name} _______________________________________, request that the Court enter an order to set aside the _____ Default _____ Default Judgment entered against me and that I be given the opportunity to present my views. The Court should do this because: 1. I became aware of this Default/Default Judgment on {date} _______________________ 2. I found out about this in the following manner {explain how you found out}: __________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. I did not answer or appear at the hearing because: ____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________