Rule 17.100--Form 116: General Answer to a Petition Respondent must file an Answer within 20 days after receiving the Petition and Original Notice, or the court may enter a judgment against Respondent giving Petitioner what he or she asked for in the Petition. If the Petition you received is on form 101, use form 115 for your Answer. Read the Guide to Representing Yourself in an Iowa Divorce Case on the Iowa Judicial Branch website before using this form. If filing electronically and you include protected information on this form, fill out or update the Protected Information Disclosure form (111). If filing in paper, you may use form 111 to provide any protected information in full. If you do not understand how to use this form, or if you should use this form, talk to an attorney. In the Iowa District Court for County where Petition is filed County Upon the Petition of Equity case no. General Answer to a Petition Petitioner Your spouse's full name: first, middle, last and concerning Respondent Your full name: first, middle, last 1. Respondent's Answer You are Respondent. A. Respondent admits that the following paragraphs in the Petition are true: List the numbers of the paragraphs in the Petition that you think are true. If you decide later that the paragraphs you list here are not true, it may be too late to change your answer. B. Respondent denies that the following paragraphs in the Petition are true: List the numbers of the paragraphs in the Petition that you think are false. C. Respondent does not know whether the following paragraphs in the Petition are true: List the numbers of the paragraphs in the Petition that you are not sure about. If you cannot say a paragraph or a part of a paragraph is true or not true, it may be because you do not know something, such as a date, place, or when something happened. Continued on next page November 2013 Rule 17.100--Form 116 Page 1 of 3 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Rule 17.100--Form 116: General Answer to a Petition, continued D. Protective or no contact orders Check one (1) (2) There is neither a "protective order" nor a "no contact order" between Respondent (you) and Petitioner (your spouse). There is a "protective order" or "no contact order" between Respondent and Petitioner. If you check (2), fill in the following information: a. County and state where the order came from: County b. Court case number: State E. Respondent denies anything in the Petition that is not admitted in this Answer. F. Other information: 2. Respondent's Request If you do not know what you want, talk to an attorney. Respondent asks the court to: Write here what you would like the court to do. For example, tell the court if you want a divorce. Be brief. Do not write long descriptions. Continued on next page November 2013 Rule 17.100--Form 116 Page 2 of 3 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Rule 17.100--Form 116: General Answer to a Petition, continued 3. Attorney Help Check one A. B. An attorney did not help me prepare or fill in this paper. An attorney helped me prepare or fill in this paper. If you check B, you must fill in the following information: Name of attorney or organization, if any Attorney's P.I.N. # ­ Ask the attorney Business address of attorney or organization City State ZIP code ( ) ( ) Attorney's email address ­ optional Attorney's phone number Attorney's fax number ­ optional 4. Service Instructions If Respondent is filing in paper Check one A. B. Respondent will accept service of documents at the attorney's address listed above; or Respondent will accept service of documents in this case at the mailing address below. 5. Certification of Service by Mailing or Delivery Section 5 to be completed only if filing in paper or if the other party is exempt from electronic filing. This document, if filed electronically, will automatically be served on registered parties. I, Print your name , certify that on Month Day , 20 Year I mailed or gave a copy of this Answer to the other party or the other party's attorney at this address: Name of person to whom I delivered or mailed it Party's or attorney's mailing address City State ZIP code 6. Oath and Signature I, Print your name , have read this Answer, and I certify under penalty of perjury and pursuant to the laws of the State of Iowa that the information I have provided in this Answer is true and correct. , 20 Signed on: Month Day Year City Email address Your signature* State ZIP code Mailing address ( ) Phone number Additional email address, if applicable * Whether filing electronically or in paper, you must handwrite your signature on this form. If you are filing electronically, scan the form after signing it and then file electronically Important Instructions for filing this form on next page. November 2013 Rule 17.100--Form 116 Page 3 of 3 American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com Instructions for Rule 17.100--Form 116: General Answer to a Petition, continued Do not file these instructions Instructions for Filing an Answer to a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage The Iowa Judicial Branch is converting the court system to electronic filing county by county. The electronic filing system is also known as EDMS. To determine if this case is in a county using electronic filing, check the map available on the Iowa Judicial Branch website under eFiling, or call the clerk of court office in your county. If your county accepts electronic filing, you must file electronically unless you get permission from the court to file in paper. Contact the clerk of court in your county if you are unable to file electronically. Filing your Answer electronically · If your divorce case was filed in a county that uses electronic filing, you must register to electronically file. For help with registration, see the eFiler's User Guide How to Register Pro Se (Self Represented) for eFiling on the Iowa Judicial Branch website. Scan the signed Answer form and save it as a .pdf. (Save it in a place that will be accessible to you when you electronically file.) Log in to EDMS on the Iowa Judicial Branch website and file your Answer. The login page can be accessed from two different paths: you may directly log in to EDMS; or from the judicial branch website menu, you may select "eFiling > eFile (EDMS) Login." For help, see How to eFile to an Existing Case. You will receive a Notice of Electronic Filing (NEF) when the clerk of court has approved the eFiling of your Answer and other documents. You ca