Fill and Sign the Answer Petition Form

IN THE ___________COURT OF _______________ (County), _________________ (State) _________________________ Petitioner (Name of Petitioner) V. CAUSE NO. _______,________ ___________________________ Respondent (Name of Respondent) Answer Comes now ______________________ (Name of Respondent) Respondent herein, and submits his answer and affirmative defenses to the allegations contained in the Petition filed against him herein. FIRST DEFENSE Respondent would show that the Petition fails to state a claim or cause of action against him upon which any relief can be granted. SECOND DEFENSE 1. On ________________ (date), the parties were married, and on ________________ (date of separation) , the parties were separated. 2. The parties have two minor children born of their marriage: (description of names, ages, and gender of children) __________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________. 3. Respondent would show that the following-described property should be confirmed as separate property: (description of property) _______________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________. 4. Respondent has requested court-ordered mediation to attempt a reconciliation of the parties, pursuant to (citation of statute) ____________________________. 5. Pending mediation or further proceedings in this matter, Respondent would show that he is entitled to legal custody of the parties' minor children, joint physical custody of the children, and reasonable visitation rights (depending on the resolution of custody issues). THIRD DEFENSE And now, answering the allegations of the Petition filed against him, paragraph by paragraph, Respondent would show the following: 6. Respondent admits the allegations of Paragraph I of the Petition [e.g. that Petitioner is an adult resident citizen of (street address, city, county, state, zip code)] _____________ ____________________________________________________________________________. 7. Respondent admits the allegations of Paragraph 2 of the Petition [e.g. that Respondent is an adult resident citizen of (street address, city, county, state, zip code)] ___________ ____________________________________________________________________________. 8. Respondent denies the allegations of Paragraph 3 of the Petition. WHEREFORE, now having fully answered said Petition, Respondent requests 1. That said Petition be dismissed with prejudice and that Respondent be awarded costs of this suit from Petitioner. 2. That attorney's fees and costs incurred in the above-entitled proceeding be paid by Petitioner and that Respondent be awarded child and spousal support, both pending final judgment or disposition of this proceeding, and until the children reach the age of majority. Respectfully submitted, ___________________________ Printed Name of Respondent ___________________________ Signature of Respondent CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I, __________________________ (Name of Respondent), do hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing Answer and Affirmative Defenses has been sent, via first class mail, postage prepaid, to ________________________ (Name of Petitioner) at ____________________________________________________________________________ (street address, city, county, state, zip code) . So certified, this the ______ day of ______________, 20____. ___________________________ (Printed Name of Respondent) ___________________________ (Signature of Respondent)