Fill and Sign the Answer Waiver Form

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW FORM 12.903(a) ANSWER, WAIVER, AND REQUEST FOR COPY OF FINAL JUDGMENT OF DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE (02/18) When should this form be used? This form should be used when you have been served with a petition for dissolution of marriage and you do not wish to contest it or appear at a hearing . If you file this form, you are admittin all of the alle ations in the petition , sayin that you do not need to be notified of or appear at the fnal hearing , and that you would like a copy of the fnal judgment mailed to you. This form should be typed or printed in black ink, and your si nature should be witnessed by a notary public or deputy clerk . After completin this form, you should si n the form before a notary public. You should fle the ori inal with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the petition was filed and keep a copy for your records. The person filin the petition in a dissolution of marria e proceedin is also referred to as the petitioner and his or her spouse as the respondent. IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING E-FILING The Florida Rules of Judicial Administration now require that all petitions, pleadin s, and documents be filed electronically except in certain circumstances. Self-represented litigants may fle petitions or other pleadings or documents electronically; however, they are not required to do so. If you choose to file your pleadin s 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? You have 20 days to answer after bein served with your spouse’s petition. A copy of this form, alon with all of the other forms required with this answer and waiver , must be mailed, e-mailed, or hand delivered to your spouse. IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING E-SERVICE ELECTION Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Jud ment of Dissolution of Marria e (02/18) After the initial service of process of the petition or supplemental petition by the Sherif 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 receivin pleadin s by electronic mail (e-mail), or throu h the Florida Courts E- Filin Portal, you must review Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.516. You may find this rule at www.flcourts.or throu h the link to the Rules of Judicial Administration provided under either Family Law Forms: Gettin 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 liti ant 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 desi nate your e-mail addresses by usin 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 si nature appears. Please CAREFULLY read the rules and instructions for: Certifcate 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. The words that are in bold underline in these instructions are defined there. For further information, see chapter 61, Florida Statutes. Special notes... With this form, you may also file the followin :  Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Affidavit , Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(d), if the case involves a dependent or minor child(ren).  Child Support Guidelines Worksheet , Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), if the case involves a dependent or minor Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Jud ment of Dissolution of Marria e (02/18) child(ren). (If you do not know your spouse’s income, you may file this worksheet after your spouse’s financial aadavit has been served on you).  Marital Settlement Agreement for Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Child(ren) , Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(f)(1), or Marital Settlement Agreement for Dissolution of Marriage with No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) , Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(f)(2), if you have reached an a reement on any or all of the issues.  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 at the time you file this answer.)  Certifcate of Compliance with Mandatory Disclosure , Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.932. (This must be filed within 45 days of service of the petition on you, if not filed at the time you file this answer, unless you and the other party have a reed not to exchan e these documents.) Parenting Plan and Time-Sharing. By filin this answer and waiver, you are a reein to any parentin plan and time-sharin requests in the petition. The jud e may request a parenting plan recommendation or appoint a guardian ad litem in your case. This means that a neutral person will review your situation and report to the jud e concernin parentin issues. The purpose of such intervention is to be sure that the best interests of the child(ren) is (are) bein served. For more information, you may consult section 61.13, Florida Statutes. A parenting course must be completed prior to entry of a final jud ment. You should contact the clerk, family law intake staf, or judicial assistant about requirements for parentin courses where you live. Listed below are some terms with which you should become familiar before completin your answer to the petition. If you do not fully understand any of the terms below or their implications, you should speak with an attorney before going any further.  Shared Parental Responsibility  Sole Parental Responsibility  Supervised Time-Sharing  No contact  Parenting Plan  Parenting Plan Recommendation  Time-Sharing Schedule Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Jud ment of Dissolution of Marria e (02/18) Child Support. By filin this answer and waiver, you are a reein to any requests for child support in the petition. Both parents are required to provide fnancial support for their minor or dependent child(ren); however, the court may order one parent to pay child support to the other parent. Florida has adopted uidelines for determinin the amount of child support to be paid. These uidelines are based on the combined income of both parents and take into account the financial contributions of both parents and the number of overni hts 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 aadavits, you should be able to calculate the amount of child support that should be paid usin the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet , Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e). Because the child support uidelines take several factors into consideration, chan e over time, and vary from state to state, your child support obli ation may be more or less than that of other people in seemin ly similar situations. Alimony. By filin this answer and waiver, you are a reein to any requests for alimony in the petition. Alimony may be awarded to a spouse if the jud e finds that one spouse has an actual need for it and also finds that the other spouse has the ability to pay. If you want alimony, you must request it in writing in a counterpetition and should not use this form. If you do not request alimony in writing before the fnal hearing, it is waived (you may not request it later). You may request permanent alimony , bridge-the-gap alimony, durational alimony, , and/or rehabilitative alimony . If alimony is awarded, the jud e may order periodic payments, payments in lump sum, or both. Marital/Nonmarital Assets and Liabilities. Florida law requires an equitable distribution of marital assets and marital liabilities . “Equitable” does not necessarily mean “equal.” Many factors, includin child support, time- sharin and alimony awards, may lead the court to make an unequal (but still equitable) distribution of assets and liabilities. Nonmarital assets and nonmarital liabilities are those assets and liabilities which the parties a ree or the court determines belon to, or are the responsibility of, only one of the parties. By filin this answer and waiver, you are a reein to any requests in the petition re ardin division of assets and liabilities. Final Judgment . You should receive a copy of the Final Jud ment in the mail. If, for some reason you do not, you should contact the clerk’s oace to request a copy. It is important for you to review a copy of the Final Jud ment in your case to see what happened and to know what you must do and what you are entitled to receive. Nonlawyer. Remember, a person who is NOT an attorney is called a nonlawyer. If a nonlawyer helps you fill out these forms, that person must ive you a copy of Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Jud ment of Dissolution of Marria e (02/18) a Disclosure from Nonlawyer , Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.900(a), before he or she helps you. A nonlawyer helpin you fill out these forms also must put his or her name, address, and telephone number on the bottom of the last pa e of every form he or she helps you complete. Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Jud ment of Dissolution of Marria e (02/18) IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE _____________________ JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR ______________________________ COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No: ________________________ Division: ________________________ In re: the Marria e of: _________________________________, Petitioner, and _________________________________, Respondent ANSWER, WAIVER, AND REQUEST FOR COPY OF FINAL JUDGMENT OF DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE I, {full legal name} , bein sworn, certify that the followin information is true: 1. I answer the Petition for Dissolution of Marria e filed in this action and admit all the alle ations. By admittin all of the alle ations in the petition, I a ree to all relief requested in the petition includin any requests re ardin parentin and time-sharin , child support, alimony, distribution of marital assets and liabilities, and temporary relief. 2. I hereby waive notice of hearin as well as all future notices in connection with the Petition for Dissolution of Marria e, as filed and also waive my appearance at the final hearin . 3. I request that a copy of the Final Jud ment of Dissolution of Marria e entered in this case be provided to me at the address below. 4. If this case involves minor child(ren), a completed Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Aadavit, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(d), is filed with this answer. 5. A completed Notice of Social Security Number, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(j), is filed with this answer. 6. A completed Family Law Financial Aadavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c), _____ is filed with this answer or _____ will be Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Jud ment of Dissolution of Marria e (02/18) timely filed. Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Jud ment of Dissolution of Marria e (02/18) I certify that a copy of this document was _____ mailed _____ faxed and mailed _____ e-mailed _____hand delivered to the person(s) listed below on {date} __________________________. Other party or his/her attorney: Name: _______________________________________ Address: _____________________________________ City, State, Zip: ________________________________ Fax Number: _________________________________ Desi nated E-mail Address(es):___________________ ___________________________________________ I understand that I am swearing or affirming under oath to the truthfulness of the claims made in this answer and that the punishment for knowingly making a false statement includes fnes and/or imprisonment. Dated: ______________________ _______________________________________ Si nature of Respondent Printed Name: ___________________________ Address: _______________________________ City, State, Zip: __________________________ Telephone Number: ________________________ Fax Number: _____________________________ Desi nated E-mail Address(es): _______________ _______________________________________ STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF ____________________ Sworn to or aarmed and si ned before me on __________ by ___________________________. _______________________________________ NOTARY PUBLIC or DEPUTY CLERK _______________________________________ [Print, type, or stamp commissioned name of notary or deputy clerk.] _____ Personally known _____ Produced identification _____ Type of identification produced ________________________________ IF A NONLAWYER HELPED YOU FILL OUT THIS FORM, HE/SHE MUST FILL IN THE BLANKS BELOW: [fill in all blanks] This form was prepared for the ______Respondent This form was completed with the assistance of: {name of individual} _______________________________________________________________, {name of business} Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Jud ment of Dissolution of Marria e, Florida Supreme Court Approved Form 12.903(a)(02/18) ________________________________________________________________, {address} ________________________________________________________________________, {city} ______________, {state} ____, {zip code, }__________, {telephone number} _____________. Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Jud ment of Dissolution of Marria e, Florida Supreme Court Approved Form 12.903(a)(02/18)