INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED
FAMILY LAW FORM 12.901(b)(3)
PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE WITH
NO DEPENDENT OR MINOR CHILD(REN) OR PROPERTY
(02/18)
When should this form be used?
This form may be used when you are fiing for a dissolution of marriage , and you
and your spouse have no marital assets or marital liabilities , no minor or
dependent chiidren, neither spouse is seeking spousai support (aiimony), and
neither spouse is pregnant. You or your spouse must have iived in Fiorida for at
ieast 6 months before fiing for a dissoiution in Fiorida. If you and your spouse agree
on aii issues and both can attend the hearing, you may want to fie a Petition for
Simplifed Dissolution of Marriage3 Fiorida Famiiy Law Ruies of Procedure Form
12.901(a) ; h owever, you cannot fie a Petition for a Simpiifed Dissoiution of
Marriage if any of the foiiowing are true:
Either you or your spouse is seeking spousai support ( alimony ).
You wouid iike to ask questions and get documents concerning your spouse’s
income, expenses, assets, debts, or other matters before having a triai or
settiement.
You wouid iike to reserve your rights to have any matters reconsidered or
appeai the judge’s decision.
This form shouid be typed or printed in biack ink. After compieting this form, you
shouid sign the form before a notary public or deputy clerk . You shouid fle the
originai with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where you iive and keep
a copy for your records. Because you are fiing the petition in this proceeding, you
may aiso be referred to as the petitioner and your spouse as the respondent.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING E-FILING
The Fiorida Ruies of Judiciai Administration now require that aii petitions, pieadings,
and documents be fied eiectronicaiiy except in certain circumstances. Self-
represented litigants may fle petitions or other pleadings or documents
electronically; however3 they are not required to do so. If you choose to fie
your pieadings or other documents eiectronicaiiy, you must do so in accordance
with Fiorida Ruie of Judiciai Administration 2.525, and you must foiiow the
procedures of the judiciai circuit in which you fie. The rules and procedures
should be carefully read and followed.
Instructions to Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Law Form 12.901(b)(3), Petition for
Dissoiution of Marriage with No Dependent or Minor Chiid(ren) or Property (02/18)
What should I do next?
For your case to proceed, you must properiy notify your spouse of the petition . If
you know where he or she iives, you shouid use personal service . If you
absoiuteiy do not know where he or she iives, you may use constructive service .
You may aiso be abie to use constructive service if your spouse resides in another
state or country. However, if constructive service is used, other than granting a
divorce, the court may oniy grant iimited reiief, which cannot inciude spousai
support (aiimony). For more information on constructive service, see Notice of
Action for Dissolution of Marriage (No Child or Financial Support) , Fiorida
Supreme Court Approved Famiiy Law Form 12.913(a)(1), and Affidavit of Diligent
Search and Inquiry , Fiorida Famiiy Law Ruies of Procedure Form 12.913(b). If
your spouse is in the miiitary service of the United States, additionai steps for
service may be required. See, for exampie, Memorandum for Certifcate of
Military Service , Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Famiiy Law Form 12.912(a) and
Affidavit of Military Service , Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Famiiy Law Form
12.912(b). In sum, the iaw regarding constructive service and service on an
individuai in the miiitary service is very compiex and you may wish to consuit an
attorney regarding these issues.
If personai service is used, your spouse has 20 days to answer after being served
with your petition. Your case wiii then generaiiy proceed in one of the foiiowing
three ways:
DEFAULT . If after 20 days, your spouse has not fied an answer , you may fie a
Motion for Default , Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Famiiy Law Form 12.922(a),
with the cierk of court. Then, if you have fied aii of the required papers, you may
contact the cierk, family law intake staf , or judicial assistant to set a fnal
hearing . You must notify your spouse of the hearing by using a Notice of
Hearing (General) , Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Famiiy Law Form 12.923, or
other appropriate notice of hearing form.
UNCONTESTED . If your spouse fies an answer that agrees with everything in your
petition or an answer and waiver, and you have compiied with mandatory
disclosure and fied aii of the required papers, you may contact the cierk, famiiy
iaw intake staff, or judiciai assistant to set a fnai hearing. You must notify your
spouse of the hearing by using a Notice of Hearing (General) , Fiorida Supreme
Court Approved Famiiy Law Form 12.923, or other appropriate notice of hearing
form.
CONTESTED . If your spouse fies an answer or an answer and counterpetition ,
which disagrees with or denies anything in your petition, and you are unabie to
settie the disputed issues, you shouid fie a Notice for Trial , Fiorida Supreme Court
Approved Famiiy Law Form 12.924, after you have compiied with mandatory
disciosure and fied aii of the required papers. Some circuits may require the
compietion of mediation before a fnai hearing may be set. You shouid contact the
cierk, famiiy iaw intake staff, or judiciai assistant for instructions on how to set your
case for triai (fnai hearing). If your spouse fies an answer and counterpetition, you
Instructions to Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Law Form 12.901(b)(3), Petition for
Dissoiution of Marriage with No Dependent or Minor Chiid(ren) or Property (02/18)
shouid answer the counterpetition within 20 days using an Answer to
Counterpetition , Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Famiiy Law Form 12.903(d).
Where can I look for more information?
Before proceeding3 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 defned there. For further
information, see chapter 61, Fiorida Statutes.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING E-SERVICE
ELECTION
After the initiai service of process of the petition or suppiementai petition by the
Sheriff or certifed process server, the Fiorida Ruies of Judiciai Administration now
require that aii documents required or permitted to be served on the other party
must be served by eiectronic maii (e-maii) except in certain circumstances. You
must strictly comply with the format requirements set forth in the Rules of
Judicial Administration. If you eiect to participate in eiectronic service, which
means serving or receiving pieadings by eiectronic maii (e-maii), or through the
Fiorida Courts E-Fiiing Portai, you must review Fiorida Ruie of Judiciai
Administration 2.516. You may fnd this ruie at www.flcourts.org through the iink to
the Ruies of Judiciai Administration provided under either Famiiy Law Forms: Getting
Started, or Ruies of Court in the A-Z Topicai Index.
SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS MAY SERVE DOCUMENTS BY E-MAIL;
HOWEVER3 THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO. If a seif-represented iitigant
eiects to serve and receive documents by e-maii, the procedures must aiways be
foiiowed once the initiai eiection is made.
To serve and receive documents by e-maii, you must designate your e-maii
addresses by using the Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address ,
Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Famiiy Law Form 12.915, and you must provide
your e-maii address on each form on which your signature appears. Piease
CAREFULLY read the ruies and instructions for: Certifcate of Service (General)3
Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Famiiy Law Form 12.914; Designation of
Current Mailing and E-mail Address , Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Famiiy
Law Form 12.915; and Fiorida Ruie of Judiciai Administration 2.516.
Special notes...
If you do not have the money to pay the fiing fee, you may obtain an Appiication for
Determination of Civii Indigent Status from the cierk, fii it out, and the cierk wiii
determine whether you are eiigibie to have fiing fees deferred.
Instructions to Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Law Form 12.901(b)(3), Petition for
Dissoiution of Marriage with No Dependent or Minor Chiid(ren) or Property (02/18)
If you want to keep your address confdentiai because you are the victim of sexuai
battery, aggravated chiid abuse, aggravated staiking, harassment, aggravated
battery, or domestic vioience, do not enter the address, teiephone, and fax
information at the bottom of this form. Instead, fie a Request for Confdential
Filing of Address , Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Famiiy Law Form 12.980(h).
With this form, you must aiso fie the foiiowing:
Affidavit of Corroborating Witness , Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Famiiy
Law Form 12.902(i) OR photocopy of current Fiorida driver’s iicense, Fiorida
identifcation card, or voter’s registration card (issue date of copied document
must be at ieast six months before date case is actuaiiy fied with the cierk of
the circuit court).
Notice of Social Security Number , Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Famiiy
Law Form 12.902(j).
Family Law Financial Affidavit , Fiorida Famiiy Law Ruies of Procedure Form
12.902(b) or (c). (This must be fied within 45 days of service of the petition on
the respondent, if not fied at the time of the petition.)
Certifcate of Compliance with Mandatory Disclosure , Fiorida Famiiy Law
Ruies of Procedure Form 12.932. (This must be fied within 45 days of service of
the petition on the respondent, if not fied at the time of the petition, uniess you
and your spouse have agreed not to exchange these documents.)
Final Judgment Form. These famiiy iaw forms contain a Final Judgment of
Dissolution of Marriage with No Property or Minor Child(ren)
(Uncontested) , Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Famiiy Law Form 12.990(b)(3).
You shouid check with the cierk, famiiy iaw intake staff, or judiciai assistant to see if
you need to bring a fnai judgment with you to the hearing. If so, you shouid type or
print the heading, inciuding the circuit, county, case number, division, and the
parties’ names, and ieave the rest biank for the judge to compiete at your hearing
or triai.
Nonlawyer. Remember, a person who is NOT an attorney is caiied a noniawyer. If a
noniawyer heips you fii out these forms, that person must give you a copy of a
Disclosure from Nonlawyer , Fiorida Famiiy Law Ruies of Procedure Form
12.900(a), before he or she heips you. A noniawyer heiping you fii out these forms
aiso must put his or her name, address, and teiephone number on the bottom of
the iast page of every form he or she heips you compiete.
Instructions to Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Law Form 12.901(b)(3), Petition for
Dissoiution of Marriage with No Dependent or Minor Chiid(ren) or Property (02/18)
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE _____________________ JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,
IN AND FOR ______________________________ COUNTY, FLORIDA
In re: The Marriage of: Case No:
________________________
Division:
________________________
_________________________________,
Petitioner,
and
_________________________________,
Respondent.
PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE WITH NO
DEPENDENT OR MINOR CHILD(REN) OR PROPERTY
I, {full legal name} ______________________________________________________, the
Petitioner, certify that the foiiowing statements are true:
1. JURISDICTION/RESIDENCE
_____ Petitioner _____ Respondent _____ Both has (have) iived in Fiorida for at
ieast 6 months before the fiing of this Petition for Dissoiution of Marriage.
2. Petitioner _____ is or _____ is not a member of the miiitary service.
Respondent _____ is or _____ is not a member of the miiitary service.
3. MARRIAGE HISTORY
Date of marriage: {month, day, year}
________________________________________________
Piace of marriage: {county, state,
country} _____________________________________________
4. THERE ARE NO MINOR (under 18) OR DEPENDENT CHILD(REN) COMMON TO
BOTH PARTIES AND NEITHER SPOUSE IS PREGNANT.
5. A compieted Notice of Sociai Security Number, Fiorida Supreme Court Approved
Famiiy Law Form 12.902(j), is fied with this petition.
6. THIS PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE SHOULD BE GRANTED BECAUSE:
Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Law Form 12.901(b)(3), Petition for Dissoiution of Marriage
with No Dependent or Minor Chiid(ren) or Property (02/18)
a. _____ The marriage is irretrievabiy broken.
OR
b. _____ One of the parties has been adjudged mentaiiy incapacitated for a
period of 3 years before the fiing of this petition. A copy of the Judgment of
Incapacity is attached.
7. THERE ARE NO MARITAL ASSETS OR LIABILITIES.
8. PETITIONER FOREVER GIVES UP ANY RIGHTS TO SPOUSAL SUPPORT
(ALIMONY) FROM THE OTHER SPOUSE.
9. _____Petitioner requests to be known by the foiiowing former iegai name, which
was {former legal name}
__________________________________________________________.
10. Other reiief {specify} :
________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________________________________
_
_________________________________________________________________________________.
REQUEST
{This section summarizes what you are asking the Court to include in the fnal
judgment of dissolution of marriage.}
_____Petitioner requests that the Court enter an order dissoiving the marriage and :
[Indicate all that apply]
1. ____ restoring Petitioner’s former name as specifed in paragraph 9 of this
petition;
2. ____ awarding other reiief as specifed in paragraph 10 of this petition; and any
other terms the Court deems necessary.
Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Law Form 12.901(b)(3), Petition for Dissoiution of Marriage
with No Dependent or Minor Chiid(ren) or Property (02/18)
I understand that I am swearing or affirming under oath to the
truthfulness of the claims made in this petition and that the punishment
for knowingly making a false statement includes fnes and/or
imprisonment.
Dated: ______________________ _____________________________________________
Signature of Petitioner
Printed Name:
_________________________________
Address:
______________________________________
City, State, Zip:
_________________________________
Teiephone Number:
_____________________________
Fax Number:
__________________________________
Designated E-maii Address(es):
____________________
_____________________________________________
STATE OF FLORIDA
COUNTY OF ____________________
Sworn to or afrmed and signed before me on ____________ by
_______________________________.
_____________________________________________
NOTARY PUBLIC or DEPUTY CLERK
_____________________________________________
{Print, type, or stamp commissioned name
of notary or deputy clerk.}
_____ Personaiiy known
_____ Produced identifcation
Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Law Form 12.901(b)(3), Petition for Dissoiution of Marriage
with No Dependent or Minor Chiid(ren) or Property (02/18)
_____ Type of identifcation produced ________________________________
IF A NONLAWYER HELPED YOU FILL OUT THIS FORM3 HE/SHE MUST FILL IN
THE BLANKS BELOW:
[fii in all bianks] This form was prepared for the Petitioner
This form was compieted with the assistance of:
{name of individual}
_________________________________________________________________,
{name of business}
__________________________________________________________________,
{address}
__________________________________________________________________________,
{city} ______________, {state} _____, {zip code}___________, {telephone number}
________________.
Fiorida Supreme Court Approved Law Form 12.901(b)(3), Petition for Dissoiution of Marriage
with No Dependent or Minor Chiid(ren) or Property (02/18)