INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED
FAMILY LAW FORM 12.905(c),
SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION FOR MODIFICATION OF ALIMONY
(11/15)
When should this form be used?
This form should be used when you are asking the court to change a current court-
ordered alimony obligation. The court can change an order for temporary,
permanent periodic, durational, and rehabilitative alimony if the judge finds that
there has been a substantial change in the circumstances of the parties. Lump
sum and bridge-the-gap alimony cannot be modified.
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 this
form in the county where the original order was entered. If the order was entered in
another state, or if the respondent lives in another state, you should speak with an
attorney about where to file this form. You should file the original with the clerk
of the circuit court and keep a copy for your records. Because you are filing the
petition in this proceeding, you are also referred to as the petitioner and your
spouse as the respondent.
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?
For your case to proceed, you must properly notify the other party in your case of
the supplemental petition . Because this petition concerns alimony, you should
use personal service . If the other party is in the military service of the United
States, additional steps for service may be required. See, for example,
Memorandum for Certificate of Military Service , Florida Supreme Court
Approved Family Law Form 12.912(a) and Affidavit of Military Service , Florida
Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.912(b). In sum, the law regarding
constructive service and service on an individual in the military service is very
complex and you may wish to consult an attorney regarding this issue.
If personal service is used, the other party has 20 days to answer after being
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.905(c),
Supplemental Petition for Modification of Alimony (11/15)
served with your supplemental petition. Your case will then generally proceed in
one of the following three ways:
DEFAULT ... If after 20 days, no answer has been filed, you may file a Motion for
Default , Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.922(a), with the
clerk of court. Then, if you have filed all of the required papers, you may call the
clerk, family law intake staf , or judicial assistant to set a final hearing . You
must notify the other party of the hearing by using a Notice of Hearing
(General) , Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.923, or other
appropriate notice of hearing form.
UNCONTESTED ... If the respondent files an answer that agrees with everything
in your supplemental petition or an answer and waiver, and you have complied with
mandatory disclosure and filed all of the required papers, you may call the clerk,
family law intake staf, or judicial assistant to set a final hearing. You must notify
the other party of the hearing by using a Notice of Hearing (General) , Florida
Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.923, or other appropriate notice of
hearing form.
CONTESTED ... If the respondent files an answer or an answer and
counterpetition , which disagrees with or denies anything in your supplemental
petition, and you are unable to settle the disputed issues, you should file a Notice
for Trial , Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.924, after you have
complied with mandatory disclosure and filed all of the required papers. Some
circuits may require the completion of mediation before a final hearing may be set.
Then you should contact the clerk, family law intake staf, or judicial assistant for
instructions on how to set your case for trial (final hearing). If the respondent files
an answer and counterpetition, you should answer the counterpetition within 20
days using an Answer to Counterpetition , Florida Supreme Court Approved
Family Law Form 12.903(d).
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.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING E-SERVICE ELECTION
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 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
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.905(c),
Supplemental Petition for Modification of Alimony (11/15)
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 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.
Special notes...
If you do not have the money to pay the filing fee, you may obtain an Application for
Determination of Civil Indigent Status from the clerk, fill it out, and the clerk will
determine whether you are eligible to have filing fees deferred.
With this form you must also file the following and serve a copy on the other party:
Settlement Agreement , if you have reached an agreement on any or all of
the issues. Although there is no form for this in these Florida Family Law
Forms, you may construct a settlement agreement using the pertinent
sections contained in 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).
Family Law Financial Affidavit , Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure
Form 12.902(b) or (c).
Certificate 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 supplemental petition on the other party, if not filed at the time
of the supplemental petition, unless you and the other party have agreed not
to exchange these documents.)
Alimony... In order to modify an order for alimony, a judge must find that there
has been a substantial change in circumstances.
Temporary Relief... If you need temporary relief regarding modification of
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.905(c),
Supplemental Petition for Modification of Alimony (11/15)
alimony, you may file a Motion for Temporary Support with Dependent or
Minor Child(ren) , Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.947(a), or
Motion for Temporary Support with No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) ,
Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.947(d), whichever is
appropriate. For more information, see the instructions for those forms.
Settlement Agreement... If you and the respondent are able to reach an
agreement on any or all of the issues, you should file a Settlement Agreement.
Although there is no form for this in these Florida Family Law Forms, you may
construct a settlement agreement using the pertinent sections contained in 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). Both parties must sign this agreement before a notary public.
Any issues on which you are unable to agree will be considered contested and
settled by the judge at the final hearing.
Final Judgment Form... These family law forms contain a Supplemental Final
Judgment Modifying Alimony , Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form
12.993(c), which the judge may use. You should check with the clerk, family law
intake staf, or judicial assistant to see if you need to bring it with you to the
hearing. If so, you should type or print the heading, including the circuit, county,
case number, division, and the parties’ names, and leave the rest blank for the
judge to complete at your hearing or trial.
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 give you a copy of a
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 12.905(c),
Supplemental Petition for Modification of Alimony (11/15)
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE _______________________ JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,
IN AND FOR ________________________ COUNTY, FLORIDA
Case No.: ___________________________
Division: __________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________ _ __________,
Petitioner,
and
_______________________ _ __________,
Respondent,
SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION FOR MODIFICATION OF ALIMONY
I, {full legal name} ______________________________________ being sworn, certify that
the following information is true:
1. The parties to this action were granted a final judgment _____ of dissolution
of marriage _____ for support unconnected with a dissolution of marriage on {date}
_______________________________. A copy of the final judgment and any modification(s)
is attached.
2. Paragraph(s) _______________ of the _____ final judgment or _____ most recent
modification thereof establishes the present alimony at $ __________ every _____
week _____ other week _____ month, beginning on {date}
___________________________________________________.
3. Since the final judgment or most recent modification thereof, there has been
a substantial change in circumstances, requiring a modification in alimony. This
change in circumstance is as follows: {explain}
_______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. I ask the Court to modify alimony as follows: {explain}
_________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.905(c), Supplemental Petition
for Modification of Alimony (11/15)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. A completed Family Law Financial Afdavit, Florida Family Law Rules of
Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c), is _____, or ____ will be, filed.
6. Other:
________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.905(c), Supplemental Petition
for Modification of Alimony (11/15)
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 fines and/or
imprisonment.
Dated:
Signature of Petitioner
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 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翱 This form was prepared for the: {choose only one} ( ) Petitioner
( ) Respondent
This form was completed with the assistance of:
{name of individual}
____________________________________________________________________,
{name of business}
____________________________________________________________________,
{address}
____________________________________________________________________________,
{city} ______________,{state} _____,{zip code}___________,{telephone number}
__________________
Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.905(c), Supplemental Petition
for Modification of Alimony (11/15)