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Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12900A

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA FAMILY LAW RULES OF PROCEDURE
FORM 12.900(a)
DISCLOSURE FROM NONLAWYER (11/12)

When should this form be used?

This form must be used when anyone who is not a lawyer in good standing with The Florida Bar helps you complete any Florida Family Law Form. Attorneys who are licensed to practice in other states but not Florida, or who have been disbarred or suspended from the practice of law in Florida, are nonlawyers for the purposes of the Florida Family Law Forms and instructions.

The nonlawyer must complete this form and both of you are to sign it before the nonlawyer assists you in completing any Family Law Form.

In addition, on any other form with which a nonlawyer helps you, the nonlawyer shall complete the nonlawyer section located at the bottom of the form unless otherwise specified in the instructions to the form. This is to protect you and be sure that you are informed in advance of the nonlawyer's limitations.

What should I do next?

A copy of this disclosure, signed by both the nonlawyer and the person, must be given to the person to retain and the nonlawyer must keep a copy in the person's file. The nonlawyer shall also keep copies for at least 6 years of all forms given to the person being assisted.

Special Notes

This disclosure form does NOT act as or constitute a waiver, disclaimer, or limitation of liability.

Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.900(a), Disclosure from Nonlawyer (11/12)

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,

IN AND FOR COUNTY, FLORIDA

Case No.:

Division:

Petitioner,

and

Respondent.

DISCLOSURE FROM NONLAWYER

told me that he/she is a nonlawyer and may not give legal advice, cannot tell me what my rights or remedies are, cannot tell me how to testify in court, and cannot represent me in court.

Rule 10-2.1(b) of the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar defines a paralegal as a person who works under the supervision of a member of The Florida Bar and who performs specifically delegated substantive legal work for which a member of The Florida Bar is responsible. Only persons who meet the definition may call themselves paralegals. informed me that he/she is not a paralegal as defined by the rule and cannot call himself/herself a paralegal.

told me that he/she may only type the factual information provided by me in writing into the blanks on the form. Except for typing, may not tell me what to put in the form and may not complete the form for me. However, if using a form approved by the Supreme Court of Florida, may ask me factual questions to fill in the blanks on the form and may also tell me how to file the form.

{Choose one only}

in which I understand.

Dated:

 

Signature of Party

 

Signature of NONLAWYER

Printed Name:

Name of Business:

Address:

Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.900(a), Disclosure from Nonlawyer (11/12)

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What the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12900A Is

Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12900A, commonly referenced as Form 12.900(a), is the Family Law Financial Affidavit (short form) used in Florida family court matters to disclose income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. The affidavit supports child support, alimony, and equitable distribution decisions by providing a standardized summary of each party’s financial position for the court, opposing counsel, and case manager. Completing the form accurately helps courts evaluate temporary relief requests, settlement proposals, and final decrees by ensuring consistent financial data is on the record.

Why this form matters in Florida family cases

Form 12.900(a) standardizes financial disclosure so judges and opposing parties can evaluate support and distribution issues fairly. Accurate submission reduces discovery disputes and supports enforceable orders.

Why this form matters in Florida family cases

Who completes and relies on the form

Counsel and courts expect truthful, fully supported entries; omissions or inaccuracies can prompt motions to compel, sanctions, or evidentiary challenges.

  • Self-represented litigants who must present income and expense details to the court.
  • Attorneys preparing temporary relief motions, settlement offers, or trial exhibits.
  • Family court judges and magistrates who use the form to assess support and equitable distribution.

Step-by-step: completing Form 12.900(a)

Follow these sequential steps to assemble, sign, and submit a compliant financial affidavit for a Florida family law case.

  • 01
    Gather documents: Collect pay stubs, bank statements, and tax returns for the last two years.
  • 02
    Complete fields: Enter amounts carefully; use MM/DD/YYYY for dates and round dollar amounts.
  • 03
    Sign and notarize: Sign in front of a notary if required by local rule or court order.
  • 04
    File with court: Submit per county filing rules and serve opposing counsel per Florida rules.

Key sections to review before you file

Check each major block; missing information in any section can trigger discovery requests, hearings, or sanctions. Review attachments and ensure totals reconcile.

Identification

Confirms party names, case number, and court. Essential for docketing and linking the affidavit to the correct matter; errors here can misroute filings.

Income Summary

Summarizes gross and net income by source. Courts use these numbers to calculate child support and alimony guidelines, so include documentation.

Monthly Expenses

Lists household and personal recurring expenses. Provide receipts or statements for significant items and explain any nonrecurring or extraordinary costs.

Assets & Debts

Discloses property, retirement accounts, vehicles, mortgages, and loans with current values and balances; attach statements for valuation support.

Signatures & Verification

Affidavit language and the signature clause confirm that information is sworn; ensure notarization or witnessing if local rule requires it.

Attachments

Include pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and valuation exhibits. Missing attachments often prompt motions for supplementation.

Digital workflow settings to prepare for e-filing

Configure a secure file and signing workflow to preserve the affidavit’s integrity and meet court retention expectations.

Field Configuration
File Format Use PDF/A for preservation and court compatibility
Signer Authentication Enable email plus SMS or knowledge-based verification
Audit Trail Capture IP, timestamps, and signer actions
Attachment Links Embed or append supporting documents in a single PDF packet

Typical eSignature and eSubmission flow

An electronic workflow reduces turnaround while preserving an evidentiary trail; this is a common sequence for online completion.

  • Upload document: Convert the completed form to a court-friendly PDF format.
  • Place fields: Add signature, date, and optional initial fields for required parties.
  • Authenticate signer: Use email link plus secondary verification for identity assurance.
  • Record and file: Save audit trail, attach exhibits, and submit per court e-filing rules.

Technical requirements for secure e-signing and filing

Preserve a complete audit trail and store originals according to retention rules to maintain admissibility and compliance.

  • Document formats: PDF, PDF/A, DOCX
  • Authentication: Email + SMS or strengthened KBA
  • Integrations: Court e-filing systems and cloud storage

Security and compliance elements to confirm

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3
Data at rest: AES-256
Audit trail: IP, timestamp
HIPAA support: BAA available
Standards: SOC 2 Type II
Access control: SSO/SAML

Penalties and risks of incorrect or incomplete affidavits

Sanctions: Court may impose monetary sanctions
Evidentiary exclusion: Unverified figures may be inadmissible
Contempt: False statements can lead to contempt
Delay: Proceedings may be continued
Financial exposure: Orders based on incomplete data can be altered later
Referral: Possible referral for perjury

Common errors to avoid when preparing the affidavit

  • Underreporting income by omitting side jobs or gig income, which creates exposure to sanctions and recalculation orders.
  • Failing to attach documentary support such as pay stubs or tax returns, leading to motions to compel or evidentiary objections.
  • Using inconsistent dates or rounding that makes reconciliation with bank statements and tax records difficult in discovery.
  • Signing without notarization or required witness authentication where local practice or an order mandates an acknowledged affidavit.

Typical timing and deadlines to expect

Timelines vary by county and case posture; review your local family court rules and any case-specific scheduling orders.

Initial Response Window:

Often 20 days after service; check local rules

Financial Disclosure Deadline:

Typically within 30–45 days of request in practice

Mediation / Case Management:

Often scheduled 60–90 days after filing

Discovery Completion:

Varies by order; commonly 90–180 days

Final Hearing Scheduling:

Depends on docket and readiness; may be months out

Representative eSignature pricing and feature comparison

Common vendor options and baseline plan details for organizations seeking e-signature and document workflow solutions; signNow is listed first per platform comparison conventions.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Real-world examples of how the affidavit is used

Practical examples show common workflows and how accurate affidavits affect outcomes.

Local Counsel Example

A county attorney prepared a short-form affidavit for a low-income litigant to expedite a temporary support hearing

  • The affidavit included pay stubs and a bank statement
  • The court relied on the disclosed figures to set temporary support pending full discovery, avoiding multiple continuances and conserving court time.

Pro Se Litigant Example

A self-represented party used a checklist and e-signature to complete the short-form affidavit

  • The filer attached two months of pay stubs
  • The opposing attorney accepted the packet, and the parties reached an interim agreement without extended discovery.

Frequently asked questions about Form 12.900(a)

Answers to common questions about completion, authentication, e-signing, and retention for the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12900A.


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