Is Form 12981 required statewide or locally?

Form 12981 is an approved Florida Supreme Court form; whether it is required in a given case depends on the matter type and local court rules. Confirm with the county clerk or your attorney whether the form is mandatory for your proceeding.

Can I sign Form 12981 electronically?

Electronic signing is permitted when the court or a county e-filing system accepts e-signatures and when the platform meets legal standards for intent, consent, attribution, and retention. Verify local court acceptance before e-submitting.

Does the form require notarization or witnesses?

Some fields or certifications on family law forms may require a notary or witness signatures. Check the specific form language and local rules; if a jurat or acknowledgement is present, do not sign until the notary is present.

What supporting documents should be attached?

Attach only documents requested by the form or by local procedural rules. Label exhibits clearly and include a certificate of service if required by the court.

What if the clerk rejects my filing?

If rejected, the clerk will usually state the reason. Correct the specified errors promptly, refile according to the clerk’s instructions, and confirm service requirements have been met.

Who should I contact for clarification?

For procedural questions contact the county clerk’s office or consult an attorney familiar with Florida family law and the county’s e-filing requirements.

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Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12981

Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12981

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IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE

IN AND FOR COUNTY, FLORIDA

Case No.:

Division:

IN RE: THE ADOPTION OF

Adoptee(s).

ORDER RELEASING ADOPTION INFORMATION

This case came before the Court upon the Petition for Adoption Information, and the Court being fully advised in the premises, it is ORDERED:

1. The Petitioner shall receive

a. nonidentifying information as to:

b. identifying information as to:

c. all records relating to the adoption proceedings.

2. The petition is denied in whole or in part because:

DONE AND ORDERED on in Florida.

CIRCUIT JUDGE

I certify that a copy of the

was() mailed () faxed and mailed () e-mailed () hand-delivered to the parties and to any other persons or entities listed below on

By: Clerk of Court, Designee, or Judicial Assistant

Petitioner (or his or her attorney)

Respondent (or his or her attorney)

Other:

Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.981(d)(2), Order Releasing Adoption Information (03/15)

What the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12981 Is

The Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12981 is a standardized court form used in Florida family law cases to document specific facts or procedural matters required by the court. It is an official form approved by the Florida Supreme Court and is intended to ensure consistent submission of information across counties. Use of an approved form can simplify court processing, reduce return errors caused by nonstandard formats, and help parties and their attorneys provide the details judges and clerks expect for a particular matter.

Why this approved form matters in family law cases

Using the court-approved Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12981 ensures submissions follow the statewide format judges and clerks recognize, which can reduce administrative delays and questions about completeness.

Who typically completes Form 12981 and how it’s used

This form is most often completed by parties to a family law case, their attorneys, or court-appointed representatives when the court requires the standardized information it captures.

Self-represented litigants who must provide uniform information to the court for procedural or evidentiary purposes.
Family law attorneys submitting client information in the court’s preferred format for hearings or case management.
Court staff and mediators who use the form to confirm that required factual or procedural elements are documented consistently.

Core sections and structure to expect on Form 12981

Form 12981 follows a structured layout designed to capture party identifiers, case number, concise factual statements, signed certifications, and the submitting party’s contact information so courts receive complete, searchable records.

Caption

Court name, case number, party names and style of the case in the header for identification.

Statement Fields

Short numbered or bulleted boxes for the facts, dates, or procedural assertions the court requested in that form.

Certification

A signer declaration that the information is true to the best of the signer’s knowledge, often preceding signature lines.

Signature Block

Lines for the signer’s printed name, signature, date, and contact information required by the court.

Notary/Verification

If required by the form or local rule, an acknowledgement, jurat, or notary block appears near the signature area.

Attachments

Space to list and attach supporting exhibits, affidavits, or court-required documentation referenced in the form.

Step-by-step: filling out Form 12981

Complete the form in order, verify all names and numbers, then sign, notarize if required, and file with the clerk.

01

Prepare: Gather case number, party names, and supporting facts before starting.
02

Complete Fields: Enter each response concisely and use MM/DD/YYYY for dates.
03

Sign and Verify: Sign where required and obtain notarization if the form requires it.
04

File and Serve: File with the clerk and serve opposing parties per local rules.

How the filing and service process generally flows

A typical routing sequence covers preparation, signing and notarization, filing with the clerk, and service on other parties in compliance with Florida rules.

Prepare Document: Complete the form and attach exhibits requested by the form.
Authenticate: Sign and obtain notary or witness signatures if the form requires them.
File with Clerk: Submit the original to the clerk by e-file or in person per local practice.
Serve Parties: Serve opposing counsel and parties according to Florida Rules of Civil Procedure.

Digital workflow settings to prepare before e-filing

Configure these workflow elements in your e-filing or e-signature platform to streamline completion and submission.

Field	Configuration
Signature Type	Allow drawn or typed signatures; require signer authentication as needed
Required Fields	Mark case number, names, and dates as required to prevent incomplete submissions
Notary Integration	Enable RON or manual notary step depending on county acceptance
File Export	Produce a flattened PDF that preserves form layout for court filing

Platform and format considerations for electronic completion

Confirm the court accepts your chosen e-file and e-signature methods before relying on fully electronic submission.

File Formats: PDF, PDF/A, or court-specified output
Authentication: Email, SMS, or stronger signer verification
Audit Trail: Timestamp, IP, and action log retained

Data and security attributes to verify before e-submission

Encryption: AES-256 at rest

In-Transit: TLS 1.2/1.3

Access Logs: Detailed audit trail

BAA Availability: Required for protected health data

Authentication: Multi-factor options

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001

Consequences of incorrect or incomplete Form 12981

Rejection: Clerk may reject filing

Delay: Hearing dates can be postponed

Sanctions: Court may impose procedural sanctions

Service Defect: Improper service can void actions

Evidentiary Harm: Missing facts can weaken case

Privacy Risk: Unredacted sensitive data exposure

Common preparation and submission mistakes to avoid

Failing to include the correct case number or party names, which can prevent the clerk from docketing the form properly.
Leaving required fields blank or using ambiguous language instead of concise numbered responses that address the form prompts.
Signing before notarization when a jurat or acknowledgement is present, which can invalidate the notary block.
E-filing without confirming county acceptance of electronic signatures or remote notarization, leading to rejected filings or required re-submission.

Timing considerations and typical deadlines to watch

Deadlines vary by county and the particular case schedule; follow the court’s docket and local rules for exact timelines.

Filing Deadline:

File the form as required by the court’s scheduling order

Service Deadline:

Serve opposing parties within the time required by local rules

Response Time:

Allow time for opposing party response per the summons or court order

Hearing Date:

Ensure the form is filed early enough to be considered at the scheduled hearing

Clerk Processing:

Expect variable clerk processing times depending on county workload

Typical e-signature vendor pricing and feature comparison

Compare common vendor price points and a few core capabilities relevant when using e-signatures to complete and route court forms; signNow is listed first per standard comparison format.

	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	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Limited
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Frequently asked questions about Form 12981

Answers to common questions about when to use the form, acceptable signatures, and filing practices to help avoid rejections or delays.

Need help? Contact support

Is Form 12981 required statewide or locally?
Form 12981 is an approved Florida Supreme Court form; whether it is required in a given case depends on the matter type and local court rules. Confirm with the county clerk or your attorney whether the form is mandatory for your proceeding.
Can I sign Form 12981 electronically?
Electronic signing is permitted when the court or a county e-filing system accepts e-signatures and when the platform meets legal standards for intent, consent, attribution, and retention. Verify local court acceptance before e-submitting.
Does the form require notarization or witnesses?
Some fields or certifications on family law forms may require a notary or witness signatures. Check the specific form language and local rules; if a jurat or acknowledgement is present, do not sign until the notary is present.
What supporting documents should be attached?
Attach only documents requested by the form or by local procedural rules. Label exhibits clearly and include a certificate of service if required by the court.
What if the clerk rejects my filing?
If rejected, the clerk will usually state the reason. Correct the specified errors promptly, refile according to the clerk’s instructions, and confirm service requirements have been met.
Who should I contact for clarification?
For procedural questions contact the county clerk’s office or consult an attorney familiar with Florida family law and the county’s e-filing requirements.

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