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Petition to Determine Paternity

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INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW
FORM 12.983(b)
ANSWER TO PETITION TO DETERMINE PATERNITY AND FOR RELATED
RELIEF (11/15)

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,

IN AND FOR COUNTY, FLORIDA

Case No.:

Division:

Petitioner,

and

Respondent,

ANSWER TO PETITION TO DETERMINE PATERNITY
AND FOR RELATED RELIEF

\ Respondent,

being sworn, certify that the following information is true:

1. I agree with Petitioner as to the allegations raised in the following numbered paragraphs in the Petition and, therefore, admit those allegations: {indicate section and paragraph number}

2. I disagree with Petitioner as to the allegations raised in the following numbered paragraphs in the Petition and, therefore, deny those issues: {indicate section and paragraph number}

3. I currently am unable to admit or deny the following paragraphs due to lack of information: {indicate section and paragraph number}

4. [If applicable] A completed Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Affidavit, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(d), is filed with this answer as I disagree with the Affidavit filed by the Petitioner.

5. A completed Notice of Social Security Number, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(j), is filed with this answer if one has not already been filed in this case.

6. A completed Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form
12.902(b) or (c), is, or will be, filed.

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}

Petitioner or his/her attorney:

Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Fax Number:

Designated 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 fines and/or imprisonment.

Dated:

Signature of Party

Printed Name:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Telephone Number:

Fax Number:

Designated E-mail Address(es):

STATE OF FLORIDA

COUNTY OF

Sworn to or affirmed 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] 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}

Enter text

What the Petition to Determine Paternity Is and Why It Matters

A Petition to Determine Paternity is a family-court filing used to establish the legal parentage of a child when parentage is disputed, unknown, or not recorded. The petition asks a court to make a legal finding identifying the biological or presumed parent, which can trigger child support, custody and visitation rights, inheritance claims, or changes to the birth certificate. Courts may order genetic testing, consider existing evidence such as birth records or voluntary acknowledgments of paternity, and apply state-specific parentage statutes. Filing procedures, required attachments, and relief requested vary by jurisdiction and by whether the child has an existing support case.

How a Paternity Petition Helps Children and Parents

Filing a Petition to Determine Paternity creates a formal legal record of parentage that supports child support collection, medical and insurance access, custody decisions, and accurate vital records. A court order clarifies parental obligations and rights and enables enforcement across state lines under federal and state frameworks.

How a Paternity Petition Helps Children and Parents

Who Typically Files or Responds to a Petition to Determine Paternity

Individuals and public agencies file paternity petitions to secure legal parentage and related remedies; the following profiles summarize common filers and respondents.

  • Custodial parent or guardian seeking support and medical coverage for a child
  • Alleged parent responding to or initiating an action to establish rights or rebut claims
  • Child support enforcement agency or public benefits office pursuing support on behalf of the child

Step-by-Step: Completing and Filing the Petition

Follow these sequential steps to prepare a Petition to Determine Paternity and navigate filing and initial hearing logistics.

  • 01
    Prepare: Gather child, parent, and birth information and supporting documents.
  • 02
    Complete Forms: Fill required petition fields, relief requested, and verification statements.
  • 03
    File: Submit to the family court clerk or e-file per local rules.
  • 04
    Serve: Provide proper service of process on the alleged parent per court rules.

Who Has Authority to Sign the Petition

Petitioner — Parent or Guardian

The person bringing the action signs the petition under penalty of perjury. If a guardian or agency files, include documentation of authority to act for the child.

Respondent — Alleged Parent

The alleged parent may sign a responsive admission or voluntary acknowledgment; if refusing or absent, the court proceeds via service and hearing.

Core Components to Include on a Professional Petition

A complete petition organizes facts, parties, requested relief, and supporting attachments so courts can quickly assess jurisdiction, service, and next steps.

Caption and Parties

Case caption with court name, docket number (if known), petitioner, respondent, and child(ren) clearly identified to establish jurisdiction and service targets.

Statement of Facts

Concise factual background describing birth circumstances, relationship history, and reason parentage is disputed or unknown; include dates and locations where relevant.

Relief Sought

Specify the legal outcomes requested, such as a judicial declaration of parentage, DNA testing, child support, custody orders, and correction of vital records.

Supporting Evidence

Attach birth certificates, prior acknowledgments of paternity, medical records, or affidavits that support the petition’s factual assertions.

Consent to Testing

If available, include statements consenting to genetic testing or a proposed testing protocol; lack of consent may prompt a court order.

Verification and Signature

Petitioner must sign and date the verification under penalty of perjury; include contact information and counsel details if represented.

Typical Digital Workflow Settings for Online Completion

Configure a clear signer and routing order when preparing the petition for eSubmission or e-signature to match court and service requirements.

Field Configuration
Signer Order Petitioner first, respondent second if providing a signing option
Authentication Email link plus SMS code for higher-assurance signing
Attachments Upload birth record, ID scans, and affidavits as separate files
Audit Trail Enable timestamp, IP logging, and audit report generation

How eFiling and eSubmission Normally Proceed

This sequence describes the typical path from document completion to court intake and the initial hearing stage.

  • Draft: Prepare petition and attach exhibits for submission.
  • eFile or File In Person: Submit to court clerk following local e-filing rules.
  • Service: Serve the respondent per court-required methods.
  • Hearing: Attend initial hearing or status conference as scheduled.

Technical Considerations for Digital Completion and Signing

Courts and agencies accept different digital formats and authentication levels; align your platform settings with local rules.

  • File Formats: PDF or DOCX preferred
  • Authentication: Email + SMS or KBA where required
  • Integrations: Court e-file portals and document storage

Essential Information and Fields to Complete

Child Name: Full legal name
Child DOB: MM/DD/YYYY
Petitioner Info: Full name and contact
Alleged Parent: Full name and known aliases
Relief Requested: Support, custody, testing
Attachments: Birth record, IDs

Common Mistakes That Slow a Paternity Petition

  • Using incomplete or inconsistent names for parties, which causes service failures and case delays.
  • Submitting unsigned or improperly verified petitions that the clerk returns for correction or rejection.
  • Failing to attach essential documents, such as a birth certificate, which forces adjournments or additional orders.
  • Providing inadequate service instructions or incorrect respondent addresses that prevent the court from acquiring jurisdiction.

Consequences of an Incorrect or Incomplete Petition

Filing Rejection: Clerk returns incomplete filings
Delay in Support: Benefit and support orders delayed
Incorrect Order Risk: Wrongly assigned obligations
Perjury Exposure: False statements risk sanctions
Service Defect: Case lacks jurisdiction
Increased Costs: Extra filings and attorney fees

Timing and Typical Processing Expectations

Filing and processing times vary widely by county and state; check local court rules for exact timelines and hearing windows.

Filing to First Hearing:

Usually several weeks to a few months, varies locally

Genetic Testing Schedule:

Court orders may set testing within weeks of hearing

Service Time Limits:

Respondent must be served within time set by court local rules

Objection Windows:

Respondent typically has limited days to answer or object

Final Order Timing:

Final orders issued after evidence and any appeals

eSignature Provider Comparison for Preparing and Sharing Petitions

Compare common vendor features relevant to preparing, sending, and storing a Petition to Determine Paternity; signNow appears first per vendor listing 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 plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No

Illustrative Use Cases for a Petition to Determine Paternity

Real-world scenarios show how petitions address different goals and what practical steps are common in each situation.

Public Benefits Case

A state child support unit files to establish paternity on behalf of a minor

  • The unit requests DNA testing if respondent disputes paternity
  • Resolving parentage enables ongoing support collection and updates to benefit eligibility and records.

Private Parent Action

A custodial parent files to name an absent biological parent and request support

  • The petition seeks a paternity determination and testing if needed
  • Once ordered, the court can issue support and enforcement orders and amend the birth record.

Frequently Asked Questions About Petitions, eSignatures, and Filing

Answers to commonly raised questions about validity, e-signing, service, and what to expect at the first hearing.


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