Form 12.903(c)(3): Florida Answer to Petition and Counterpetition for Dissolution of Marriage

Enter the Judicial Circuit, County, Case No., Division, Petitioner/Counter-Respondent and Respondent/Counter-Petitioner.

In ANSWER TO PETITION, enter your full legal name after I, Respondent/Counter-Petitioner, being sworn, certify that the following information is true.

Where you 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.

Where you disagree with Petitioner as to the allegations raised in the following numbered paragraphs in the Petition and, therefore, deny those allegations, indicate section and paragraph number.

Indicate section and paragraph number for the paragraphs you currently are unable to admit or deny due to lack of information.

Mark Respondent/Counter-Petitioner, Petitioner/Counter-Respondent or Both as the one who has (have) lived in Florida for at least 6 months before the filing of this Petition for Dissolution of Marriage.

Mark is or is not for Respondent/Counter-Petitioner as a member of the military service, and mark is or is not for Petitioner/Counter-Respondent as a member of the military service.

Under MARRIAGE HISTORY, enter the date of marriage as month, day, year, the place of marriage as city, state, country, and the date of separation as month, day, year; mark Indicate if approximate when the date of separation is approximate.

This counterpetition for dissolution of marriage should be granted because: mark a, the marriage is irretrievably broken, OR b, one of the parties has been adjudged mentally incapacitated for a period of 3 years before the filing of this counterpetition; for b, a copy of the Judgment of Incapacity is attached.

Mark Respondent/Counter-Petitioner wants to be known by the former legal name, which was, and enter the former legal name; then mark 1 in the REQUEST for restoring Respondent/Counter-Petitioner's former name as specified in paragraph 9 of this petition.

Specify the other relief in paragraph 10; then mark 2 in the REQUEST for awarding other relief as specified in paragraph 10 of this petition; and any other terms the Court deems necessary.

Mark mailed, faxed and mailed, e-mailed or delivered by hand for how a copy of this document was delivered to the persons listed below as the Petitioner/Counter-Respondent or his/her attorney, and enter the date.

For Petitioner/Counter-Respondent or his/her attorney, enter Name, Address, City, State, Zip, Fax Number and Designated E-mail Address(es).

A copy of this form must be mailed, e-mailed, or hand delivered to the other party.

After completing this form, you should sign the form before a notary public or deputy clerk.

You are swearing or affirming under oath to the truthfulness of the claims made in this answer and counterpetition, and the punishment for knowingly making a false statement includes fines and/or imprisonment.

Enter the date after Dated, then sign as Signature of Respondent/Counter-Petitioner and enter Printed Name, Address, City, State, Zip, Telephone Number, Fax Number and Designated E-mail Addresses.

Under STATE OF FLORIDA COUNTY OF: Sworn to or affirmed and signed before me on by; NOTARY PUBLIC or DEPUTY CLERK; the commissioned name of notary or clerk to print, type, or stamp; Personally known or Produced identification; and the type of identification produced.

If a nonlawyer helped you fill out this form, he or she must fill in all blanks: name of individual, name of business, address, city, state, zip code and telephone number.

If a nonlawyer helps you fill out these forms, that person must give you a copy of a Disclosure from Nonlawyer, Form 12.900(a), before he or she helps you.

You have 20 days to answer after being served with the other party's petition.

You should file the original with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the petition was filed and keep a copy for your records.

Your dissolution is uncontested if you and your spouse agree on all issues raised in the petition and the counterpetition. If this is the case, and you and the other party have complied with mandatory disclosure and filed all of the required papers, either party may contact the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant to set a final hearing. If you request the hearing, you must notify the other party of the hearing by using a Notice of Hearing (General), Form 12.923, or other appropriate notice of hearing form.

Your dissolution is contested if you and your spouse disagree on any issues raised in the petition or counterpetition. If you are unable to settle the disputed issues, either party may file a Notice for Trial, Form 12.924, after you have complied with mandatory disclosure and filed all of the required papers. You should contact the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant for instructions on how to set your case for trial (final hearing).

By using this form, you are forever giving up your rights to spousal support (alimony) from petitioner. Alimony may be awarded to a spouse if the judge finds that one spouse has an actual need for it and that the other spouse has the ability to pay. If you want alimony, you must request it in writing in an appropriate answer and counterpetition (see the other answer and counterpetition forms included in these forms for the appropriate form).