IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO THE FLORIDA FAMILY LAW RULES OF PROCEDURE – FORMS. (2025)

The Florida Bar's Family Law Rules Committee has filed a report proposing amendments to Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Forms 12.900(a) (Disclosure from Nonlawyer), 12.900(b) (Notice of Limited Appearance), 12.900(c) (Consent to Limited Appearance by Attorney), 12.900(d) (Termination of Limited Appearance), 12.900(e) (Acknowledgment of Assistance by Attorney), 12.900(g) (Agreement Limiting Representation), 12.901(a) (Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage), 12.902(c) (Family Law Financial Affidavit (Long Form)), 12.902(e) (Child Support Guidelines Worksheet), 12.930(a) (Notice of Service of Standard Family Law Interrogatories), 12.930(b) (Standard Family Law Interrogatories for Original or Enforcement Proceedings), 12.930(c) (Standard Family Law Interrogatories for Modification Proceedings), and 12.932 (Certificate of Compliance with Mandatory Disclosure).¹ The Board of Governors of The Florida Bar unanimously recommends adopting the proposed amendments.

The Committee published its proposal for comment and received one comment. After the proposed amendments were filed, we re-published the proposal for comment and one comment was received. The Committee responded and revised its proposal in response to the comment. Having reviewed the Committee's proposal, the comment, and the response, we adopt the Committee's revised proposal with minor modifications. We discuss the more significant amendments below.

First, although the Committee has not proposed it, we note the suggestion of The Florida Bar Family Law Section and combine forms 12.900(b) and 12.900(c) into a single form, titled “Notice of and Consent to Limited Appearance.” We then delete form 12.900(c). As the Committee proposed, we amend paragraph 2 in form 12.900(b), which designates the types of issues for which the attorney will be making a limited appearance, to use language that mirrors Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.040(c)(1) (Attorneys; Scope of Representation) by referring to “proceeding(s) or matter(s).” Also, on the list of issues, we make “parental responsibility” and “time-sharing” separate types of issues and add “mediation” as a new type of issue.

Next, in form 12.900(e), we delete the reference to the specific attorney who assists the pro se litigant. Now, the form simply reads that the litigant “certifies that this document was prepared with the assistance of counsel.”

Further, while we revise form 12.901(a) to improve clarity and readability, we decline to implement some of the Committee's proposed changes related to minor and dependent children, and instead keep the language in the instructions and form consistent with the language of Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.105(a)(1) (Simplified Dissolution Procedure; Requirements for Use).

In form 12.902(e), we add the case caption at the beginning of the form worksheet and a separate table before the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet titled “Gross Income Calculation.”

Additionally, in the instructions to forms 12.930(a) and 12.930(b), we decline to implement the Committee's suggested changes advising that a party may take action to compel a response. We instead retain the prior language indicating that a failure to respond may result in sanctions.

Accordingly, the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Forms are amended as reflected in the appendix to this opinion, with the forms fully engrossed and ready for use. The forms may be accessed and downloaded from the Florida State Courts’ website at http://www.flcourts.org/resources-and-services/court-improvement/family-courts/family-law-forms.stml. The amendments shall take effect immediately upon the release of this opinion. We thank the Committee for its attention to this important task.

It is so ordered.

APPENDIX

FOOTNOTES

1.   We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.; see also Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.140(b)(1).

PER CURIAM.

MUÑIZ, C.J., and CANADY, LABARGA, COURIEL, GROSSHANS, FRANCIS, and SASSO, JJ., concur.