IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO the FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW FORMS—FORMS 12.948(A)-(E). (2019)

Pursuant to the procedures approved in Amendments to the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure & Family Law Forms, 810 So. 2d 1, 13-14 (Fla. 2000), this Court has internally reviewed the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms and has determined that adoption of new forms: 12.948(a) (Agreement Granting Temporary Custodial Responsibility During Deployment); 12.948(b) (Motion for Temporary Order Granting Custodial Responsibility During Deployment); 12.948(c) (Order Granting Temporary Custodial Responsibility During Deployment); 12.948(d) (Motion to Modify or Terminate Temporary Grant of Custodial Responsibility or Limited Contact to Nonparent During Deployment); and 12.948(e) (Agreement to Terminate Order Granting Temporary Custodial Responsibility During Deployment), is needed.¹ Input was received from the Advisory Workgroup on the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms, which provided valuable assistance.

In 2018, the Legislature adopted the Uniform Deployed Parents Custody and Visitation Act which addresses issues of child custody and visitation arising when a parent deploys for military or other national service. See Ch. 2018-69, Laws of Fla. Five new forms are created to implement the Uniform Act, which is codified as Part IV of Chapter 61, Florida Statutes (2018).

The new forms are hereby adopted as set forth in the appendix to this opinion, fully engrossed. The new forms shall become effective immediately upon the release of this opinion and may be accessed and downloaded from the Florida State Courts' website at http://www.flcourts.org/resources-and-services/court-improvement/problem-solving-courts/family-courts/family-law-forms.stml. By adoption of the new forms, we express no opinion as to their correctness or applicability. We also direct that new forms be published for comment. Interested persons shall have seventy-five days from the date of this opinion to file comments with the Court.²

It is so ordered.

THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS.

APPENDIX

FOOTNOTES

1.   We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.

2.   All comments must be filed with the Court on or before February 18, 2020, as well as a separate request for oral argument if the person filing the comment wishes to participate in oral argument, which may be scheduled in this case. If filed by an attorney in good standing with The Florida Bar, the comment must be electronically filed via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal (Portal) in accordance with In re Electronic Filing in the Supreme Court of Florida via the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC13-7 (Feb. 18, 2013). If filed by a nonlawyer or a lawyer not licensed to practice in Florida, the comment may be, but is not required to be, filed via the Portal. Comments filed via the Portal must be submitted in Microsoft Word 97 or higher. See In re Electronic Filing in the Florida Supreme Court, Fla. Admin. Order No. AOSC17-27 (May 9, 2017). Any person unable to submit a comment electronically must mail or hand-deliver the originally signed comment to the Florida Supreme Court, Office of the Clerk, 500 South Duval Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1927; no additional copies are required or will be accepted.

PER CURIAM.

CANADY, C.J, and POLSTON, LABARGA, LAWSON, LAGOA, and MUÑIZ, JJ., concur.