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INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW FORM 12.901(b)(2), PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE WITH PROPERTY BUT NO DEPENDENT OR MINOR CHILD(REN) When should this form be used? This form may be used when a husband or wife is filing for a dissolution of marriage, and the husband and wife have marital assets and/or marital liabilities but they do not have any dependent children nor is the wife is now pregnant. You and/or your spouse must have lived in Florida for at least 6 months before filing for a dissolution in Florida. If you and your spouse agree on all issues and both can attend the hearing, you may want to file a simplified dissolution of marriage petition, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.901(a). However, you cannot file for a simplified dissolution of marriage if any of the following are true: C C C C You disagree about property, debts, or other matters and wish to have a judge settle them for you. Either you or your spouse is seeking support (alimony). You would like to ask questions and get documents concerning your spouse's income, expenses, assets, debts, or other matters before having a trial or settlement. You would like to reserve your rights to have any matters reconsidered or appeal the judge's decision.

This form should be typed or printed in black ink. After completing this form, you should sign the form before a notary public or deputy clerk . You should file the original with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where you live and keep a copy for your records. What should I do next? For your case to proceed, you must properly notify your spouse of the petition. If you know where he or she lives, you should use personal service. If you absolutely do not know where he or she lives, you may use constructive service. You may also be able to use constructive service if your spouse resides in another state or country. However, if constructive service is used, other than granting a divorce, the court may only grant limited relief. For more information on constructive service, see Notice of Action for Dissolution of Marriage, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.913(a), and Affidavit of Diligent Search and Inquiry, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.913(b). If your spouse is in the military service of the United States, additional steps for service may be required. See, for example, Memorandum for Certificate of Military Service, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.912(a). In sum, the law regarding constructive service and service on an individual in the military service is very complex and you may wish to consult an attorney regarding these issues. If personal service is used, the respondent has 20 days to answer after being served with your petition. Your case will then generally proceed in one of the following three ways: DEFAULT... If after 20 days, your spouse has not filed an answer, you may file a Motion for Default, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.922(a), with the clerk of court. Then, if you have filed all of the required papers, you may call the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant to set a final hearing. You must notify your spouse of the hearing by using a Notice of Hearing (General), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.923, or other appropriate notice of hearing form. UNCONTESTED... If the respondent files an answer that agrees with everything in your petition or an answer and waiver, and you have complied with mandatory disclosure and filed all of the required
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.901(b)(2), Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with Property but No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (7/05)

papers, you may call the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant to set a final hearing. You must notify your spouse of the hearing by using a Notice of Hearing (General), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.923, or other appropriate notice of hearing form. CONTESTED... If the respondent files an answer or an answer and counterpetition, which disagrees with or denies anything in your petition, and you are unable to settle the disputed issues, you should file a Notice for Trial, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.924, after you have complied with mandatory disclosure and filed all of the required papers. Some circuits may require the completion of mediation before a final hearing may be set. You should contact the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant for instructions on how to set your case for trial (final hearing). If the respondent files an answer and counterpetition, you should answer the counterpetition within 20 days using an Answer to Counterpetition, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(d). Where can I look for more information? Before proceeding, you should read "General Information for Self-Represented Litigants" found at the beginning of these forms. The words that are in "bold underline" in these instructions are defined there. For further information, see chapter 61, Florida Statutes. Special notes... If you do not have the money to pay the filing fee, you may obtain an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status from the clerk, fill it out, and the clerk will determine whether you are eligible to have filing fees deferred. If this is a domestic violence case and you want to keep your address confidential for safety reasons, do not enter the address, telephone, and fax information at the bottom of this form. Instead, file Petitioner's Request for Confidential Filing of Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.980(h). With this form, you must also file the following: C Affidavit of Corroborating Witness, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(i) OR photocopy of current Florida driver's license, Florida identification card, or voter's registration card (issue date of copied document must be at least six months before date case is actually filed with the clerk of the circuit court). Marital Settlement Agreement for Dissolution of Marriage with No Dependent or Minor Child(ren), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(f)(2), if you and your spouse have reached an agreement on any or all of the issues. Notice of Social Security Number, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(j). Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c). (This must be filed within 45 days of service of the petition on the respondent, if not filed at the time of the petition.) Certificate of Compliance with Mandatory Disclosure, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.932. (This must be filed within 45 days of service of the petition on the respondent, if not filed at the time of the petition, unless you and your spouse have agreed not to exchange these documents.)

C C C C

Alimony... Alimony may be awarded to a spouse if the judge finds that he or she needs it and that the other spouse has the ability to pay it. If you want alimony, you must request it in writing in the
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.901(b)(2), Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with Property but No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (7/05)

original petition or counterpetition. If you do not request alimony in writing before the final hearing, it is waived (you may not request it later). You may request either permanent alimony, lump sum alimony, or rehabilitative alimony. Marital/Nonmarital Assets and Liabilities... Florida law requires an equitable distribution of marital assets and marital liabilities. "Equitable" does not necessarily mean "equal." Many factors, including alimony awards, may lead the court to make an unequal (but still equitable) distribution of assets and liabilities. Nonmarital assets and nonmarital liabilities are those assets and liabilities which the parties agree or the court determines belong to, or are the responsibility of, only one of the parties. If the parties agree or the court finds an asset or liability to be nonmarital, the judge will not consider it when distributing marital assets and liabilities. Temporary Relief... If you need temporary relief regarding temporary use of assets, temporary responsibility for liabilities, or temporary alimony, you may file a Motion for Temporary Support with No Dependent or Minor Child(ren), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.947(c). For more information, see the instructions for that form. Marital Settlement Agreement... If you and your spouse are able to reach an agreement on any or all of the issues, you should file a Marital Settlement Agreement for Dissolution of Marriage with Property But No Dependent or Minor Child(ren), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(f)(2). Both husband and wife must sign this agreement before a notary public or deputy clerk. Any issues on which you are unable to agree will be considered contested and settled by the judge at the final hearing. Final Judgment Form... These family law forms contain a Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with Property but No Dependent or Minor Child(ren), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.990(c)(2), which the judge may use if your case is contested. If you and your spouse reach an agreement on all of the issues, the judge may use a Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with Property but No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (Uncontested), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.990(b)(2). You should check with the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant to see if you need to bring a final judgment with you to the hearing. If so, you should type or print the heading, including the circuit, county, case number, division, and the parties' names, and leave the rest blank for the judge to complete at your hearing or trial. Nonlawyer... Remember, a person who is NOT an attorney is called a nonlawyer. If a nonlawyer helps you fill out these forms, that person must give you a copy of a Disclosure from Nonlawyer, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.900 (a), before he or she helps you. A nonlawyer helping you fill out these forms also must put his or her name, address, and telephone number on the bottom of the last page of every form he or she helps you complete.

Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.901(b)(2), Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with Property but No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (7/05)

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE IN AND FOR

JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, COUNTY, FLORIDA Case No.: Division: ,

Petitioner, and , Respondent. PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE WITH PROPERTY BUT NO DEPENDENT OR MINOR CHILD(REN) I, {full legal name} [ / one only] ( ) Husband ( 1. , the ) Wife, being sworn, certify that the following statements are true:

JURISDICTION/RESIDENCE ( ) Husband ( ) Wife ( ) Both has (have) lived in Florida for at least 6 months before the filing of this Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. The husband [ / one only] ( ) is ( ) is not a member of the military service. The wife [ / one only] ( ) is ( ) is not a member of the military service. MARRIAGE HISTORY Date of marriage: {month, day, year} Place of marriage: {city, state, country} Date of separation: {month, day, year}

2. 3.

(9 / if approximate)

4. 5.

THERE ARE NO MINOR (under 18) OR DEPENDENT CHILD(REN) COMMON TO BOTH PARTIES AND THE WIFE IS NOT PREGNANT. A completed Notice of Social Security Number, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(j), is filed with this petition.

6. THIS PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE SHOULD BE GRANTED BECAUSE: [ / one only] a. The marriage is irretrievably broken. b. One of the parties has been adjudged mentally incapacitated for a period of 3 years before the filing of this petition. A copy of the Judgment of Incapacity is attached. SECTION I. MARITAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES [ / one only] 1. There are no marital assets or liabilities. 2. There are marital assets or liabilities. All marital and nonmarital assets and liabilities are (or will be) listed in the financial affidavits, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c), to be filed in this case.

Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.901(b)(2), Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with Property but No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (7/05)

[ / all that apply] a. All marital assets and debts have been divided by a written agreement between the parties, which is attached to be incorporated into the final judgment of dissolution of marriage. (The parties may use Marital Settlement Agreement for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(f)(3) or Marital Settlement Agreement for Dissolution of Marriage with No Dependent or Minor Child(ren), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(f)(2). b. The Court should determine how the assets and liabilities of this marriage are to be distributed, under section 61.075, Florida Statutes. c. Petitioner should be awarded an interest in Respondent's property because: SECTION II. SPOUSAL SUPPORT (ALIMONY) [ / one only] 1. Petitioner forever gives up his/her right to spousal support (alimony) from Respondent. 2. Petitioner requests that the Court order Respondent to pay the following spousal support (alimony) and claims that he or she has a need for the support that he or she is requesting and Respondent has the ability to pay that support. Spousal support (alimony) is requested in the amount of $ every ( ) week ( ) other week ( ) month, beginning {date} and continuing until {date or event} . Explain why the Court should order Respondent to pay and any specific request(s) for type of alimony (temporary, permanent, rehabilitative, and/or lump sum):

[ / if applies] ( ) Petitioner requests life insurance on Respondent's life, provided by Respondent, to secure such support. SECTION III. OTHER 1. 2. [If Petitioner is also the Wife, / one only] ( ) yes ( her former name, which was {full legal name} Other relief {specify}: ) no Petitioner/Wife wants to be known by .

SECTION IV. PETITIONER'S REQUEST (This section summarizes what you are asking the Court to include in the final judgment of dissolution of marriage.) Petitioner requests that the Court enter an order dissolving the marriage and: [ / all that apply] 1. distributing marital assets and liabilities as requested in Section I of this petition; 2. awarding spousal support (alimony) as requested in Section II of this petition;
Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.901(b)(2), Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with Property but No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (7/05)

3. restoring Wife's former name as requested in Section III of this petition; 4. awarding other relief as requested in Section III of this petition; and any other terms the Court deems necessary. I understand that I am swearing or affirming under oath to the truthfulness of the claims made in this petition and that the punishment for knowingly making a false statement includes fines and/or imprisonment. Dated: Signature of Petitioner
Printed Name: Address: City, State, Zip: Telephone Number: Fax Number:

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 deputy 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] I, {full legal name and trade name of nonlawyer} a nonlawyer, located at {street} , {city} , {phone} , helped {name} {state} who is the petitioner, fill out this form.

, , ,

Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.901(b)(2), Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with Property but No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (7/05)