Divorce 12.901(b)(3)
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12.901(b)(3) Petition for Dissolution of Marriage with No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) or Property
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW FORM 12.901(b)(3), PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE WITH NO DEPENDENT OR MINOR CHILD(REN) OR PROPERTY(10/11)
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 no marital assets and/or marital liabilities and 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 petition for simplified dissolution of marriage, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.901(a). However, you may file this form if all of the following are true:
You have no marital assets or marital debts.
Neither you nor your spouse is seeking support (alimony).
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 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 you want to keep your address confidential because you are the victim of sexual battery, aggravated child abuse, aggravated stalking, harassment, aggravated battery, or domestic violence do not enter the address, telephone, and fax information at the bottom of this form. Instead, file a 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:
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).
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.)
Final Judgment Form... These family law forms contain a Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with No Property or Minor Child(ren) (Uncontested), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.990(b)(3). 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.
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Additional Forms Mentioned in Instructions Above: (Your Document Preparer will ask you if you wish to complete each of the following forms. Please read each form and decide if you require the form for your specific circumstances. A document preparer cannot and will not help you choose which forms to file.)
Notice of Action for Dissolution of Marriage, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family LawForm 12.913(a)
Affidavit of Diligent Search and Inquiry, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.913(b)
Memorandum for Certificate of Military Service, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.912(a)
Motion for Default, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.922(a)
Notice of Hearing (General), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.923
Notice for Trial, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.924
Answer to Counterpetition, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.903(d)
Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status
Request for Confidential Filing of Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.980(h)
Affidavit of Corroborating Witness, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(i)
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) AND (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.
Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage with No Property or Minor Child(ren) (Uncontested), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.990(b)(3)
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