In re Amendments to the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms

113 So. 3d 781, 2013 Fla. LEXIS 1939, 2013 WL 1908394
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedMay 9, 2013
DocketNo. SC13-305
StatusPublished

This text of 113 So. 3d 781 (In re Amendments to the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re Amendments to the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms, 113 So. 3d 781, 2013 Fla. LEXIS 1939, 2013 WL 1908394 (Fla. 2013).

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

Pursuant to the procedures approved by this Court in Amendments to the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure & Family Law Forms, 810 So.2d 1, 14 (Fla.2000), this Court has internally reviewed the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms and has determined that new forms and amendments to several existing forms are needed in light of recent legislation relating to injunctions for protection against stalking. See ch.2012-153, §§ 3, 4, Laws of Fla. (amending chapter 784, Florida Statutes, creating a cause of action for an injunction for protection against stalking) (effective October 1, 2012). Input on these issues was received from the Advisory Workgroup on the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms, which provided valuable assistance. We have jurisdiction. See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.

In general, the amendments to the existing forms: (1) add the term “stalking” to the forms’ respective titles, bodies, footers, and instructions, where appropriate; (2) add language to the instructions to form 12.980(g) regarding what information to include in a supplemental affidavit in support of a petition for injunction for protection against stalking; (3) add a blank textbox to the supplemental affidavit in support of a petition for injunction for protection against stalking for the petitioner to describe the alleged stalking; and (4) renumber several forms. In accord with the amendments to chapter 784, Florida Statutes, the new forms adopted are forms 12.980(t) (Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Stalking), 12.980(u) (Temporary Injunction for Protection Against Stalking), and 12.980(v) (Final Judgment for Protection Against Stalking). See ch.2012-153, §§ 3, 4, Laws of Fla.

The new and amended forms are adopted as set forth in the appendix to this [782]*782opinion, fully engrossed, effective for immediate use. The forms may also be accessed and downloaded from the Florida State Court’s website at www.fleourts.org/' gen_public/family/forms_rules/index.shtml. By adoption of the new and amended forms, we express no opinion as to their correctness or applicability. We also direct that the new and amended forms be published for comment. Interested persons shall have sixty days from the date of this opinion to file comments with the Court.1

It is so ordered.

POLSTON, C.J., and PARIENTE, LEWIS, QUINCE, CANADY, LABARGA, and PERRY, JJ., concur.

[783]*783APPENDIX

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE_JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,

IN AND FOR_COUNTY, FLORIDA

Case No.:_

Division:_

Petitioner,

and

Respondent.

ORDER SETTING HEARING ON PETITION FOR INJUNCTION FOR PROTECTION AGAINST ( ) DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ( ) REPEAT VIOLENCE ( ) DATING VIOLENCE ( ) SEXUAL VIOLENCE ( ) STALKING WITHOUT ISSUANCE OF AN INTERIM TEMPORARY INJUNCTION

A Petition for Injunction for Protection Against: Domestic Violence filed under section 741.30, Florida Statutes; Repeat, Dating, or Sexual Violence filed under section 784.046, Florida Statutes; or Stalking filed under section 784.0845, Florida Statutes, has been reviewed. This Court has jurisdiction of the parties and of the subject matter. Upon review of the Petition, this Court concludes that a Temporary Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence; Repeat, Dating, or Sexual Violence; or Stalking, pending the hearing scheduled below, NOT be entered at this time but that an Injunction may be entered after the hearing, depending on the findings made by the Court at that time.

FINDINGS

The Court finds that the facts, as stated in the Petition alone and without a hearing on the matter, do not demonstrate that Petitioner is a victim of domestic, repeat, dating, or sexual violence, or stalking; or that Petitioner has reasonable cause to believe that he or she is in imminent danger of becoming a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking. Therefore, there is not a sufficient factual basis upon which the court can enter a Temporary Injunction for Protection Against Domestic, Repeat, Dating, or Sexual Violence, or Stalking, prior to a hearing. A hearing is scheduled on the Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Domestic, Repeat, Dating, or Sexual Violence, or Stalking, in Section II of this Order. Petitioner may amend or supplement the Petition at any time to state further reasons why a Temporary Injunction should be ordered which would be in effect until the hearing scheduled below.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form !2.980(bXlX Order Setting Hearing on Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence, Repeat Violence, Dating Violence, Sexual Violence, or Stalking, without Issuance of an Interim Temporary Injunction (05/13)

[784]*784Petitioner and Respondent are ordered to appear and testify at a hearing on the Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Domestic, Repeat, Dating, or Sexual Violence, or Stalking, on: {dote}_,at_a.m./p.m. at {location}__, at which time the Court will consider whether a Final Judgment of injunction for Protection Against Domestic, Repeat, Dating, or Sexual Violence, or Stalking, should be entered. If entered, the injunction will remain in effect until a fixed date set by the Court or until modified or dissolved by the Court. At the hearing, the Court will determine whether other things should be ordered, including, for example, such matters as time-sharing and support.

If Petitioner and/or Respondent do not appear, orders may be entered, including entry of a permanent injunction and the imposition of court costs. Petitioner and Respondent will be bound by the terms of any injunction or order issued at the final hearing.

IF EITHER PETITIONER OR RESPONDENT DO NOT APPEAR ATTHE FINAL HEARING, HE OR SHE WILL BE BOUND BY THE TERMS OF ANY INJUNCTION OR ORDER ISSUED IN THIS MATTER.

All witnesses and evidence, if any, must be presented at this time. In cases where temporary support issues have been alleged in the pleadings, each party is ordered to bring his or her financial affidavit (Florida Family law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c)}, tax return, pay stubs, and other evidence of financia! income to the hearing.

NOTICE: Because this is a civil case, there is no requirement that these proceedings be transcribed at public expense.

YOU ARE ADVISED THAT IN THIS COURT:

a. _a court reporter is provided by the court.
b._electronic recording only is provided by the court. A party may arrange in advance for the services of and provide for a court reporter to prepare a written transcript of the proceedings at that party's expense.
c._in repeat, dating, and sexual violence cases, no electronic recording or court reporting services are provided by the court. A party may arrange in advance for the services of and provide for a court reporter to prepare a written transcript of the proceedings at that party's expense.

A RECORD, WHICH INCLUDES A TRANSCRIPT, MAY BE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT AN APPEAL. THE PARTY SEEKING THE APPEAL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HAVING THE TRANSCRIPT PREPARED BY A COURT REPORTER. THE TRANSCRIPT MUST BE FILED WITH THE REVIEWING COURT OR THE APPEAL MAY BE DENIED

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113 So. 3d 781, 2013 Fla. LEXIS 1939, 2013 WL 1908394, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-amendments-to-the-florida-supreme-court-approved-family-law-forms-fla-2013.