Florida > Statewide > Family Law > Temporary Or Extended Custody (Extended Family)
Petition For Temporary Custody By Extended Family 12.970(a) - Florida
| Petition For Temporary Custody By Extended Family Form. This is a Florida form and can be used in Temporary Or Extended Custody (Extended Family) Family Law Statewide . |
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW FORM 12.970(a), PETITION FOR TEMPORARY CUSTODY BY EXTENDED FAMILY (04/11) When should this form be used? This form should be used by an extended family member to obtain temporary custody of a child or children pursuant to Chapter 751, Florida Statutes. This form should not be used if you are a parent seeking to establish parental responsibility or time-sharing with a child or children. An Extended Family Member is: A relative of a minor child within the third degree by blood or marriage to the parent; OR The stepparent of a minor child if the stepparent is currently married to the parent of the child and is not a party in a pending dissolution, separate maintenance, domestic violence, or other civil or criminal proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction involving one or both of the child(ren)'s parents as an adverse party. You may file a Petition for Temporary Custody if: You have the signed, notarized consents of the child(ren)'s legal parents; OR You are an extended family member who is caring full time for the child(ren) in the role of a substitute parent and with whom the child(ren) is (are) presently living. If one of the minor child(ren)'s parents objects to the Petition, the court shall grant the Petition only upon a finding, by clear and convincing evidence, that the child(ren)'s parent or parents are unfit to provide for the care and control of the child(ren). In determining that a parent is unfit, the court must find that the parent has abused, abandoned, or neglected the child(ren), as defined in Chapter 39, Florida Statutes. If you do not have the parents' consents you should consult a family law attorney before you file your papers. If you do not meet the qualifications above, you should talk to an attorney about other options. You may also report any suspected abuse, abandonment, or neglect to the appropriate authorities. 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? IF YOU HAVE SIGNED AND NOTARIZED WAIVERS OF SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS from the child(ren)'s mother and father, and the case is uncontested, you may call the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant, to set a final hearing. You must notify the child(ren)'s parents of the hearing Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.970(a), Petition for Temporary Custody By Extended Family (04/11) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com by using a Notice of Hearing (General), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.923, or other appropriate notice of hearing form. If one of the parents is deceased, you must file a certified copy of the proof of death. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE SIGNED AND NOTARIZED WAIVERS OF SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS from the child(ren)'s parents, you must properly notify the parents 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 after conducting a diligent search, you may use constructive service. You must complete all of the searches listed in the Affidavit of Diligent Search and Inquiry, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.913(b), and file the form with the clerk. You should seek legal advice on constructive service as this is a complicated area of the law. If the identity of one parent is unknown, you will need to seek legal advice to determine the proper way to serve an unknown parent. For more information, see Chapter 49, Florida Statutes. If personal service is used, the parents have 20 days to answer after being served with your petition. Your case will generally proceed in one of the following ways: DEFAULT. . . If after 20 days, no answer has been filed, you may file a Motion for Default, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.922(a), with the clerk of court. You must file a Notice for Trial, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.924. 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 the child(ren)'s parents 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 either parent files an answer which disagrees with or denies anything in your petition, and you are unable to settle the disputed issues, you must file a Notice for Trial, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.924, to request a final hearing. 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). At any time, either or both of the child(ren)'s parents may petition the court to modify or terminate the order granting temporary custody. The court shall terminate the order upon a finding that the parent is a fit parent, or by the consent of the parties. The court may modify an order granting temporary custody if the parties consent or if the modification is in the best interest of the child(ren). 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 751 and Chapter 39, Florida Statutes. Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.970(a), Petition for Temporary Custody By Extended Family (04/11) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 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, fill it out, and the clerk will determine whether you are eligible to have filing fees deferred. With this petition, you must file the following and provide a copy to the other party: Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) Affidavit, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(d). Notice of Related Cases, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.900(h). Family Court Cove
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