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INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW FORM 12.905(b), SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION FOR MODIFICATION OF CHILD SUPPORT (03/09)
When should this form be used?
This form should be used when you are asking the court to change a current court-ordered child support obligation. The court can change a child support order if the judge finds that there has been a substantial change in the circumstances of the parties and the change is in the child(ren)'s best interests. 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 this form in the county where the original order was entered. If the order was entered in another state, or if the child(ren) live(s) in another state, you should speak with an attorney about where to file this form. You should file the original with the clerk of the circuit court and keep a copy for your records.

What should I do next?
For your case to proceed, you must properly notify the other party in your case of the supplemental 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 the other party 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 the other party 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 other party has 20 days to answer after being served with your supplemental petition. Your case will then generally proceed in one of the following three 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. 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 other party 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 supplemental 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 the other party 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.
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.905(b), Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Support (03/09)

CONTESTED... If the respondent files an answer or an answer and counterpetition, which disagrees with or denies anything in your supplemental 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. Then 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. With this form, you must also file the following: Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e). (If you do not know the other party's income, you may file this worksheet after his or her financial affidavit has been served on you.) Settlement Agreement, if you have reached an agreement on any or all of the issues. Although there is no form for this in these Florida Family Law Forms, you may construct a settlement agreement using the pertinent sections contained in Marital Settlement Agreement for Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Child(ren), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(f)(1). Notice of Social Security Number, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(j), if not previously filed. Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c). 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 supplemental petition on the respondent, if not filed at the time of the supplemental petition, unless you and the other party have agreed not to exchange these documents.) Child Support... The court may order one parent to pay child support to assist the other parent in meeting the child(ren)'s material needs. Both parents are required to provide financial support, but one parent may be ordered to pay a portion of his or her support for the child(ren) to the other parent. Florida has adopted guidelines for determining the amount of child support to be paid. These guidelines are based on the combined income of both parents and take into account the financial contributions of both parents. You must file a Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c), and the other parent will be required to do the same. From your financial affidavits, you should be able to calculate the amount of child support that should be paid using the Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e). Because the child support guidelines take several factors into consideration, change over time, and vary from state to state, your child support obligation may be more or less than that of other people in seemingly similar situations.

Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.905(b), Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Support (03/09)

Temporary Relief... If you need temporary relief regarding child support, you may file a Motion for Temporary Support and Time-Sharing with Dependent or Minor Child(ren), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.947(a). For more information, see the instructions for that form. Settlement Agreement... If you and the respondent are able to reach an agreement on any or all of the issues, you should file a Settlement Agreement. Although there is no form for this in these Florida Family Law Forms, you may construct a settlement agreement using the pertinent sections contained in Marital Settlement Agreement for Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Child(ren), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(f)(1). Both parties 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 Supplemental Final Judgment Modifying Child Support, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.993(b), which the judge may use. You should check with the clerk, family law intake staff, or judicial assistant to see if you need to bring it 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 12.905(b), Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Support (03/09)

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE IN AND FOR

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

, Petitioner, and , Respondent.

SUPPLEMENTAL PETITION FOR MODIFICATION OF CHILD SUPPORT
I, {full legal name} that the following information is true: , being sworn, certify

1. The parties to this action were granted a final judgment ( ) of dissolution of marriage ( ) of paternity ( ) for support unconnected with a dissolution of marriage on {date} A copy of the final judgment and any modification(s) is attached. 2. Paragraph(s) of the ( ) final judgment or ( ) most recent modification thereof establishes the present child support at $ every ( ) week ( ) other week ( ) month, beginning on {date} . 3. Since the final judgment or most recent modification thereof, there has been a substantial change in circumstances, requiring a modification in child support. This change in circumstance is as follows: {explain} ____________________________________________________________

.

4. I ask the Court to modify child support as follows: {explain} ______________________________

Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.905(b), Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Support (03/09)

5. This change is in the best interests of the child(ren) because: {explain} _____________________

6. A completed Family Law Financial Affidavit, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(b) or (c), is, or will be, filed. 7. If not previously filed in this case, a completed Notice of Social Security Number, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.902(j), is filed. 8. A Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.902(e), is, or will be, filed. 9. Other: _________________________________________________________________________

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:

Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.905(b), Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Support (03/09)

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} , {state} , {phone} , helped {name} , who is the petitioner, fill out this form.

Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.905(b), Supplemental Petition for Modification of Child Support (03/09)