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INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA FAMILY LAW RULES OF PROCEDURE
FORM 12.913(c), AFFIDAVIT OF DILIGENT SEARCH (04/08)


When should this form be used?
This form is to be used with Notice of Action, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.913(a), to obtain constructive service (also called service by publication) on the legal father in any action or proceeding to determine paternity which may result in termination of the legal father's parental rights. You must disclose the last known address of the legal father. A last known address cannot be unknown. This form includes a checklist of places you must look for information on the location of the legal father. You have to look in all of these places, and the court must believe that you have made a very serious effort to get information about the person's location and that you have followed up on any information you received. 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 and a Notice of Action Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.913(a), with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where your petition for dissolution of marriage is filed. You should keep a copy for your records.

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. For further information, see rule 12.070, Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure, rule 1.070(e) and (f), Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, and section 409.257, Florida Statutes.

Special notes...
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 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 Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.913(c), Affidavit of Diligent Search (04/08)

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE _______________________ JUDICIAL CIRCUIT,
IN AND FOR ______________________________COUNTY, FLORIDA
Case No.: __________________________ Division:___________________________ __________________________________, Petitioner, and __________________________________, Respondent.

AFFIDAVIT OF DILIGENT SEARCH
I, {full legal name}_________________________________, being sworn, certify that the following information is true: 1. The last known address of the child(ren)'s legal father {name}______________________, as of {date}______________________________, was: Address _________________________ City____________ State__________ Zip ______ Telephone No. ____________________ Fax No. _______________________. His last known employment, as of {date} __________, was:
Name of Employer __________________________________________________________
Address __________________________ City ___________ State __________ Zip ______
Telephone No. _____________________ Fax No. _______________________
2. 3. The legal father is over the age of 18. The legal father's current residence is not known and cannot be determined, although I have made a diligent search and inquiry to locate him through the following: You must search ALL of the following sources of information and state the results. ____ United States Post Office inquiry through the Freedom of Information Act for the person's current address or any previous address. Result of search:_____________________________________________________ ____ Last known employment of the other parent, including name and address of employer. Result of search:____________________________________________ ____ Regulatory agencies, including professional or occupational licensing, in the area where the other parent last resided. Result of search:_______________________
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.913(c), Affidavit of Diligent Search (04/08)

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Names and addresses of relatives to the extent such can be reasonably obtained from the petitioner or other sources, contacts with those relatives and inquiry as to the other parent's last known address. You are to follow up any leads of any addresses where the other parent may have moved. Result of search: _____________________________________________________ Information about the other parent's possible death and, if dead, the date and location. Result of search:______________________________________________ Telephone listings in the area where the other parent last resided. Result of search: _____________________________________________________ Law enforcement agencies in the area where the other parent last resided. Result of search: _____________________________________________________ Highway Patrol records in the state where the other parent last resided. Result of search: _____________________________________________________ Department of Corrections records in the state where the other parent last resided. Result of search: ______________________________________________ Hospitals in the last known area of the other parent's residence. Result of search: _____________________________________________________ Records of utility companies, which include water, sewer, cable TV, and electric in the last known area of the other parent's residence. Result of search: _____________________________________________________ Records of the Armed Forces of the U.S. and their response as to whether or not there is any information about the other parent. (See Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.912(a), Memorandum for Certificate of Military Service.) Result of search: _____________________________________________________ Records of the tax assessor's and tax collector's office in the area where the other parent last resided. Result of search:______________________________________ Search of one Internet databank locator service. Result of search: _____________________________________________________ Title IV-D (child support enforcement) agency records in the state of the other parent's last known address. Result of search: _____________________________

I understand that I am swearing or affirming under oath to the truthfulness of the claims made in this affidavit 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 Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.913(c), Affidavit of Diligent Search (04/08)

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 Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.913(c), Affidavit of Diligent Search (04/08)