IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING E-SERVICE ELECTION
After the initial service of process of the petition or supplemental petition by the Sheriff or
certified process server, the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration now require that all
documents required or permitted to be served on the other party must be served by electronic
mail (e-mail) except in certain circumstances. You must strictly comply with the format
requirements set forth in the Rules of Judicial Administration. If you elect to participate in
electronic service, which means serving or receiving pleadings by electronic mail (e-mail), or
through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, you must review Florida Rule of Judicial Administration
2.516. You may find this rule at www.flcourts.org through the link to the Rules of Judicial
Administration provided under either Family Law Forms: Getting Started, or Rules of Court in the
A-Z Topical Index.
SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS MAY SERVE DOCUMENTS BY E-MAIL; HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT
REQUIRED TO DO SO. If a self-represented litigant elects to serve and receive documents by e-
mail, the procedures must always be followed once the initial election is made.
To serve and receive documents by e-mail, you must designate your e-mail addresses by using the
Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law
Form 12.915, and you must provide your e-mail address on each form on which your signature
appears. Please CAREFULLY read the rules and instructions for: Certificate of Service (General),
Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.914; Designation of Current Mailing and E-
mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915; and Florida Rule of
Judicial Administration 2.516.
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 Section 742.18, 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 Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.951(a), Petition to Disestablish
Paternity and/or Terminate Child Support Obligation (06/18)