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.
What should I do next?
For your case to proceed, you must properly notify the other parent and every other person
entitled to, access, time-sharing, or visitation with the child(ren) in your case of the
supplemental petition. “Other Person” means an individual who is not the parent but with
whom the child resides pursuant to court order, or who has the right of access to, time-sharing
with, or visitation with the child(ren). 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, the court may only grant limited
relief. For more information on constructive service, see Notice of Action For, Florida Supreme
Court Approved Family Law Form 12.913(a)(2), 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). The law regarding constructive service and service on an individual in the
military service is very complex. If you have any questions about service, 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:
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.950(d), Supplemental Petition to
Permit Relocation with Minor or Dependent Child(ren)(02/18)