How to Fill Out Florida Form 12.947(a) (w/Examples) + FAQs

Yes, you can establish child support, timesharing, and a parenting plan in Florida without filing for divorce by completing Florida Supreme Court Form 12.947(a), the Petition for Support and Parenting Plan Unconnected with Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Child(ren). This form lets a married parent who is not seeking divorce, or a parent who lives apart from the other parent, ask a Florida circuit court to enter binding orders on support, timesharing, and parental responsibility under Florida Statute § 61.09 and § 61.13.

The form solves a narrow but urgent problem: parents who need court-ordered child support and a clear parenting plan but who do not want, or cannot pursue, a divorce. According to the Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program, more than 1 million Florida children rely on a court-ordered support case, and a missing or vague parenting plan is one of the top three reasons cases return to court within 24 months.

Here is what this guide covers:

• 📝 Every line, box, and signature block on Form 12.947(a) explained in plain English
• 📎 The exact attachments, financial affidavits, and worksheets you must file with it
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Three named, real-world Florida scenarios showing how parents complete the form
• ⚖️ The 2023 equal-timesharing presumption from HB 1301 and how it changes your filing
• 🚫 Seven costly mistakes, the consequences, and how to avoid each one

What Form 12.947(a) Is and When You Need It

Form 12.947(a) is the official petition a Florida parent uses to ask a circuit court to enter orders for child support, timesharing, and parental responsibility without dissolving a marriage. The Florida Supreme Court approved the form under Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.947, and every Florida circuit court must accept it when filed correctly. You file it in the circuit court of the county where the child has lived for the last six consecutive months, which is the home state rule under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA) codified at Fla. Stat. § 61.514.

You need this form in three main situations. First, you are still legally married but living apart and need support and a parenting plan now. Second, you and the other parent never married, paternity is already established by a Florida Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity or a prior court order, and you need timesharing and support orders. Third, you are a parent who needs to formalize an informal arrangement so it becomes enforceable through contempt, wage garnishment, and license suspension under Fla. Stat. § 61.13016.

The plain-English consequence of not filing this form is severe. Without a court order, your verbal agreement is not enforceable, the Florida Department of Revenue cannot garnish wages, and the other parent can change the schedule on a whim. A common misconception is that a notarized private agreement between parents is binding in Florida; it is not, because only a judge-signed order triggers enforcement powers under Fla. Stat. § 61.14.

Who Should Use This Form

Married parents who are not divorcing use this form when they are separated in fact but want to remain married for religious, immigration, or insurance reasons. Florida does not recognize legal separation, so the Florida Bar Family Law Section treats Form 12.947(a) as the closest substitute. Unmarried parents use it after paternity is already established, because if paternity is not established, they must instead file Form 12.983(a) to establish paternity first.

Same-sex parents and adoptive parents use Form 12.947(a) the same way as any other parent, after Obergefell v. Hodges and Florida’s recognition of full marriage equality. A military parent stationed in Florida can also use the form, but must observe the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act protections during service of process.

When Form 12.947(a) Is the Wrong Form

If you want a divorce, you must file Form 12.901(b)(1) instead. If paternity has never been adjudicated and the parents were never married, Form 12.983(a) is required because timesharing cannot be ordered for an alleged father whose paternity is not legally fixed. If only support is needed and timesharing is not in dispute, the Florida Department of Revenue can open an administrative case for free, which is often faster than the circuit court route.

Choosing the wrong form leads to dismissal, lost filing fees, and months of delay. The consequence is that your child goes without support during the gap, and you may have to refile and pay the $409 family law filing fee again. A frequent misconception is that any “petition” form will do; Florida clerks reject mismatched forms because each case type has its own statutory pathway.

Filing Fees, Attachments, and Where to File

The base filing fee for a Form 12.947(a) petition is $409, set by Fla. Stat. § 28.241 and collected by the local Clerk of Court. If you cannot afford the fee, you may file Form 12.902(f), Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status, and the clerk will defer the fee if your household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. The consequence of skipping the indigency form when you cannot pay is automatic rejection of your filing.

You file in the circuit court of the county where the child has lived for the past six months. For example, a child living in Miami-Dade goes to the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Hillsborough goes to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, and Duval goes to the Fourth Judicial Circuit. Filing in the wrong county triggers a venue transfer or dismissal under Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.060.

A misconception is that you can file where you live. The home-state rule under Fla. Stat. § 61.514 follows the child, not the parent, because the UCCJEA was designed to stop forum shopping. The mini-scenario: Maria moves from Orlando to Tampa with her son in March; if she files in Hillsborough in May, the court will likely transfer the case back to Orange County because the child has not lived in Hillsborough for six months yet.

Required Attachments

You must file Form 12.947(a) with a packet of supporting forms, or the clerk will reject the filing. The packet includes Form 12.902(b) or (c) Financial Affidavit, Form 12.902(d) UCCJEA Affidavit, Form 12.902(e) Child Support Guidelines Worksheet, Form 12.902(j) Notice of Social Security Number, and Form 12.995(a) Parenting Plan.

Use the short-form Financial Affidavit (12.902(b)) if your gross annual income is under $50,000; use the long form (12.902(c)) if it is $50,000 or more. The consequence of filing the wrong financial form is that the judge cannot calculate guideline support and will order you to refile, delaying the case 30 to 60 days.

The UCCJEA Affidavit lists every place the child has lived for the past five years. A common misconception is that this is optional; it is mandatory under Fla. Stat. § 61.522, and omitting it strips the court of jurisdiction.

Mandatory Disclosure

Within 45 days of service, both parents must exchange the documents listed in Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.285. The list includes three years of tax returns, three months of pay stubs, six months of bank statements, and any loan applications signed in the past 12 months. The consequence of failing to comply is a motion to compel, sanctions, and possible striking of pleadings.

A common misconception is that you only need to share documents the other side asks for. Rule 12.285 requires automatic disclosure, meaning you must hand over the documents without a request, because the rule is self-executing. The mini-scenario: David ignores the rule for 60 days; the judge sanctions him $750 and orders him to produce within 10 days or face contempt.

Step-by-Step: Filling Out Form 12.947(a)

Form 12.947(a) is roughly 12 pages long, organized into a caption, eight numbered paragraphs, and a signature block. Each paragraph contains check-the-box options that match your specific situation. Mark only the options that apply, and write N/A in any box that does not apply rather than leaving it blank, because blank fields invite challenges by the other parent.

Below is a section-by-section walkthrough. Treat each numbered paragraph as a small contract clause, because the judge’s final order will mirror what you check here. Read the entire form before writing anything, then complete it in one sitting using black ink or PDF text fields from the Florida Courts Help app.

The Caption and Case Style

The caption appears at the very top and identifies the court, the case number (left blank for the clerk to assign), the division (Family), and the names of the parties. The Petitioner is the parent filing; the Respondent is the other parent. Write full legal names exactly as they appear on government IDs, because mismatched names cause service problems later.

The consequence of using a nickname or maiden name inconsistently is that the sheriff may refuse to serve process, costing you a $40 re-service fee. The mini-scenario: Jennifer files as “Jen Smith” but her driver’s license says “Jennifer Anne Smith-Jones”; the clerk flags the mismatch and rejects the filing until she corrects it.

A misconception is that the case number is something you assign. Only the clerk assigns it, after payment of the $409 fee or approval of indigency.

Paragraph 1: Jurisdictional Allegations

Paragraph 1 asks you to state that the petition is filed under Chapter 61, Florida Statutes, that the child’s home state is Florida, and that you or the Respondent have lived in Florida for at least six months. Check the box confirming Florida residency and attach proof if requested, such as a Florida driver’s license or utility bill.

The consequence of a missing residency allegation is that the court has no subject-matter jurisdiction and must dismiss the case. A misconception is that owning property in Florida equals residency; the test is physical presence with intent to remain, set out in Bloomfield v. City of St. Petersburg Beach. The mini-scenario: Carlos works on a cruise ship and has a Florida mailing address but spends 300 days a year at sea; the judge will likely find he is not a Florida resident.

Paragraph 2: Marriage and Child Information

Paragraph 2 asks whether the parties are married, the date of marriage, and the names and dates of birth of all minor children of the relationship. List every minor child whose support and timesharing you want addressed; do not list adult children, stepchildren, or children from other relationships. Use full legal names and birth dates from the birth certificate.

The consequence of omitting a child is that no order will issue for that child, requiring a separate case. A misconception is that you can include a child of another relationship; you cannot, because the court only has jurisdiction over children of both parties under Fla. Stat. § 61.13(2). The mini-scenario: Aisha lists her son and her niece who lives with her; the judge strikes the niece because she is not a child of both parties.

Paragraph 3: Pregnancy Disclosure

Paragraph 3 asks whether the wife is pregnant. Florida courts require this disclosure because under Anderson v. Anderson, a pending pregnancy can affect timesharing and support orders. Check Yes or No, and if Yes, list the expected due date.

The consequence of a false answer is potential perjury under Fla. Stat. § 837.02, a third-degree felony. A misconception is that the question only applies to married couples; it applies whenever the female party is the mother, because the unborn child’s status affects the case.

Paragraph 4: Parental Responsibility and Timesharing

Paragraph 4 is the heart of the form. You ask the court to award shared parental responsibility, sole parental responsibility, or shared with ultimate decision-making. Florida law presumes shared parental responsibility under Fla. Stat. § 61.13(2)(c)2, unless shared responsibility would harm the child.

You also ask the court to adopt the attached Parenting Plan, Form 12.995(a). After HB 1301 (2023), Florida applies a rebuttable presumption of equal timesharing, which means the court starts at a 50/50 schedule unless evidence shows another schedule serves the child’s best interests. The consequence of asking for less than 50/50 without justification is that the judge may still order 50/50, leaving you with a result you did not request.

A misconception is that the parent who has historically had more time automatically keeps the majority. The 2023 statute flipped that assumption, so the burden is now on the parent seeking unequal time to prove why. The mini-scenario: Lakeisha asks for 70/30 because she has been the primary caregiver since birth; without testimony tied to the 20 statutory factors, the judge may default to 50/50.

Paragraph 5: Child Support

Paragraph 5 asks the court to order child support based on the Florida Child Support Guidelines. You must attach Form 12.902(e), the Guidelines Worksheet, with both parents’ net monthly incomes, daycare costs, and health insurance premiums. The guideline number is presumptively correct, but the judge may deviate up or down by 5% without findings, or more with written findings.

The consequence of leaving the worksheet blank or guessing income is a support order that does not match the law. A misconception is that you can agree to zero support; you cannot waive child support entirely because the right belongs to the child, not the parent, as held in Armour v. Allen.

The mini-scenario: Michael earns $4,000 net per month, Sarah earns $2,000 net, daycare is $600, and health insurance for the child is $150; under the § 61.30 guidelines, Michael owes roughly $850 per month at 50/50 timesharing, calculated using the gross-up method that applies when a parent has 20% or more overnights.

Paragraph 6: Retroactive Support

Paragraph 6 asks for retroactive child support going back up to 24 months before the date of filing, under Fla. Stat. § 61.30(17). The court calculates retroactive support using each parent’s income during the lookback period, not today’s income. Check the box and state the start date you want the retroactive period to begin.

The consequence of forgetting this paragraph is permanent loss of past-due support, because the court will not award retroactive amounts on its own motion. A misconception is that retroactive support starts at the date of separation; it starts at the date the parents stopped living together as an intact family, which can be earlier or later. The mini-scenario: Priya and Raj separated in January 2024 but Priya filed in January 2026; she can recover up to 24 months of retroactive support from January 2024 forward.

Paragraph 7: Other Relief

Paragraph 7 covers ancillary relief such as health insurance, life insurance to secure support under Fla. Stat. § 61.13(1)(c), tax dependency exemptions, and uncovered medical expenses. Check each box that applies and add specifics in the blank lines provided. The IRS allows only one parent to claim a child each year under IRC § 152, so allocate the dependency clearly.

The consequence of skipping this paragraph is no order on health insurance, leaving the child uninsured. A misconception is that the parent paying support always claims the child on taxes; Florida courts often alternate the exemption or split children, especially at 50/50 timesharing.

Paragraph 8: Wherefore Clause and Signature

Paragraph 8 is the wherefore clause where you summarize the relief you want. Sign and date in front of a notary or deputy clerk, because Florida requires a sworn signature on family-law petitions under Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.110. The clerk will not accept an unnotarized petition.

The consequence of a missing notary is rejection at the counter and loss of your filing date. A misconception is that an electronic signature is enough without notarization; for verified petitions, Florida still requires either a notary or in-person clerk acknowledgment. The mini-scenario: Jorge files online through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal without notarization; the clerk rejects the filing the next morning, and Jorge loses two weeks chasing a notary.

Three Real-World Florida Scenarios

Below are three named, fact-specific scenarios drawn from common Florida cases. Each shows how the petition translates into a court order. Use these as templates, but always tailor the numbers and schedules to your own facts.

Scenario 1: Married but Separated in Miami-Dade

Petitioner’s Action	Court’s Likely Response
Maria, married to Luis for 9 years, files Form 12.947(a) in Miami-Dade Circuit seeking 50/50 timesharing and guideline support	Judge accepts venue because the child has lived in Miami-Dade since birth
Maria attaches long-form Financial Affidavit showing $72,000 gross income	Judge calculates Luis owes $610/month based on his $95,000 income
Maria asks for shared parental responsibility	Court grants shared responsibility because no domestic violence evidence exists

Scenario 2: Unmarried Parents in Hillsborough County

Petitioner’s Action	Court’s Likely Response
David, unmarried but with a Voluntary Acknowledgment of Paternity, files in Tampa seeking majority timesharing	Court reviews the rebuttable 50/50 presumption from HB 1301
David presents evidence the mother lives 90 miles away in Lakeland	Judge finds geography rebuts equal timesharing and orders alternating weekends
David asks for retroactive support back 18 months	Court awards 18 months at $425/month based on mother’s income history

Scenario 3: Military Parent in Duval County

Petitioner’s Action	Court’s Likely Response
Captain Alicia, stationed at NAS Jacksonville, files in Duval Circuit seeking a deployment-aware parenting plan	Court enters interim plan with SCRA protections
Alicia attaches Form 12.995(a) with a deployment substitute clause naming her mother	Judge approves substitute caregiver under Fla. Stat. § 61.13002
Alicia requests guideline support based on BAH and base pay	Court includes BAH in gross income per Department of Revenue v. Llamas

Three Named Examples in Action

Example 1 — Tanya in Orlando: Tanya and her husband Mark have lived apart for 14 months. Tanya files Form 12.947(a) in Orange County asking for primary timesharing of their 6-year-old daughter and $700/month support. Because Mark works overnight as a hospital nurse, the court awards Tanya weekday timesharing and Mark every weekend, plus guideline support of $682/month based on his $68,000 income.

Example 2 — Brandon in Tallahassee: Brandon, a never-married father, files Form 12.947(a) in Leon County after establishing paternity through DNA. He attaches Form 12.902(e) showing he earns $42,000 and the mother earns $38,000. The judge orders 50/50 timesharing under the new equal-timesharing presumption and a small guideline payment of $145/month from Brandon to offset daycare.

Example 3 — Wei in Sarasota: Wei, married but living separately from her husband for religious reasons, files Form 12.947(a) in the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. She does not want a divorce, only support and a fixed schedule. The court enters shared parental responsibility, a 60/40 timesharing plan in her favor, and $920/month support, plus orders her husband to maintain a $250,000 life insurance policy under § 61.13(1)(c).

Service of Process After Filing

Once the clerk stamps the petition, you must serve the Respondent. Florida does not allow you to mail or hand the form to the other parent yourself. Instead, you must use the county sheriff or a certified process server under Fla. Stat. § 48.021. The sheriff fee is typically $40, and a private process server charges $60 to $100.

The consequence of improper service is dismissal without prejudice and loss of the filing fee. A common misconception is that texting a PDF of the petition counts as service; it does not, because Florida requires personal delivery by an authorized server unless the court approves constructive service under Fla. Stat. § 49.011 for missing parents.

The mini-scenario: Felipe sends his wife the petition by certified mail; six weeks later, the judge dismisses the case because certified mail is not personal service for an initial pleading. Felipe must refile, pay another $409, and serve correctly through the sheriff.

Constructive Service

If you cannot find the Respondent, you may serve by publication after a diligent search. Florida requires you to file Form 12.913(b), Affidavit of Diligent Search and Inquiry, listing every place you looked, including DMV records, jail records, social media, and last-known employers. The judge must approve constructive service before the newspaper publishes notice.

The consequence of an inadequate search is that any default judgment can be vacated years later, even after the child reaches adulthood. A misconception is that one Google search is enough; courts expect a thorough effort with multiple databases and sworn detail.

Mistakes to Avoid

Filing Form 12.947(a) is unforgiving when small details go wrong. Below are the most common errors that derail Florida cases. Each mistake carries a real consequence, and each is avoidable with careful prep.

• Mistake 1: Filing in the wrong county. The case is transferred or dismissed under Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.060, delaying support 60 to 120 days.
• Mistake 2: Skipping the UCCJEA Affidavit. The court loses jurisdiction over custody under Fla. Stat. § 61.522, and any order entered is void.
• Mistake 3: Using the wrong financial affidavit. Filing the short form when income exceeds $50,000 forces refiling and resets the support hearing.
• Mistake 4: Leaving Paragraph 6 blank. You permanently waive retroactive support up to 24 months, costing thousands of dollars in lost arrears.
• Mistake 5: Self-serving the petition. Personal service by the petitioner is invalid under Fla. Stat. § 48.031, and the case must restart.
• Mistake 6: Submitting an unsigned Parenting Plan. Form 12.995(a) is mandatory, and missing signatures stall final judgment.
• Mistake 7: Ignoring mandatory disclosure. Sanctions under Rule 12.285 include attorney’s fees and stricken pleadings.
• Mistake 8: Misstating income on the Guidelines Worksheet. Hiding income leads to fraud findings and possible referral to the Florida Department of Revenue for prosecution.
• Mistake 9: Failing to notarize. Florida rejects any verified petition without notarization, costing you your filing date.

Do’s and Don’ts

These quick rules help you stay on track. Each is short, but the why behind each one matters more than the rule itself.

Do’s

• Do file in the child’s home county, because the UCCJEA ties jurisdiction to the child, not the parent.
• Do attach all five required forms, because clerks reject incomplete packets at intake.
• Do request retroactive support, because the court will not award it on its own.
• Do prepare the Parenting Plan with realistic schedules, because vague plans produce more litigation later.
• Do keep a stamped copy of every filing, because you will need it for service and at hearings.
• Do update your Financial Affidavit if income changes, because outdated affidavits constitute false statements under oath.

Don’ts

• Don’t sign without a notary, because unverified petitions are void on their face.
• Don’t serve the Respondent yourself, because the rules require an independent server.
• Don’t hide income, because the Department of Revenue cross-checks W-2s and 1099s.
• Don’t agree to zero support, because Armour v. Allen makes that agreement unenforceable.
• Don’t skip the UCCJEA affidavit, because the court has no power to enter timesharing without it.
• Don’t assume 50/50 is automatic, because the HB 1301 presumption is rebuttable on evidence.

Pros and Cons of Filing Form 12.947(a)

This pathway is powerful but not always the right tool. Weigh these tradeoffs before filing.

Pros

• Stays married while securing court-ordered support, useful for insurance and immigration.
• Enforceable through wage garnishment, contempt, and license suspension under § 61.13016.
• Faster than divorce because no equitable distribution is needed, often resolving in 4 to 8 months.
• Cheaper than divorce because property and alimony issues are not litigated.
• Establishes a clear parenting plan enforceable across state lines under the UCCJEA.
• Allows retroactive support up to 24 months under § 61.30(17).

Cons

• Does not divide property or award alimony, so spouses must file separately later if needed.
• No legal separation status in Florida, so insurance and tax filings remain joint unless changed otherwise.
• Requires both parents in Florida for the court to bind both to a parenting plan.
• Modifications are still complex, requiring proof of substantial change under Wade v. Hirschman.
• Public record unless sealed, exposing financial details to anyone who searches the docket.
• Can be undone by divorce, because a later Form 12.901(b)(1) can supersede the order.

Key Florida Case Law to Know

Several Florida appellate decisions shape how judges read Form 12.947(a) petitions. Wade v. Hirschman, 903 So. 2d 928 (Fla. 2005), set the substantial change standard for modifying timesharing, which means the order you obtain today is sticky and hard to change later. Schwieterman v. Schwieterman, 114 So. 3d 984 (Fla. 5th DCA 2012), held that retroactive support must use historical income, not current income, which is why your worksheet must include past pay stubs.

Department of Revenue v. Llamas, 196 So. 3d 1267 (Fla. 5th DCA 2016), included military housing allowances in gross income for support, which matters for any service member filing the form. McKinnon v. Staats, 899 So. 2d 357 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005), confirmed that paternity acknowledgments under Fla. Stat. § 742.10 are conclusive after 60 days, so unmarried fathers using Form 12.947(a) cannot be challenged on paternity once the window closes.

A common misconception is that case law is optional reading; in practice, judges quote these cases at hearings, and your petition must align with their holdings. The mini-scenario: Devon files without listing past income; the court applies Schwieterman and denies retroactive support, costing him $14,000.

How the Department of Revenue Fits In

The Florida Department of Revenue Child Support Program can intervene in your case to enforce, modify, or collect support. The DOR uses income deduction orders to garnish wages directly from employers, which is faster than self-enforcement. If the obligor falls 15 days behind, the DOR can suspend driver’s licenses, professional licenses, and even passports under 42 U.S.C. § 652(k).

The consequence of not registering your order with DOR is that you must enforce arrears yourself through contempt motions, which is slower and costlier. A misconception is that DOR represents you personally; DOR represents the State of Florida’s interest in the child receiving support, not the parent’s interest. The mini-scenario: Latoya wins a $700/month order but never registers with DOR; six months later, Marcus stops paying, and Latoya must file her own contempt motion instead of letting DOR garnish wages automatically.

After the Final Judgment

Once the judge signs the final judgment, the clerk distributes copies to both parties and DOR. You should record the support obligation with the State Disbursement Unit so payments flow through a state account, creating a clean payment history. Keep your address current with the clerk, because notices of modification or contempt go to the address on file.

The consequence of an outdated address is a default judgment entered against you in a future modification you never knew about. A misconception is that the case is over once the judgment is entered; in fact, support cases stay open until the youngest child turns 18, or 19 if still in high school under Fla. Stat. § 743.07.

Modifying the Order Later

To change support or timesharing, file a Supplemental Petition for Modification, Form 12.905(a) or (b). You must show a substantial, material, involuntary, and permanent change of circumstances under Wade v. Hirschman. Job loss, relocation, remarriage, and major medical changes are common triggers.

The consequence of seeking modification without meeting the test is denial and an award of attorney’s fees against you. A misconception is that any income change supports modification; the change must be at least 15% or $50/month, whichever is greater, under Fla. Stat. § 61.30(1)(b).

FAQs

Can I file Form 12.947(a) without a lawyer?

Yes. Florida designed the form for pro se parents, and the Florida Courts Help app walks you through every field, though complex cases still benefit from counsel.

Do I have to be married to use Form 12.947(a)?

No. Unmarried parents may use it once paternity is established by acknowledgment, court order, or DNA, because the form addresses support and timesharing for any dependent or minor child.

Is the filing fee waivable?

Yes. Filing Form 12.902(f) lets indigent parents defer the $409 fee, provided household income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty line.

Does Florida require 50/50 timesharing now?

Yes, but it is a rebuttable presumption under HB 1301 (2023), meaning a parent may rebut equal time with evidence tied to the § 61.13 best-interest factors.

Can I get retroactive child support?

Yes. Under Fla. Stat. § 61.30(17), the court may award up to 24 months of retroactive support, calculated using each parent’s income during the lookback period.

Do I need a separate parenting plan form?

Yes. Form 12.995(a) is mandatory, and the court will not enter a final order on timesharing without an attached, signed plan from the petitioner.

Can I serve the petition by certified mail?

No. Initial pleadings require personal service through a sheriff or certified process server under Fla. Stat. § 48.031; certified mail is invalid for an initial petition.

Will the case be public record?

Yes, unless sealed for cause, family-law dockets are searchable through county clerks, although Social Security numbers and certain financial details are protected under Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.425.

Can I use this form if I want to divorce later?

Yes. A later Form 12.901(b)(1) can supersede the prior order, and the divorce court will fold support and timesharing into the new final judgment.

Does Florida recognize legal separation?

No. Florida has no legal separation statute, which is why Form 12.947(a) exists as the closest substitute for couples who want orders without dissolving the marriage.

Can I waive child support in writing?

No. Armour v. Allen holds that the right to support belongs to the child, not the parent, so any waiver between parents is unenforceable in Florida courts.

Will the Department of Revenue automatically collect my support?

Yes, if you register your order with the State Disbursement Unit and request services from the DOR Child Support Program, wage garnishment begins as soon as the obligor’s employer is notified.