You fill out Florida Family Law Form 12.980(g) by completing every numbered paragraph about you (the petitioner), the respondent, your dating relationship, the violence or threat you face, and the specific protections you want a judge to order. The form is a sworn Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Dating Violence under Florida Statute § 784.046, and you sign it in front of a notary or a deputy clerk before filing it with the circuit court clerk in your county.
Filing a dating violence injunction is one of the fastest civil-court remedies in Florida, and it is free. According to the Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator’s annual statistical report, Florida courts handle more than 90,000 injunction-for-protection petitions every year, and dating violence cases make up a growing share of those filings.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📝 How to complete every paragraph of Form 12.980(g) line by line, with no skipped boxes.
- ⚖️ How Florida defines a “dating relationship” under the statutory three-part test and the cases that shape it.
- 🚫 The seven most common mistakes petitioners make that get their injunctions denied or dismissed.
- 🛡️ How a temporary ex parte injunction works, when the final hearing happens, and what the respondent loses.
- 📂 How to e-file through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal and what your county clerk does after you submit.
What Florida Form 12.980(g) Really Is
Form 12.980(g) is the official, Florida Supreme Court-approved petition you use to ask a circuit judge for a civil restraining order against someone you have dated. The form lives inside the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form set, and the rules require you to use this exact form when your case involves dating violence rather than domestic, repeat, sexual, or stalking violence.
The petition is sworn, which means you sign it under penalty of perjury. Florida Statute § 837.02 makes lying in a sworn court filing a third-degree felony, punishable by up to five years in prison. Filling the form out carelessly is not a small risk.
The form does four jobs at once. It identifies the parties, it pleads the facts that prove a dating relationship, it pleads the violence or imminent fear of violence, and it asks the judge for the specific relief you want. If any of those four jobs is missing, the judge will deny the temporary injunction.
Who Can File Form 12.980(g)
You can file this petition if you are 18 or older, or if you are an emancipated minor, and you reasonably believe you are in imminent danger of becoming a victim of another act of dating violence, or you have been a victim of dating violence already. The statute does not require physical injury. A credible threat that puts you in fear of imminent violence is enough.
A parent or legal guardian may file the petition on behalf of a minor child who lives at home, but only if the child is the one in the dating relationship. The adult signs as the petitioner and lists the minor as the person seeking protection.
If you do not fit the dating-relationship definition, you must use a different form. Use Form 12.980(a) for domestic violence, Form 12.980(f) for repeat violence, Form 12.980(q) for stalking, and Form 12.980(n) for sexual violence. Picking the wrong form is the single most common reason these petitions are dismissed at the courthouse counter.
The Statutory “Dating Relationship” Test
Florida’s § 784.046(1)(d) defines a dating relationship using a three-part test that the judge will apply word for word. The relationship must have existed within the past six months, it must have been continuing and significant and of a romantic or intimate nature, and it must have included the type of interaction that is expected between people dating.
A casual hookup does not count. The Second District Court of Appeal made this clear in Alderman v. Thomas, 141 So. 3d 668 (Fla. 2d DCA 2014), where it reversed an injunction because the parties had only a brief sexual encounter rather than a continuing romantic bond.
A long friendship that never crossed into romance also does not count. In Gustafson v. Mauck, 743 So. 2d 614 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999), the court rejected the petition because the relationship lacked the romantic, intimate character the statute requires.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough of Form 12.980(g)
The form runs about 12 pages, and every numbered paragraph matters. Skipping a box, leaving an address blank, or initialing the wrong line can cost you a same-day temporary injunction. The walkthrough below tracks the form as published on the Florida Courts website.
Caption and Case Style
At the top, write the county and judicial circuit where you live or where the violence happened. Florida Family Law Rule 12.610 lets you file in either place, which gives you flexibility if the respondent lives in another county.
Leave the case number blank. The clerk assigns the case number when you hand in the petition, and writing your own number creates a docketing error that delays the judge’s review.
Spell your full legal name and the respondent’s full legal name exactly as they appear on a driver’s license. A nickname or misspelling on the caption can void service of process later, which means the sheriff cannot legally hand the injunction to the respondent.
Paragraph 1 — Petitioner Information
This paragraph asks for your address, but Florida law lets you keep it confidential if you fear for your safety. Check the box that says you want your address kept confidential and complete the Petitioner’s Request for Confidential Filing of Address, Form 12.980(h), at the same time.
Provide a safe mailing address where the clerk can send notices. A friend’s house, a P.O. box, or a domestic violence shelter address all work. The judge needs some way to reach you, even if the respondent never sees that address.
List your date of birth, race, sex, height, weight, eye color, and hair color. The sheriff uses this descriptive data to verify identity at the final hearing, and a missing field can trigger a continuance.
Paragraph 2 — Respondent Information
Give the respondent’s full legal name, current address, employer, and physical description. Without a current address, the sheriff cannot serve the petition, and an unserved respondent means the judge will not enter a final injunction at the hearing.
Include any vehicle the respondent drives, including make, model, color, and tag number. Florida Statute § 784.046(8) directs sheriffs to enter the injunction into the FCIC/NCIC databases, and vehicle data helps officers enforce the order during a traffic stop.
Disclose whether the respondent owns or has access to firearms. The judge uses this disclosure to decide whether to order an immediate firearm surrender under § 790.233, which makes it a first-degree misdemeanor for a respondent under a final dating-violence injunction to possess a firearm or ammunition.
Paragraph 3 — Jurisdictional Allegations
Here you swear that you and the respondent had a dating relationship within the last six months. State the start date, the end date if it ended, and one or two facts that show the relationship was continuing, significant, and romantic.
Do not write a love story. Two or three concrete sentences—how you met, how often you saw each other, whether you were exclusive, whether you met each other’s families—satisfy the statute and the case law in Rosario v. Burke, 605 So. 2d 1284 (Fla. 2d DCA 1992).
If you cannot truthfully check this box, stop. You do not have a dating-violence case, and the judge will dismiss the petition for lack of jurisdiction. Re-file under the correct form instead.
Paragraph 4 — The Violence or Imminent Fear
This is the heart of the petition. Describe the most recent incident of dating violence first, then the pattern of prior incidents, in chronological order. Include the date, the location, what the respondent said, what the respondent did, and what injuries or fear resulted.
§ 784.046(1)(a) defines dating violence as assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death. Use those statutory words where they fit—“he committed a battery on me by punching my face” beats “he hit me.”
Attach photos of injuries, screenshots of threatening texts, and copies of police reports if you have them. The judge can read Form 12.980(g) plus your attachments in under five minutes, so make every sentence count.
Paragraph 5 — Other Pending Cases
Disclose every other court case between you and the respondent. This includes criminal cases, divorce, paternity, child support, and prior injunctions, even if they were dismissed.
Hiding a related case is grounds for denial. The First District Court of Appeal affirmed a dismissal on exactly these facts in Pickett v. Copeland, 236 So. 3d 1142 (Fla. 1st DCA 2018), reminding petitioners that candor is a jurisdictional requirement.
If a criminal “no-contact” order already exists, tell the civil judge. The civil injunction can still issue, and it gives you remedies the criminal court cannot, like exclusive use of a shared apartment.
Paragraph 6 — Relief Requested
Check every box that fits your situation. The form lists no-contact, stay-away distance, exclusive use of shared dwelling, no firearms, batterer’s intervention program (BIP) under § 741.325, and “any other relief the court deems necessary.”
Be specific about distances. Asking the judge to keep the respondent 500 feet away from your home, your job at a named address, and your child’s school at a named address is more enforceable than a vague “stay away from me.” Police officers need a measurable line.
If you share a home, ask for exclusive use even if the lease is in the respondent’s name. § 784.046(7)(a)(2) authorizes the judge to award exclusive use of a shared dwelling to the petitioner regardless of whose name is on the lease or deed.
Paragraph 7 — Sworn Signature and Notarization
You must sign the petition in front of a notary public or a deputy clerk of court. Most county clerks notarize injunction petitions for free at the filing window.
Print your name, sign your name, and date the signature line. An undated or unsigned petition is legally a nullity and the clerk will reject it.
If you sign in front of a deputy clerk, the clerk stamps the signature block and the petition is ready for the judge. If you sign in front of a private notary, bring valid photo ID.
Three Real-World Scenarios
The scenarios below show how the same form produces different outcomes depending on the facts you plead. Each scenario tracks a named petitioner so you can see how a judge reads the petition.
Scenario 1 — Maria’s Same-Day Temporary Injunction
| What Maria Did | What the Judge Ordered |
|---|---|
| Filed Form 12.980(g) describing a four-month exclusive relationship and a recent battery with photos of bruises. | Granted a temporary ex parte injunction the same day, ordered firearm surrender, and set a final hearing in 14 days. |
| Filed Form 12.980(h) to keep her address confidential. | Sealed the address from the public file under Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.420. |
| Listed the respondent’s employer and vehicle tag. | Directed the sheriff to serve the respondent at work within 24 hours. |
Scenario 2 — Jamal’s Denied Petition
| What Jamal Did | What the Judge Did |
|---|---|
| Pled a single date and one consensual hookup six weeks before filing. | Denied the petition because the relationship was not continuing and significant under Alderman v. Thomas. |
| Described “rude texts” without quoting them. | Found no act or threat that meets the statutory definition of dating violence. |
| Asked for “anything the court can do.” | Refused to fashion vague relief without a specific factual basis. |
Scenario 3 — Priya’s Modified Injunction
| What Priya Did | What the Judge Ordered |
|---|---|
| Filed a 12.980(g) petition six months after a prior injunction expired. | Treated the new petition as a fresh case, not an extension. |
| Pled new threats made through a mutual friend. | Granted a one-year final injunction with a 1,000-foot stay-away order. |
| Asked for a batterer’s intervention referral for the respondent. | Ordered enrollment within 21 days under § 741.325. |
Three Named-Person Examples
These mini-stories show how small drafting choices change the outcome. Use them as a model for your own paragraph 4.
Lena, a college sophomore, dated Marcus for five months. After a breakup, Marcus showed up at her dorm, blocked her door, and threatened to “make her regret it.” Lena pled the date range, the dorm incident, and the verbatim threat. The judge granted the temporary injunction in 90 minutes because Lena’s facts matched the statutory assault definition.
David, a 28-year-old nurse, had been dating Tonya for seven months when she pushed him into a wall and bit his arm. David photographed the bite, attached the photo, and quoted Tonya’s text saying “next time it’ll be worse.” The judge entered a temporary injunction with firearm surrender because David’s filing tracked the statutory battery definition word for word.
Sofia, a small-business owner, dated Eli for nine months and shared a leased apartment. After Eli destroyed her laptop and threatened her with a kitchen knife, Sofia checked the box for exclusive use of the apartment in paragraph 6. The judge awarded exclusive use under § 784.046(7)(a)(2), even though only Eli’s name was on the lease.
Mistakes to Avoid
Even good facts lose to bad paperwork. Avoid these specific errors.
- Filing under 12.980(g) when the relationship was only a casual hookup. The judge will dismiss the case under Alderman v. Thomas, and you must re-file under Form 12.980(f) for repeat violence.
- Leaving the respondent’s address blank. The sheriff cannot serve an unaddressed respondent, and the final hearing cannot proceed without service.
- Pleading conclusions like “he is dangerous” without facts. Judges need concrete dates, words, and acts that match the § 784.046 definitions.
- Failing to disclose other pending cases. The court treated this as fatal in Pickett v. Copeland and dismissed the injunction.
- Asking for child custody on the dating-violence form. Custody belongs in a paternity or dissolution case, not 12.980(g).
- Skipping notarization. An unsworn petition violates Rule 12.610 and the clerk will not file it.
- Missing the final hearing. If you do not show up, the judge dissolves the temporary injunction the same day, and you start over.
Do’s and Don’ts
Each item below carries a specific why drawn from Florida statutes, rules, and case law.
- Do quote threats verbatim, because the judge applies the assault statute word for word.
- Do attach photos and texts, because admitted evidence at the final hearing often comes from your own attachments.
- Do request firearm surrender, because § 790.233 automatically bars possession only after a final injunction issues.
- Do ask the clerk for the confidential address form, because public records expose your home address by default.
- Do keep two copies of every document, because the sheriff serves one and you keep one for the hearing.
- Don’t exaggerate facts, because § 837.02 makes perjury in a sworn petition a third-degree felony.
- Don’t contact the respondent after filing, because mutual contact is the top reason judges dissolve temporary injunctions.
- Don’t use the wrong form, because the clerk and the judge will both reject it.
- Don’t miss the 14-day window to the final hearing, because the temporary injunction expires by operation of law.
- Don’t rely on the respondent’s promise to “stay away,” because only a court order is enforceable by arrest.
Pros and Cons of Filing Form 12.980(g)
Filing the petition is powerful, but it is not free of friction. Weigh the trade-offs honestly.
- Pro — No filing fee, because § 784.046(3)(b) bars clerks from charging petitioners.
- Pro — Same-day temporary protection if the judge finds an immediate and present danger.
- Pro — Statewide and nationwide enforcement under the federal Full Faith and Credit provision.
- Pro — The respondent loses firearm rights upon a final injunction under federal 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8).
- Pro — The court can order batterer’s intervention at the respondent’s expense.
- Con — Public court file unless you also file Form 12.980(h).
- Con — Respondent learns your version of events and can cross-examine you at the final hearing.
- Con — A denied petition becomes part of the public record and may surface in later litigation.
- Con — You must appear in person, which can be hard for survivors who have moved out of county.
- Con — A false or exaggerated petition exposes you to perjury and civil liability.
What Happens After You File
Once you hand the petition to the clerk, three things happen fast. The clerk stamps the case, the judge reviews the petition the same business day, and the sheriff begins service if a temporary injunction issues.
The temporary ex parte injunction lasts up to 15 days under § 784.046(6)(c). The final hearing must occur before the temporary order expires, and the judge can extend the temporary order if the sheriff has not yet served the respondent.
At the final hearing, both sides testify under oath. If the judge finds you proved your case by a preponderance of the evidence, the judge enters a final injunction that can last a fixed period or remain in effect until further order of the court.
How to E-File Through the Portal
Florida lets you e-file injunction petitions through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal at no charge. Self-represented petitioners create a free account, upload the completed Form 12.980(g) as a PDF, and select the “Injunction for Protection Against Dating Violence” case type.
The portal routes your filing to the correct circuit clerk based on the county you choose. Most clerks acknowledge the filing within hours, and the assigned judge often signs the temporary injunction the same day.
If you do not have internet access, walk into the clerk’s office during business hours. Every Florida circuit clerk operates a domestic-violence intake desk, and many staff certified victim advocates funded by the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
County-by-County Nuances
Filing procedure varies subtly across the state’s 20 judicial circuits. In Miami-Dade County, the clerk routes petitions to a dedicated domestic-violence division that hears cases the same morning. In Hillsborough County, the George E. Edgecomb Courthouse runs a one-stop injunction intake that pairs petitioners with state-funded advocates.
Orange County hears injunctions at the Family Justice Center, where law-enforcement, prosecutors, and victim services share a single building. Broward County requires petitioners to check in at Room 240 of the Central Courthouse for same-day judicial review.
Smaller counties, like Walton and Liberty, schedule injunction hearings on fixed weekly dockets. Always call the clerk first to confirm the day’s docket time.
Consequences for the Respondent
A final injunction against the respondent triggers a stack of automatic legal consequences that go beyond the no-contact order. The respondent must surrender all firearms and ammunition within 24 hours under § 790.233, and federal law under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) makes possession a federal felony.
The respondent’s name enters the FCIC and NCIC databases, so any law-enforcement officer in the country can see the injunction during a routine stop. A violation of the injunction is an arrestable first-degree misdemeanor under § 784.047, and a second violation becomes a third-degree felony.
Non-citizens face immigration consequences. A final injunction is not a criminal conviction, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement may treat injunction violations as evidence of removability under 8 U.S.C. § 1227(a)(2)(E).
Recap of Key Florida Rulings
Three appellate decisions shape every dating-violence petition. Alderman v. Thomas confirms that brief hookups do not create a dating relationship under § 784.046(1)(d).
Gustafson v. Mauck confirms that platonic friendships do not qualify, no matter how long they lasted. Pickett v. Copeland confirms that hiding related cases is grounds for outright dismissal.
Rosario v. Burke is older but still cited for the proposition that the petitioner’s subjective fear must be objectively reasonable. The judge applies an objectively reasonable person standard to your fear of imminent violence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a filing fee for Form 12.980(g)?
No. Florida law in § 784.046(3)(b) bars clerks from charging any filing fee, service-of-process fee, or certified-copy fee to petitioners seeking a dating-violence injunction.
Can I file Form 12.980(g) if the relationship lasted less than six months?
Yes. The statute requires that the relationship existed within the past six months, not that it lasted six months, so a shorter continuing romantic relationship still qualifies under § 784.046(1)(d).
Do I need a lawyer to file Form 12.980(g)?
No. Florida designed the 12.980 form set for self-represented petitioners, and most counties offer free advocate help, but a lawyer can be valuable if the respondent has counsel.
Can the respondent attend the same-day temporary hearing?
No. The temporary injunction is ex parte, meaning the judge reviews your petition without the respondent under § 784.046(6), but the respondent attends the final hearing 14 days later.
Will my address become public if I file?
No, if you also file Form 12.980(h), which lets the court keep your residential address sealed under Rule 2.420 of the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration.
Does a final injunction last forever?
No. A final dating-violence injunction lasts for the period the judge sets, often one or two years, but § 784.046(7)(c) lets you ask the court to extend it before it expires.
Can a same-sex couple use Form 12.980(g)?
Yes. § 784.046 is gender-neutral, and any dating relationship that meets the three-part test qualifies regardless of the parties’ sex or gender identity.
Will the injunction show up on the respondent’s background check?
Yes. Final injunctions enter the FCIC and NCIC databases, and many private background checks pull the public civil docket where the injunction case appears.
Can I drop the injunction later if I change my mind?
Yes. You may move to dissolve the injunction at any time, but only the judge can dissolve it, and the court reviews the request to confirm you are not under coercion to drop the case.
Will the respondent lose firearm rights?
Yes. A final dating-violence injunction triggers automatic firearm surrender under Florida § 790.233 and federal 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8) for as long as the injunction stays in effect.
Can I file Form 12.980(g) against someone in another state?
Yes. Florida courts can issue an injunction if the violence happened in Florida or you live in Florida, and the federal Full Faith and Credit statute requires every other state to enforce it.
Does filing affect a pending criminal case against the respondent?
No. A civil injunction is independent of a criminal prosecution, but the prosecutor may use your sworn petition as a statement, so the wording in Form 12.980(g) must be accurate.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Florida Form 12.980(a) (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Florida Form 12.980(b) (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Florida Form 12.980(i) (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Florida Form 12.980(c)(1) (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Florida Form 12.980(f) (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Florida Form 12.980(h) (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Florida Form 12.930(d) (w/Examples) + FAQs