Florida Child Custody Forms – Attorney-Prepared - Florida Legal Form Corp

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Florida Child Custody Forms
Attorney-Prepared. Legally Compliant. Focused on What Matters Most — Your Child.
When you need to establish or modify child custody in Florida, having the right legal forms is critical. Our attorney-drafted Florida child custody forms are designed to help parents create a clear, enforceable Parenting Plan that complies with Florida law and protects the best interests of the child.
Whether you're starting a custody case, responding to one, or modifying an existing arrangement, our forms cover time-sharing schedules, parental responsibility, holiday plans, and decision-making authority. Every document is prepared and reviewed by licensed Florida attorneys to ensure accuracy, clarity, and court approval.
Take control of your custody case — with trusted legal forms built for Florida parents.
Save time, avoid errors, and protect your parental rights with professionally prepared custody documents.
FAQs
✅ Eligibility to File for Child Custody in Florida:
To open a custody case in Florida, you must meet the following requirements:
  1. The child has lived in Florida for at least 6 months (with a parent or legal guardian).
  2. You are the legal parent or guardian of the child.
  3. No other state has a pending custody case for the same child.
📝 Required Information for Filing Child Custody:
🔹 Basic Personal Information
  • Full legal name, address, and phone number of the petitioner (you)
  • Full legal name and current address of the other parent
  • Names and birthdates of all minor children involved
  • Your relationship to the child (mother, father, legal guardian)
🔹 Jurisdictional Information
  • Where the child has lived for the past 5 years
  • Names and addresses of all individuals the child has lived with
  • Any current or past court cases involving the child (custody, DCF, etc.)
🔹 Required Florida Court Forms:
📁 Initial Filing Documents
  • Petition to Establish Parental Responsibility and Time-Sharing (Form 12.995(a))
    OR Petition to Determine Paternity and for Related Relief (Form 12.983(a)) – if not married
  • UCCJEA Affidavit (Form 12.902(d)) – jurisdiction information
  • Notice of Social Security Number (Form 12.902(j))
  • Family Law Financial Affidavit (Form 12.902(b) or (c)) – for child support purposes
  • Proposed Parenting Plan (Form 12.995(a))
📁 Additional Documents (if applicable)
  • Summons (Form 12.910(a)) – required for serving the other parent
  • Affidavit of Diligent Search (Form 12.913(b)) – if other parent’s location is unknown
  • Process server or sheriff’s service instructions
💵 Fees
  • Filing fee: ~ $420
  • Summons issuance fee: ~$10
  • Service of process fee: ~$75-150 (for sheriff or process server)
  • Fee waiver available via Application for Civil Indigent Status if income-eligible
👨‍👩‍👧 Child-Related Information
  • Who provides daily care, schooling, and health decisions
  • Current living arrangements
  • Proposed time-sharing schedule (e.g., weekdays, holidays, summer)
  • Health insurance coverage and out-of-pocket expenses
  • Income of each parent (for calculating child support)
👨‍⚖️ Additional Requirements
  • Parenting Class – Required for all custody and paternity cases involving children
  • Self-addressed stamped envelopes (some courts require them)
  • Photo ID for filing in person
  • Mediation may be ordered if custody is contested
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