If you have been served with a Florida divorce petition, you generally have 20 days to file a written Answer, and Florida gives you several different versions of that Answer form depending on whether you agree with the petition, want to contest it, or want to ask the court for something of your own.
Quick Answer: Florida's Family Law Rules of Procedure include a series of Answer forms, 12.903(a) through 12.903(e), for responding to a divorce petition. Which one you file depends on whether you agree with everything and want to waive a hearing (12.903(a)), simply respond to the allegations (12.903(b)), or respond and also file your own counterpetition (12.903(c) series, matched to whether you have children and property). You generally have 20 days after being served to file.
Short Answer: Which Form Do You Need?
- **You agree with everything and want to skip a hearing:** Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage
- **You want to respond to the allegations but are not asking the court for anything yourself:** Form 12.903(b), Answer to Petition for Dissolution of Marriage
- **You want to respond AND ask the court for your own relief, and you have minor or dependent children:** Form 12.903(c)(1)
- **You want to respond AND ask for relief, and you have property but no minor or dependent children:** Form 12.903(c)(2)
- **You want to respond AND ask for relief, and you have no children or property to divide:** Form 12.903(c)(3)
- **Your spouse filed a Counterpetition against you:** Form 12.903(d), Answer to Counterpetition
- **You were served with a Supplemental Petition in an existing case (a post-judgment modification), not an original divorce petition:** Form 12.903(e), Answer to Supplemental Petition
What an Answer to a Divorce Petition Does
When a Florida divorce case starts, the Petitioner files a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage and has it formally served on the other spouse (the Respondent) using a Summons. See our guide to Form 12.910(a): Summons, Personal Service on an Individual for how that service works.
Once served, the Respondent's job is to file a written Answer. An Answer responds to each numbered allegation in the petition, typically admitting, denying, or stating that the Respondent lacks enough information to admit or deny it. It is the Respondent's formal, on-the-record position on what the Petitioner has asked the court to do.
The Full Form 12.903 Series
Florida's Family Law Rules of Procedure organize Answer forms into a five-letter series (a through e), each built for a different situation:
- Form 12.903(a), Answer, Waiver, and Request for Copy of Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage (revised 02/2018). Used when the Respondent does not wish to contest the petition, is willing to waive further notice and appearance at the final hearing, and simply wants a copy of the final judgment mailed once the case concludes.
- Form 12.903(b), Answer to Petition for Dissolution of Marriage (revised 02/2018). A general-purpose Answer for a Respondent who wants to formally respond to the petition's allegations without filing a Counterpetition of their own.
- Form 12.903(c)(1), Answer to Petition and Counterpetition for Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Child(ren) (revised 02/2018). Combines an Answer with the Respondent's own Counterpetition, for cases involving minor or dependent children.
- Form 12.903(c)(2), Answer to Petition and Counterpetition for Dissolution of Marriage with Property but No Dependent or Minor Children (revised 02/2018). Same combined Answer/Counterpetition structure, for cases with property to divide but no children involved.
- Form 12.903(c)(3), Answer to Petition and Counterpetition for Dissolution of Marriage with No Dependent or Minor Child(ren) or Property (revised 02/2018). The combined Answer/Counterpetition form for cases with neither children nor property at issue.
- Form 12.903(d), Answer to Counterpetition (revised 02/2018). Used by the original Petitioner to respond if the Respondent filed one of the Form 12.903(c) Counterpetitions against them.
- Form 12.903(e), Answer to Supplemental Petition (revised 02/2018). Used to respond to a Supplemental Petition in an already-existing case, such as a post-judgment request to modify custody, timesharing, or support. It is not used to answer an original divorce petition.
Download the official Form 12.903(a) (PDF, Florida Courts) | Form 12.903(b) | Form 12.903(c)(1) | Form 12.903(c)(2) | Form 12.903(c)(3) | Form 12.903(d) | Form 12.903(e)
Choosing the Right Version
The core decision is really two separate questions:
- Do you agree with everything in the petition, and are you willing to skip the hearing? If yes, and you have no children or property disputes to raise, Form 12.903(a) is built exactly for that: it lets you answer, waive further notice and appearance, and simply request a copy of the final judgment once it is entered.
- Do you want to ask the court for anything yourself? If you only want to respond to what the Petitioner asked for, without raising your own requests, Form 12.903(b) covers that. If you also want the court to award you something specific, such as a particular parenting plan, support amount, or division of property, you need to file a Counterpetition alongside your Answer, using whichever Form 12.903(c) variant matches whether your case involves children, property, both, or neither.
If your spouse already filed a Counterpetition against you (meaning they used one of the (c) forms first), your response to that Counterpetition is Form 12.903(d), not a fresh Answer to the original petition.
And if you are dealing with a request to change an existing final judgment, rather than an original divorce filing, you are likely looking at a Supplemental Petition, which is answered with Form 12.903(e) instead of any of the (a) through (d) versions.
If both spouses already agree on everything, including having no minor or dependent children and having already divided property by agreement, you may not need an Answer form at all. That situation is generally handled by filing a Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage, Form 12.901(a), together instead. See our guide to Form 12.901(a): Joint Petition for Simplified Dissolution of Marriage.
The 20-Day Deadline to Respond
Florida's Summons, Form 12.910(a), tells a served Respondent they generally have 20 days after service to file a written response with the clerk of court and serve a copy on the Petitioner. That deadline runs from the date you were actually served, not from the date the petition was originally filed.
Missing the deadline carries real consequences. If no written response is filed in time, the Petitioner can generally move for a default, which can allow the case to move forward, and in some circumstances allow the court to grant what the Petitioner requested, without further input from the Respondent. See our companion guide, What Happens If You Don't Respond to Divorce Papers in Florida, for what a default can mean for your case.
Filing and Serving Your Answer
Once you have completed the correct Form 12.903 version:
- File it with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the divorce case is pending.
- Serve a copy on the Petitioner, or their attorney if they are represented, as required by the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure.
- File any required supporting forms alongside it. Depending on your case, this can include a Family Law Financial Affidavit (Form 12.902(b) or (c)) and a Notice of Social Security Number (Form 12.902(j)). See our guides to Florida Form 12.902: Family Law Financial Affidavit and Florida Form 12.902(j): Notice of Social Security Number.
- If you filed a Counterpetition, expect a response. Filing one of the Form 12.903(c) versions puts the ball back in the Petitioner's court; they generally have their own deadline to file an Answer to Counterpetition (Form 12.903(d)) in response.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing the 20-day deadline because it is counted from the filing date instead of the actual date of service
- Filing Form 12.903(b) when you actually wanted to raise your own requests, and then having to separately file a Counterpetition later
- Using a Form 12.903(c) variant that does not match your case (for example, filing the "no children or property" version when you do have a minor child)
- Filing Form 12.903(e) to answer an original divorce petition; it is only for Supplemental Petitions in existing cases
- Forgetting to serve a copy of your Answer on the Petitioner after filing it with the clerk
- Not filing a required Financial Affidavit or Notice of Social Security Number alongside the Answer
Frequently Asked Questions
What form do I use to answer a divorce petition in Florida?
It depends on your situation. Florida uses a series of Family Law Rules of Procedure forms numbered 12.903(a) through 12.903(e), covering everything from a simple, uncontested answer to an answer paired with your own counterpetition. If you agree with everything in the petition and do not want to contest anything or appear at a hearing, Form 12.903(a) is generally the right fit. If you want to respond to the allegations and also ask the court for your own relief, you need one of the Form 12.903(c) counterpetition versions instead.
How long do I have to answer a divorce petition in Florida?
Generally 20 days after you are served with the Summons and Petition. Florida's Summons, Form 12.910(a), states this deadline directly: you must file a written response with the clerk of court, and serve a copy on the Petitioner, within 20 days of service.
What happens if I do not answer a Florida divorce petition?
If you do not file a written response within the deadline, the Petitioner can generally move for a default. A default can allow the case to proceed, and in some circumstances allow the court to grant the relief the Petitioner asked for, without your further participation in the case.
What is the difference between an Answer and a Counterpetition in Florida?
An Answer responds to what the Petitioner asked for, admitting or denying each allegation in the petition. A Counterpetition is your own request, filed by the Respondent, asking the court for specific relief (such as a particular division of property, parental responsibility, or support). Florida's Form 12.903(c) series combines both into one document for Respondents who want to answer and ask for something themselves in the same filing.
Do I need to file a Financial Affidavit with my Answer?
Generally, yes, if the case involves anything other than a joint simplified dissolution. A Family Law Financial Affidavit (Form 12.902(b) or (c)) is typically required from each party in a contested or standard Florida dissolution case. See our guide to [Florida Form 12.902: Family Law Financial Affidavit](/blog/florida-form-12-902-financial-affidavit).
What form do I use if my spouse filed a Counterpetition against me?
If you are the original Petitioner and the Respondent filed a Counterpetition using one of the Form 12.903(c) variants, you respond to that Counterpetition using Form 12.903(d), Answer to Counterpetition.
Can Virdix help me prepare my Answer to a Florida divorce petition?
Yes. Virdix asks about your situation, whether you agree with the petition, whether you want to raise your own requests, and whether children or property are involved, and prepares the matching Form 12.903 Answer from your answers. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.
How Virdix Helps
Virdix asks about your situation, whether you agree with the petition, whether you have children or property to address, and whether you want to raise your own requests, and prepares the matching Florida Form 12.903 Answer from your answers, along with any required supporting forms. Start free. Pay once, only when your documents are ready. See Divorce in Florida on Virdix for the full picture of what Virdix covers in Florida today.
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This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. Forms, fees, and procedures can change; always confirm current information with the Florida Courts or your circuit court clerk. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed Florida attorney.
Sources: Florida Courts (flcourts.gov), Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Forms 12.903(a) through 12.903(e) (02/18), Instructions for Form 12.910(a) (10/21), Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure