Form 12.915 is a short but important Florida Family Law form: it tells the court and the other party where to reach you, and for most self-represented litigants, it is what puts you on Florida's e-mail service system for the rest of your case.
Quick Answer: Form 12.915, Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address, records your current mailing address and, for self-represented parties, the e-mail address where you will be served court documents. Filing it is generally required unless a party is excused, and once filed, you must refile it any time your address changes.
What Is Form 12.915?
Form 12.915, Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address, is a Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form. It exists so the clerk of court and the other party in your case always have a current, on-the-record way to reach you, whether that is by mail or e-mail.
According to the official instructions for the form, it "should be used to inform the clerk and the other party of your current mailing and e-mail address(es) or any change of address," because it is very important that the court and the other party in your case have your correct address.
Download the official Form 12.915 (PDF, Florida Courts)
Who Must File Form 12.915
Per the current instructions for Form 12.915: a party who is not represented by an attorney is required to designate a primary e-mail address for service, unless excused under Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516(b)(1)(D). In practice, that means most self-represented parties in a Florida family law case need to file this form.
The instructions also state that self-represented litigants must serve documents by e-mail unless excused by the clerk. That is a meaningful requirement: it is not simply an option you can skip by not filing the form. Because these e-service rules can be updated, always read the current instructions packaged with Form 12.915 before you file, and confirm anything about your specific case with the clerk of court.
What the Form Asks For
Form 12.915 is a single page. It asks you to certify, under penalty of perjury, the following:
- Your current mailing address, including street or P.O. box, apartment or lot, city, state, zip, and phone and fax numbers
- Your primary e-mail address for service, plus up to two secondary e-mail addresses
- A certificate of service confirming how a copy of the form was delivered (e-mailed, mailed, faxed, or hand-delivered) to the other party or their attorney, and the name, address, and contact information of that party or attorney
Because you are certifying this information under penalty of perjury under Section 837.02, Florida Statutes, everything you list should be accurate and current at the time you sign.
The E-mail Service Rules Behind This Form
Form 12.915 exists because Florida's family courts generally require documents to be served electronically after the case begins. Per the official instructions:
- After the initial service of process of the petition (or supplemental petition) by the sheriff or a certified process server, the Florida Rules of General Practice and Judicial Administration generally require that later documents be served by e-mail, except in certain circumstances.
- To serve and receive documents by e-mail, you designate your e-mail address or addresses using Form 12.915, and you must also provide your e-mail address on each form on which your signature appears.
- If you designate an e-mail address and the other party is represented by an attorney, or has also designated an e-mail address for service, e-mail becomes the exclusive means of service between you.
- Self-represented litigants must serve documents by e-mail unless excused by the clerk. If you are excused and later elect to serve and receive by e-mail anyway, the e-mail procedures must be followed from that point forward.
The instructions also point self-represented litigants to Form 12.914, Certificate of Service (General), which works together with Form 12.915 whenever you serve a document on the other party during your case.
When You Must File a New Form 12.915
If your mailing address or any of your e-mail addresses change at any point during your case, you must complete a new Form 12.915, file it with the clerk of court, and serve a copy on the other party or parties. The court and the other party are only required to use the address information already on file, so an address change that is never filed can mean you miss important deadlines or hearing notices.
How to File and Serve Form 12.915
Type or print the form in black ink, then:
- File the original with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where your case is filed
- Keep a copy for your own records
- Serve a copy on any other party or parties in your case, in accordance with Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516
If you are choosing to e-file your documents, self-represented litigants are permitted, but not required, to do so, and must follow Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.525 along with the procedures of the judicial circuit where the case is filed. Check your specific circuit's rules before e-filing.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not filing Form 12.915 at all, which can leave you without a designated address for service on record
- Listing an e-mail address you do not check regularly, since e-mail can become the exclusive way you are served documents
- Forgetting to file a new Form 12.915 (and serve it on the other party) whenever your mailing or e-mail address changes
- Leaving the certificate of service section blank, so there is no record of how the other party received their copy
- Assuming a change of address filed in one case automatically updates a related case; each case requires its own filing
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Florida Form 12.915?
Form 12.915, Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address, is the Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form used to tell the clerk of court and the other party your current mailing address and, for self-represented litigants, the e-mail address or addresses where you can be served court documents.
Do I have to file Form 12.915 if I do not have an attorney?
Generally yes. A party who is not represented by an attorney is required to designate a primary e-mail address for service unless excused under Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516(b)(1)(D). Form 12.915 is how you make that designation, and it also records your current mailing address.
Am I required to serve and receive documents by e-mail once I file Form 12.915?
Under the current version of Form 12.915's instructions, self-represented litigants must serve documents by e-mail unless excused by the clerk. Once you designate an e-mail address on this form, that address becomes the way you are served, so review the current instructions for Form 12.915 carefully before you file.
How many e-mail addresses can I list on Form 12.915?
The form allows one primary e-mail address and up to two secondary e-mail addresses.
What happens if my address changes during my case?
You must complete a new Form 12.915, file it with the clerk of court, and serve a copy on the other party or parties in your case. The court and the other side are only required to use the address on file, so an unfiled address change can mean you miss documents.
Where do I file Form 12.915?
File the original with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where your case is filed, and keep a copy for your records. A copy must also be served on any other party in the case, in accordance with Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516.
Can Virdix help me prepare Form 12.915?
Yes. Virdix prepares Form 12.915 along with the other Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure forms your case needs, using your current mailing and e-mail address information. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.
How Virdix Helps
Virdix prepares Form 12.915 along with the other Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure forms your case needs, using the mailing and e-mail address information you provide. 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 Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915, Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address (08/23), Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.516, Section 837.02, Florida Statutes