Form 12.928 is the Cover Sheet for Family Court Cases, a short administrative form filed alongside the very first pleading in any Florida family or juvenile court case.
Quick Answer: File Form 12.928 with the first pleading or motion that opens or reopens your Florida family court case. It reports your case style and case type to the clerk for judicial workload data, it does not replace the filing or service of your actual petition or other documents.
What Is the Cover Sheet for Family Court Cases?
The Cover Sheet for Family Court Cases, and the information in it, does not replace or supplement the filing and service of pleadings or other documents as required by law. Its purpose is narrower: it lets the clerk of the circuit court report judicial workload data, as required under section 25.075, Florida Statutes.
Download the official Form 12.928 (PDF, Florida Courts)
Who Files It, and When
The petitioner, or the party opening or reopening a case, must file this Cover Sheet with the first pleading or motion filed to open or reopen a case in all domestic and juvenile cases. If you are filing an uncontested Florida divorce, this is one of the documents you file alongside your petition. See our guides to Florida Form 12.901(a) and Florida Form 12.901(b)(3) for the petitions this form generally accompanies.
What the Cover Sheet Asks For
The form has three main parts:
- Case style. The name of the court, the case number assigned at filing, the assigned judge (if applicable), and the names of the petitioner(s) and respondent(s).
- Type of action or proceeding. Whether you are filing an initial action or petition, or reopening a case, and if reopening, whether it is a modification/supplemental petition, a motion for civil contempt or enforcement, or another type of reopening action.
- Type of case. A single, most-definitive category for your case, such as simplified dissolution of marriage, standard dissolution of marriage, domestic violence, support, paternity, name change, adoption, or a general "other family court" catch-all.
Choosing the Right Type of Case
Pick the category that most specifically describes your filing:
- **Simplified Dissolution of Marriage**: petitions under Rule 12.105 (Form 12.901(a))
- **Dissolution of Marriage**: standard petitions under Chapter 61, Florida Statutes, other than simplified dissolution
- **Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, Repeat Violence, Sexual Violence, or Stalking**: injunction matters under the relevant statute
- **Support categories**: IV-D or Non-IV-D child or spousal support, UIFSA, or support for a dependent adult child, depending on whether a Department of Revenue application is involved
- **Other Family Court**: time-sharing and parenting plans, support unconnected with dissolution, annulment, and similar matters not covered elsewhere
- **Paternity, Name Change, or Adoption**: their own dedicated categories
If your case fits more than one category, select the single most definitive one rather than checking multiple boxes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forgetting to file the Cover Sheet with your very first pleading
- Selecting more than one case type instead of the single most definitive category
- Filing one Cover Sheet for two different types of proceedings against the same party, instead of a separate sheet for each
- Assuming the Cover Sheet replaces or supplements your actual petition; it does not
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Florida Form 12.928?
Form 12.928, Cover Sheet for Family Court Cases, is a Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure form filed with the first pleading or motion that opens or reopens a family or juvenile court case. It reports the case style and case type to the clerk of the circuit court for judicial workload data purposes, required under section 25.075, Florida Statutes. It does not replace or supplement the filing or service of your actual pleadings.
Do I need to file a Cover Sheet with every family law filing?
You file it once, with the first pleading or motion that opens or reopens your case, whether that is an initial petition, a modification, or an enforcement action. You generally do not refile it with every subsequent document in the same case.
What if my case involves more than one type of action?
If you are filing more than one type of proceeding against the same party at the same time, such as a modification and an enforcement action together, you must complete a separate Cover Sheet for each action being filed.
What case types can I select on the Cover Sheet?
The form lists categories including simplified dissolution of marriage, standard dissolution of marriage, domestic violence, dating violence, repeat violence, sexual violence, stalking, various child and spousal support categories, UIFSA, support for a dependent adult child, paternity, name change, adoption, and a general 'other family court' category for matters like time-sharing, annulment, or premarital agreements that don't fit elsewhere. Select the single most definitive category that fits your case.
Is there a fee to file the Cover Sheet itself?
No, the Cover Sheet has no separate filing fee of its own. It is filed alongside your case-opening pleading, which is where the standard circuit court filing fee (generally $295 for a dissolution of marriage) applies.
Can Virdix help me prepare the Cover Sheet?
Yes. Virdix prepares Form 12.928 as part of your complete Florida uncontested divorce filing packet, matched to your case type. Virdix is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.
How Virdix Helps
Virdix prepares Form 12.928 as part of your complete Florida uncontested divorce filing packet, matched to your case type, alongside your petition, financial affidavit, and settlement agreement. 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 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 Form 12.928 (02/24), section 25.075, Florida Statutes