You must file a response called an “Answer” within 20 days after being served with legal papers and a summons. The Answers and supporting documents for the most common Family Division proceedings can be found on the Florida Department of Children and Families website.
If you do not file an Answer within the 20-day time period, you may be required to appear in court to answer the charges. If you are found in contempt of court, the court may order you to pay a fine of up to $1,000 and/or to perform community service.
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What happens if you don’t respond to child custody papers in Texas?
The custody case may be finished without your input if you don’t. If the petition is not filed within 30 days of the date of service, it will automatically be dismissed. The court will notify you of its decision in writing. You may appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals.
How do you respond to a responsive declaration request for order?
To respond to the issues raised in the Request for Order, the responding party must complete, file, and have a Responsive Declaration to Request for Order served on the other party.
The Respondent’s response must include the following information: (1) The name and address of the person who filed the request for order; (2) A brief statement of why the requested order should not be issued; and (3) Any other information requested by the requesting party that is necessary to make a determination as to whether or not to issue the order.
How do you respond to a request for order?
You should complete and file a Responsive Declaration to Request for Order to let the Judge know whether you agree or disagree with the other parent’s request. You can tell the Judge what you think the order should be. You can’t raise any new issues in your response.
If you do not agree with your parents’ request for an order, the judge will make a decision based on the facts of the case. The judge’s decision is final and cannot be appealed.
How do you answer a summons without a lawyer?
Take your written answer to the clerk’s office. Each set of papers will be “filed” with the date by the clerk. The copies will be given back to you. The other copy you’re responsible for delivering to the plaintiff (or your attorney if you have one). If you don’t have a lawyer, you may be able to get a court-appointed attorney to help you with your case.
How do I respond to a custody paper in Florida?
Either affirm; deny; have no knowledge; or affirm in part and deny in part. Give your reasons in a clear and concise way. My suggestion is that you also file a parenting plan if he did. If you can’t come to an agreement on your own, let the judge or mediation help you find the middle ground.
If you do not have a parenting plan, you may be able to get a court order that requires your child to live with you. This is called a “parental alienation” order. You can get one by filing a petition with the court.
The court will decide whether or not to grant the order, based on a number of factors, including the age of the child, the relationship between you and your ex-spouse, and any other factors that it considers relevant. It is important to understand that an order of parental alienation is not a legal document, but rather a decision by a judge. In other words, it does not give you legal custody of your children.
However, your judge may order you to pay child support to your former spouse, even if he or she no longer lives in your home.
What happens if the respondent does not file a response?
If the Respondent does not file a response to a petition (an answer), you (the Petitioner) can still move forward with your case — even if the other party will not cooperate. Default is the failure of a party to respond in a timely manner.
If the party fails to file an answer within the time allowed by law, the court may enter a default judgment against that party. If you do not have a lawyer to represent you in court, you may want to consider hiring an attorney to help you.
You can find a list of attorneys in your area by visiting the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) website.
