Fla. Fam. L. R. P. 12.010

RULE 12.010

SCOPE, PURPOSE, AND TITLE

(a) Scope.

(1) These rules apply to all actions concerning family

matters, including injunctions for protection against domestic,

repeat, dating, and sexual violence, and stalking, except as

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otherwise provided by the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure or

the Florida Probate Rules. “Family matters,” “family law matters,” or

“family law cases” as used within these rules include, but are not

limited to, matters arising from dissolution of marriage, annulment,

support unconnected with dissolution of marriage, paternity, child

support, an action involving a parenting plan for a minor child or

children (except as otherwise provided by the Florida Rules of

Juvenile Procedure), proceedings for temporary or concurrent

custody of minor children by extended family, adoption,

proceedings for emancipation of a minor, declaratory judgment

actions related to premarital, marital, or postmarital agreements

(except as otherwise provided, when applicable, by the Florida

Probate Rules), injunctions for protection against domestic, repeat,

dating, and sexual violence, and stalking, and all proceedings for

modification, enforcement, and civil contempt of these actions.

(2) The form, content, procedure, and time for pleading

in all proceedings shall be as prescribed by the statutes governing

the proceeding unless these rules or the Florida Rules of General

Practice and Judicial Administration, where applicable, specifically

provide to the contrary. All actions under these rules shall also be

governed by the Florida Evidence Code, which applies in cases

where a conflict with these rules may occur.

(b) Purpose.

(1) These rules are intended to facilitate access to the

court and to provide procedural fairness to all parties, to save time

and expense through active case management, setting timetables,

and the use of alternatives to litigation, and to enable the court to

coordinate related cases and proceedings to avoid multiple

appearances by the same parties on the same or similar issues and

to avoid inconsistent court orders.

(2) Nothing shall prohibit any intake personnel in

family law divisions from assisting in the preparation of documents

or forms to be filed in any action under these rules.

(c) Title. These rules shall be known as the Florida Family

Law Rules of Procedure and abbreviated as Fla. Fam. L. R. P.

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