Title: In Re: Amendments to Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC2023-1707 
____________ 
 
IN RE: AMENDMENTS TO FLORIDA RULES OF JUVENILE 
PROCEDURE. 
 
May 30, 2024 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
Previously, in In re Amendments to Florida Rules of Juvenile 
Procedure – 2023 Legislation, 375 So. 3d 219 (Fla. 2023), the Court 
amended several rules, including Florida Rules of Juvenile 
Procedure Forms 8.959 (Summons for Dependency Arraignment), 
8.979 (Summons for Advisory Hearing), and 8.982 (Notice of Action 
for Advisory Hearing).  The amendments were in response to recent 
legislation made by chapter 2023-302, Laws of Florida, which went 
into effect on June 27, 2023.  See ch. 2023-302, §§ 1-7, 10, Laws of 
Fla.   
At that time, because the proposed changes to the forms were 
limited to only the English versions, and no proposed translated 
forms were provided to the Court as part of the report, we deleted 
 
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the Spanish and Creole translations to prevent inconsistencies 
within those translated forms and the updated English versions.   
The Committee now requests that recently amended forms 
8.959, 8.979, and 8.982 be further amended with the updated 
Spanish and Creole translations.1  The Committee explains that the 
non-English forms were translated by a professional translation 
service.  However, because the Creole translations do not conform 
with the recent amendments to the English versions of the forms, 
as “personal appearance” remains throughout, as well as include 
erroneous translations, we only amend the forms to include the 
Spanish translations at this time.  Should the Committee want the 
Court to amend forms 8.959, 8.979, and 8.982 with Creole 
translations, we ask that the Committee in a new case file a report 
proposing accurate Creole translations.   
Accordingly, the Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure are 
amended as reflected in the appendix to this opinion.  New 
 
 
1.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 2(a), Fla. Const.; see 
also Fla. R. Gen. Prac. & Jud. Admin. 2.140(e). 
 
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language is indicated by underscoring.  The amendments shall take 
effect immediately upon the release of this opinion. 
 
It is so ordered. 
 
MUÑIZ, C.J., and CANADY, LABARGA, COURIEL, GROSSHANS, 
FRANCIS, and SASSO, JJ., concur. 
 
THE FILING OF A MOTION FOR REHEARING SHALL NOT ALTER 
THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THESE AMENDMENTS. 
 
Original Proceeding – Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure 
 
Cheo A. Reid, Chair, Juvenile Court Rules Committee, West Palm 
Beach, Florida, Joshua E. Doyle, Executive Director, The Florida 
Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, and Michael Hodges, Staff Liaison, The 
Florida Bar, Tallahassee, Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
 
 
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APPENDIX 
 
FORM 8.959. SUMMONS FOR DEPENDENCY ARRAIGNMENT 
SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF HEARING 
STATE OF FLORIDA 
TO:  .....(name and address of person being summoned)..... 
.....(Petitioner’s name)..... has filed in this court a 
petition, alleging under oath that the above-named child(ren) is/are 
dependent under the laws of the State of Florida and requesting 
that a summons issue in due course requiring that you appear 
before this court to be dealt with according to law. A copy of the 
petition is attached to this summons. 
You are to appear before this Court at .....(location of 
hearing)....., at .....(time and date of hearing)...... 
FAILURE TO APPEAR AT THE ARRAIGNMENT HEARING 
CONSTITUTES CONSENT TO THE ADJUDICATION OF THIS 
CHILD (OR CHILDREN) AS A DEPENDENT CHILD (OR 
CHILDREN) AND MAY ULTIMATELY RESULT IN LOSS OF 
CUSTODY OF THIS CHILD (OR CHILDREN). 
IF YOU FAIL TO APPEAR YOU MAY BE HELD IN CONTEMPT OF 
COURT. 
COMMENT: The following paragraph must be in bold, 14 pt. Times 
New Roman or Courier font.  
If you are a person with a disability who needs any 
accommodation to participate in this proceeding, you are 
entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain 
assistance. Please contact .....(name, address, telephone 
number)..... at least 7 days before your scheduled court 
appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if 
the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days. If 
you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711. 
 
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Witness my hand and seal of this court at .....(city, county, 
and state)....., on .....(date)...... 
CLERK OF COURT 
BY:  
 
 
 
 
 
DEPUTY CLERK 
 
CITATORIO Y AVISO DE AUDIENCIA 
 
ESTADO DE FLORIDA 
 
PARA: 
..... (nombre y dirección de la persona citada)..... 
 
..... (Nombre del peticionario)..... ha presentado en este 
tribunal una petición, alegando bajo juramento que los niños 
mencionados anteriormente son dependientes según las leyes del 
Estado de Florida y solicitando que se emita un citatorio a su 
debido tiempo que requiera que comparezca ante este tribunal para 
ser tratado de acuerdo con la ley. Se adjunta copia de la petición a 
este citatorio. 
 
Deberá comparecer ante este Tribunal en ..... (lugar de la 
audiencia)....., en ..... (hora y fecha de la audiencia)...... 
 
NO COMPARECER EN LA AUDIENCIA DE TUTELA CONSTITUYE 
UN CONSENTIMIENTO PARA LA ADJUDICACIÓN DE ESTE NIÑO 
(O NIÑOS) COMO HIJO (O HIJOS) DEPENDIENTE(S) Y, EN 
ÚLTIMA INSTANCIA, PUEDE RESULTAR EN LA PÉRDIDA DE LA 
CUSTODIA DE ESTE NIÑO (O NIÑOS). 
 
SI NO SE PRESENTA, PUEDE SER DECLARADO EN DESACATO AL 
TRIBUNAL. 
 
COMENTARIO: El siguiente párrafo debe estar en negrita, 14 pt. 
fuente Times New Roman o Courier. 
 
 
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Si usted es una persona con una discapacidad que necesita 
alguna adaptación para participar en este procedimiento, tiene 
derecho, sin costo alguno para usted, a que se le provea de 
cierta asistencia. Póngase en contacto con ..... (nombre, 
dirección, número de teléfono)..... al menos 7 días antes de su 
comparecencia programada ante el tribunal, o inmediatamente 
después de recibir esta notificación si el tiempo antes de la 
comparecencia programada es inferior a 7 días. Si tiene 
problemas de audición o de voz, llame al 711. 
 
Doy fe con mi firma y sello de este tribunal en..... (ciudad, condado 
y estado)....., en ..... (fecha)...... 
 
SECRETARIO DEL TRIBUNAL 
 
POR: _________________________ 
 
SECRETARIO ADJUNTO 
 
 
FORM 8.979. SUMMONS FOR ADVISORY HEARING 
SUMMONS AND NOTICE OF ADVISORY 
HEARING FOR TERMINATION OF 
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND GUARDIANSHIP 
STATE OF FLORIDA 
TO: .....(name and address of person being summoned)..... 
A Petition for Termination of Parental Rights under oath has been 
filed in this court regarding the above-referenced child(ren), a copy 
of which is attached. You are to appear before .....(judge)....., at 
.....(time and location of hearing)....., for a TERMINATION OF 
PARENTAL RIGHTS ADVISORY HEARING. You must appear on the 
date and at the time specified. 
 
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FAILURE TO APPEAR AT THIS ADVISORY HEARING 
CONSTITUTES CONSENT TO THE TERMINATION OF PARENTAL 
RIGHTS TO THIS CHILD (THESE CHILDREN). IF YOU FAIL TO 
APPEAR ON THE DATE AND TIME SPECIFIED YOU MAY LOSE 
ALL LEGAL RIGHTS TO THE CHILD (OR CHILDREN) NAMED IN 
THE PETITION ATTACHED TO THIS NOTICE. 
COMMENT: The following paragraph must be in bold, 14 pt. Times 
New Roman or Courier font. 
If you are a person with a disability who needs any 
accommodation to participate in this proceeding, you are 
entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain 
assistance. Please contact .....(name, address, telephone 
number)..... at least 7 days before your scheduled court 
appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if 
the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days. If 
you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711. 
Witness my hand and seal of this court at .....(city, county, 
state)..... on .....(date)...... 
 
 
CLERK OF COURT 
BY:  
 
 
 
 
 
DEPUTY CLERK 
 
 
CITATORIO Y AVISO DE 
 
AUDIENCIA PARA LA TERMINACIÓN DE 
 
PATRIA POTESTAD Y TUTELA 
 
ESTADO DE FLORIDA 
 
PARA: 
..... (nombre y dirección de la persona citada)..... 
 
 
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Se ha presentado una Petición de Terminación de la Patria Potestad 
bajo juramento en este tribunal con respecto a los niños 
mencionados anteriormente, cuya copia se adjunta. Usted debe 
comparecer ante ..... (juez)....., en ..... (hora y lugar de la 
audiencia)....., para una AUDIENCIA CONSULTIVA DE 
TERMINACIÓN DE LA PATRIA POTESTAD. Deberá presentarse en 
la fecha y hora que se especifiquen. 
 
LA FALTA DE COMPARECENCIA EN ESTA AUDIENCIA 
CONSULTIVA CONSTITUYE SU CONSENTIMIENTO PARA LA 
TERMINACIÓN DE LA PATRIA POTESTAD DE ESTE NIÑO 
(ESTOS NIÑOS). SI NO SE PRESENTA EN LA FECHA Y HORA 
ESPECIFICADAS, PUEDE PERDER TODOS LOS DERECHOS 
LEGALES SOBRE EL NIÑO (O NIÑOS) NOMBRADOS EN LA 
PETICIÓN ADJUNTA A ESTE CITATORIO. 
 
COMENTARIO: El siguiente párrafo debe estar en negrita, 14 pt. 
fuente Times New Roman o Courier. 
 
Si usted es una persona con una discapacidad que necesita 
alguna adaptación para participar en este procedimiento, tiene 
derecho, sin costo alguno para usted, a que se le provea de 
cierta asistencia. Póngase en contacto con ..... (nombre, 
dirección, número de teléfono)..... al menos 7 días antes de su 
comparecencia programada ante el tribunal, o inmediatamente 
después de recibir esta notificación si el tiempo antes de la 
comparecencia programada es inferior a 7 días. Si tiene 
problemas de audición o de voz, llame al 711. 
 
Doy fe con mi firma y sello de este tribunal en ..... (ciudad, 
condado, estado)..... en..... (fecha)...... 
 
SECRETARIO DEL TRIBUNAL 
 
POR: 
 
SECRETARIO ADJUNTO 
 
 
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FORM 8.982 
NOTICE OF ACTION FOR ADVISORY HEARING 
.....(Child(ren)’s initials and date(s) of birth)..... 
NOTICE OF ACTION AND OF ADVISORY HEARING FOR 
TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS AND 
GUARDIANSHIP 
STATE OF FLORIDA 
TO: .....(name and address of person being summoned).... 
A Petition for Termination of Parental Rights under oath has 
been filed in this court regarding the above-referenced child(ren). 
You are to appear before .....(judge)....., at .....(time and address of 
hearing)....., for a TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS ADVISORY 
HEARING. You must appear on the date and at the time specified. 
FAILURE TO APPEAR AT THIS ADVISORY HEARING 
CONSTITUTES CONSENT TO THE TERMINATION OF PARENTAL 
RIGHTS TO THIS CHILD (THESE CHILDREN). IF YOU FAIL TO 
APPEAR ON THE DATE AND TIME SPECIFIED YOU MAY LOSE 
ALL LEGAL RIGHTS TO THE CHILD (OR CHILDREN) WHOSE 
INITIALS APPEAR ABOVE. 
COMMENT:    The following paragraph must be in bold, 14 pt. 
Times New Roman or Courier font. 
If you are a person with a disability who needs any 
accommodation to participate in this proceeding, you are 
entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain 
assistance. Please contact ......(name, address, telephone 
number)..... at least 7 days before your scheduled court 
appearance, or immediately upon receiving this notification if 
the time before the scheduled appearance is less than 7 days. If 
you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711. 
Witness my hand and seal of this court at .....(city, county, 
state)..... on .....(date)...... 
 
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CLERK OF COURT 
BY:  
 
 
 
 
 
DEPUTY CLERK 
 
..... (Iniciales del niño (s) y fecha (s) de nacimiento)..... 
 
NOTIFICACIÓN DE AUDIENCIA CONSULTIVA PARA LA 
 
TERMINACIÓN DE LA PATRIA POTESTAD Y 
 
TUTELA 
 
ESTADO DE FLORIDA 
 
PARA: 
..... (nombre y dirección de la persona citada).... 
 
Se ha presentado una Petición de Terminación de la Patria 
Potestad bajo juramento en este tribunal con respecto a los niños 
mencionados anteriormente. Usted debe comparecer ante ..... 
(juez)....., en ..... (hora y dirección de la audiencia)....., para una 
AUDIENCIA CONSULTIVA DE TERMINACIÓN DE LA PATRIA 
POTESTAD. Deberá presentarse en la fecha y hora que se 
especifiquen. 
 
LA FALTA DE COMPARECENCIA EN ESTA AUDIENCIA 
CONSULTIVA CONSTITUYE SU CONSENTIMIENTO PARA LA 
TERMINACIÓN DE LA PATRIA POTESTAD DE ESTE NIÑO 
(ESTOS NIÑOS). SI NO SE PRESENTA EN LA FECHA Y HORA 
ESPECIFICADAS, PUEDE PERDER TODOS LOS DERECHOS 
LEGALES SOBRE EL NIÑO (O NIÑOS) CUYAS INICIALES 
APARECEN ARRIBA. 
 
COMENTARIO: El siguiente párrafo debe estar en negrita, 14 pt. 
fuente Times New Roman o Courier. 
 
Si usted es una persona con una discapacidad que necesita 
alguna adaptación para participar en este procedimiento, tiene 
 
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derecho, sin costo alguno para usted, a que se le provea de 
cierta asistencia. Póngase en contacto con ...... (nombre, 
dirección, número de teléfono)..... al menos 7 días antes de su 
comparecencia programada ante el tribunal, o inmediatamente 
después de recibir esta notificación si el tiempo antes de la 
comparecencia programada es inferior a 7 días. Si tiene 
problemas de audición o de voz, llame al 711. 
 
Doy fe con mi firma y sello de este tribunal en ..... (ciudad, 
condado, estado)..... en..... (fecha)...... 
 
SECRETARIO DEL TRIBUNAL 
 
POR: ________________________ 
 
SECRETARIO ADJUNTO