Opinion ID: 1843757
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: mandatory disclosure

Text: Both the steering and rules committees have requested changes to rule 12.285, which governs mandatory disclosure. First, we have been asked to modify the rule to reduce the scope and amount of items to be disclosed. Currently, any party whose income exceeds $50,000 per annum must file a number of items covering a period of three years preceding the filing of a petition and must automatically file answers to standard interrogatories. Under the proposed changes, the time period covered for most items to be produced has been reduced to one year or three months and would apply to all parties regardless of income; interrogatories would be supplemental to the financial affidavits and would not be automatic. Additionally, the committees recommend shortening the financial affidavits and requiring that any party making over $30,000 per annum file the long-form affidavit. [1] We agree with all of the recommendations except the last. We conclude that the rule should continue to require any party making over $50,000 per annum to file the long-form affidavit, but note that the affidavit is shorter than the one currently contained in the rules. We reject the request that those with income between $30,000 and $50,000 also be required to file this long-form affidavit. Second, we have been asked to allow parties to be exempted from the mandatory filing of financial affidavits. Currently, all parties must file financial affidavits with the court. Presumably, to avoid public disclosure, the rules committee seeks to amend rule 12.285 to allow a court to exempt individuals from this requirement when they certify that they are serving the financial affidavits on each other. Only one comment was filed regarding this issue, cautioning that judges must have the financial affidavits to make financial determinations. We decline to adopt this recommendation at this time because we are concerned about the problems this change could cause. For instance, in any case where a court is charged with dividing the assets and liabilities of parties, financial affidavits are necessary to assist in such a decision. Moreover, even where no dispute exists as to the division of assets, financial affidavits must be available to the court should subsequent litigation in the case ensue, such as modification requests or subsequent allegations of fraud. If financial affidavits are not filed with the court, the court might be significantly hindered in rendering future decisions regarding a case. Further, as we noted in Family Law I, under certain limited conditions, financial affidavits could be sealed if necessary. See Barron v. Florida Freedom Newspapers, Inc., 531 So.2d 113 (Fla.1988). See also Fla. R. Jud. Admin. 2.051. A third proposal concerning mandatory disclosure is the steering committee's request to create new rule 12.287. The new rule would allow parties to serve requests for financial affidavits in enforcement or contempt proceedings because, under the current mandatory disclosure rule, an interrogatory process is the only means available to obtain such an affidavit. We approve the rule as proposed by the committee.