Florida Juvenile Procedure Rule 8.660
RULE 8.660. PETITIONS
(a) Contents of Petition.
(1) Only those authorized by law may file a petition
alleging that a child is in need of services. Each petition shall be
entitled a petition for child(ren) in need of services and shall allege
sufficient facts showing the child to be in need of services based
upon applicable law.
(2) The petition shall contain allegations as to the
identity and residence of the parents or custodians, if known.
(3) The petition shall identify the age, sex, and name of
the child. Two or more children may be the subject of the same
petition.
(4) More than one allegation of children in need of
services may appear on the same petition, in separate counts.
(b) Verification. The petition shall be signed by the
petitioner, stating under oath the petitioner’s good faith. No
objection to the petition on the grounds that it was not signed or
verified, as herein provided, shall be entertained after a plea to the
merits.
(c) Amendments. At any time before or during an
adjudicatory hearing, an amended petition may be filed or the
petition may be amended by motion. Amendments shall be freely
permitted in the interest of justice and the welfare of the child. A
continuance may be granted upon motion and a showing that the
amendment prejudices or materially affects any party.
(d) Defects and Variances. No petition or any count thereof
shall be dismissed, or any judgment vacated, on account of any
defect in the form of the petition or of misjoinder of counts. If the
court is of the opinion that the petition is so vague, indistinct, and
indefinite as to mislead the child, parent, or custodian and
prejudice any of them in the preparation of a defense, the petitioner
may be required to furnish a more definite statement.
(e) Voluntary Dismissal. At any time before entry of an
order of adjudication, the child(ren) in need of services petition may
be voluntarily dismissed by petitioner without leave of the court by
serving a notice of dismissal on all parties, or, if during a hearing,
by so stating on the record. Unless otherwise stated, the dismissal
shall be without prejudice.
(a) Contents of Petition.
(1) Only those authorized by law may file a petition
alleging that a child is in need of services. Each petition shall be
entitled a petition for child(ren) in need of services and shall allege
sufficient facts showing the child to be in need of services based
upon applicable law.
(2) The petition shall contain allegations as to the
identity and residence of the parents or custodians, if known.
(3) The petition shall identify the age, sex, and name of
the child. Two or more children may be the subject of the same
petition.
(4) More than one allegation of children in need of
services may appear on the same petition, in separate counts.
(b) Verification. The petition shall be signed by the
petitioner, stating under oath the petitioner’s good faith. No
objection to the petition on the grounds that it was not signed or
verified, as herein provided, shall be entertained after a plea to the
merits.
(c) Amendments. At any time before or during an
adjudicatory hearing, an amended petition may be filed or the
petition may be amended by motion. Amendments shall be freely
permitted in the interest of justice and the welfare of the child. A
continuance may be granted upon motion and a showing that the
amendment prejudices or materially affects any party.
(d) Defects and Variances. No petition or any count thereof
shall be dismissed, or any judgment vacated, on account of any
defect in the form of the petition or of misjoinder of counts. If the
court is of the opinion that the petition is so vague, indistinct, and
indefinite as to mislead the child, parent, or custodian and
prejudice any of them in the preparation of a defense, the petitioner
may be required to furnish a more definite statement.
(e) Voluntary Dismissal. At any time before entry of an
order of adjudication, the child(ren) in need of services petition may
be voluntarily dismissed by petitioner without leave of the court by
serving a notice of dismissal on all parties, or, if during a hearing,
by so stating on the record. Unless otherwise stated, the dismissal
shall be without prejudice.