FL H0761

Changes the verification requirement for injunction petitions related to domestic violence (s. 741.30), repeat violence/sexual violence/dating violence (s. 784.046), and stalking (s. 784.0485) from "sworn" petitions to "verified" petitions, eliminating the need for petitioners to appear before a notary or other authority to swear an oath.

Replaces the sworn oath language ("Before me, the undersigned authority, personally appeared... who has been sworn and says") with a declaration under penalties of perjury ("The undersigned... declares under penalties of perjury... that the following statements are true") in all three petition forms.

Updates the perjury penalty reference in the required petition signature-line statement from s. 837.02 (perjury in official proceedings) to s. 92.525 (verification of documents), and changes "penalty" to "penalties" to align with the new verification framework.

Applies uniformly across all interpersonal violence injunction types: domestic violence, repeat violence, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking.

Effective date is July 1, 2024.