The Florida Senate

39.805  No answer required.--No answer to the petition or any other pleading need be filed by any child, parent, caregiver, or legal custodian, but any matters which might be set forth in an answer or other pleading may be pleaded orally before the court or filed in writing as any such person may choose. Notwithstanding the filing of any answer or any pleading, the child or parent shall, prior to the adjudicatory hearing, be advised by the court of the right to counsel and shall be given an opportunity to deny the allegations in the petition for termination of parental rights or to enter a plea to allegations in the petition before the court.

History.--s. 9, ch. 87-289; s. 242, ch. 95-147; s. 87, ch. 98-403.

Note.--Former s. 39.463.