The Florida Senate

39.505  No answer required.--No answer to the petition or any other pleading need be filed by any child, parent, 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 an answer or any pleading, the respondent shall, prior to an 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 dependency or to enter a plea to allegations in the petition before the court.

History.--s. 20, ch. 78-414; s. 229, ch. 95-147; s. 66, ch. 98-403.

Note.--Former s. 39.406.