Florida

Family Law

Family Law

Rule 12.360 – EXAMINATION OF PERSONS

(a) Request; Scope.

(1) A party may request any other party to submit to, or to produce a person in that other party’s custody or legal control for, examination by a qualified expert when the condition that is the subject of the requested examination is in controversy. Examinations may include, but are not limited to, examinations involving physical or mental condition, employability or vocational testing, genetic testing, or any other type of examination related to a matter in controversy.

(A) When the physical condition of a party or other person under subdivision (a)(1) is in controversy, the request may be served on the party or other persons without leave of court after commencement of the action, and on any other person or party with or after service of the process and initial pleading. The request must specify a reasonable time, place, manner, conditions, and scope of the examination and the person or persons by whom the examination is to be made. The party to whom the request is directed must serve a response within 30 days after service of the request, except that a respondent need not serve a response until 45 days after service of the process and initial pleading on that respondent. The court may allow a shorter or longer time. The response must state that the examination will be permitted as requested unless the request is objected to, in which event the reasons for the objection must be stated. If the examination is to be recorded or observed by others, the request or response must also include the number of people attending, their role, and the method or methods of recording.
(B) In cases in which the condition in controversy is not physical, a party may move for an examination by a qualified expert as in subdivision (a)(1). The order for examination may be made only after notice to the person to be examined and to all parties, and must specify the time, place, manner, conditions, and scope of the examination and the person or persons by whom it is to be made.
(C) The examination of a minor child is governed by rule 12.363.
(D) Social investigations are governed by rule 12.364.
(2) An examination under this rule is authorized only when the party submitting the request has good cause for the examination. At any hearing the party submitting the request has the burden of showing good cause.
(3) On request of either the party requesting the examination or the party or person to be examined, the court may establish protective rules governing such examination.
(b) Report of Examiner.

(1) If requested by the party to whom a request for examination or against whom an order is made under subdivision (a)(1)(A) or (a)(1)(B) or by the person examined, the party requesting the examination must deliver to the other party a copy of a detailed written report of the examiner setting out the examiner’s findings, including results of all tests made, diagnosis, and conclusions, with similar reports of all earlier examinations of the same condition. After delivery of the detailed written report, the party requesting the examination is entitled, on request, to receive from the party to whom the request for examination or against whom the order is made a similar report of any examination of the same condition previously or thereafter made, unless in the case of a report of examination of a person not a party the party shows the inability to obtain it. On motion, the court may order delivery of a report on such terms as are just; and if an examiner fails or refuses to make a report, the court may exclude the examiner’s testimony if offered at the trial.
(2) By requesting and obtaining a report of the examination so ordered or requested or by taking the deposition of the examiner, the party examined waives any privilege that party may have in that action or any other involving the same controversy regarding the testimony of every other person who has examined or may thereafter examine that party concerning the same condition.
(3) This subdivision applies to examinations made by agreement of the parties unless the agreement provides otherwise. This subdivision does not preclude discovery of a report of an examiner or taking the deposition of the examiner in accordance with any other rule.
(c) Examiner as Witness. The examiner may be called as a witness by any party to the action, but is not to be identified as appointed by the court.

FL. Fam. Law. R. P. 12.360

Amended by 214 So.3d 400, effective 3/16/2017.

Commentary.

1995 Adoption. This rule expands Florida Rule of Civil Procedure 1.360 to specify common examinations in family law matters, but this rule is not intended to be an exclusive list of allowable examinations. Rule 1.360 should be interpreted to discourage subjecting children to multiple interviews, testing, and evaluations.