What is Form F32?
Form F32 is the Supreme Court Family Application Response. It tells the applicant and the court which orders you consent to or oppose and summarizes the factual and legal basis for your position.
How long do you have?
Rule 10-6(8.1) creates three main response periods:
- 5 business days after service for the ordinary Rule 10-6 application.
- 21 days for an application under Rule 11-3.
- 14 days for an application to change, suspend or terminate a final order; set aside or replace a filed agreement; change or set aside a filed parenting-coordinator determination; or change, suspend or terminate a filed arbitration award.
What do you serve?
Rule 10-6(8) requires the respondent who wishes to respond to serve an unfiled application response that complies with the rule, together with affidavit or other evidence to be relied on that has not already been served. Rule 11-3 applications can require additional notice material.
What happens after you serve F32?
The applicant may serve reply affidavits. Once every required respondent has responded or the response period has expired, the applicant can set the application for hearing using Form F31.1 and file the required application materials. Under Rule 10-6(13.7), the respondent files the response/evidence after the Notice of Hearing of Application has been filed and before the hearing starts.
Example: respond to two different orders
Imagine a fictional F31 asks for two orders: a document disclosure direction and a hearing-date change. The respondent consents to a reasonable disclosure date but opposes changing the hearing date. A useful F32 response addresses those two orders separately, states which parts are opposed, and sets out the material factual basis for opposing them. It does not simply say “I oppose the application” without identifying the requests in dispute.
Review the special response-period category before serving. The correct time can vary with the application type; use the official F32 and Rule 10-6 wording for the form’s exact entries.
Common mistakes
- Assuming the old process still requires you to file first.
- Counting 5 business days when your application is actually in a 14- or 21-day category.
- Ignoring the application because the served F31 is not yet court-filed.
- Responding only with argument but no supporting evidence where evidence is needed.
- Waiting until the hearing date to get advice on a high-stakes order.
Limited-scope help
A respondent can ask a lawyer about only part of the problem — for example, reviewing the F31, identifying the correct response deadline, checking F32 and affidavit material, or preparing for the hearing — rather than automatically retaining counsel for the entire family case.