What is Form F4?
Form F4 is the Response to Family Claim. It is used by a respondent to state which information and claims in the Notice of Family Claim are accepted or disputed and to identify the respondent’s position on the relief claimed.
What is the deadline?
Under Rule 4-3(1), the response must be filed within 30 days after service of the Notice of Family Claim, and a copy of the filed response must be served on the claimant and the other people named as respondents as required by the rule.
What if you also want your own orders?
A response defends against the claimant’s claims. It is not always enough if the respondent wants affirmative relief of their own. Rule 4-4 provides for a Counterclaim in Form F5. The procedural requirements are different, including service rules where a counterclaim brings a new person into the case.
What happens if no response is filed?
Rule 4-3(2) says a person served with a Notice of Family Claim who does not file the response under the rule is not entitled to notice of later parts of the family case, including court appearances, hearings, conferences or trial. The filed Form F3 itself also warns that orders may be made if the response is not filed within the 30-day period.
F4 is not F32
Form F4 responds to the pleading that starts the family case. Form F32 is an Application Response used for an application within an existing case. The deadlines and October 2026 Rule 10-6 process for F32 are different.
Financial disclosure may follow
If support or other financial issues are in dispute, Rule 5-1 may require financial disclosure and some or all of Form F8, together with relevant income documents. The exact obligation depends on the claims and circumstances.
Cost considerations
A short deadline can make full representation difficult to arrange, but a respondent may still be able to obtain limited-scope advice on the response, a proposed counterclaim, urgent next steps or the financial documents that will be required. The value of that help depends on the complexity and stakes of the case.
Related: Form F3 notice guide · Form F8 financial statement.