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Florida Statute 88.3161 - Full Text and Legal Analysis Florida Statute 88.3161 | Lawyer Caselaw & Research
Fla. Stat. § 88.3161 (2026) Copy Cite Official Site Syfertize CourtListener Amendments
88.3161 Special rules of evidence and procedure.
(1) The physical presence of a nonresident party who is an individual in a tribunal of this state is not required for the establishment, enforcement, or modification of a support order or the rendition of a judgment determining parentage of a child.
(2) An affidavit, a document substantially complying with federally mandated forms, or a document incorporated by reference in any of them, which would not be excluded under the hearsay rule if given in person, is admissible in evidence if given under penalty of perjury by a party or witness residing outside this state.
(3) A copy of the record of child support payments certified as a true copy of the original by the custodian of the record may be forwarded to a responding tribunal. The copy is evidence of facts asserted in it, and is admissible to show whether payments were made.
(4) Copies of bills for testing for parentage of a child, and for prenatal and postnatal health care of the mother and child, furnished to the adverse party at least 10 days before trial, are admissible in evidence to prove the amount of the charges billed and that the charges were reasonable, necessary, and customary.
(5) Documentary evidence transmitted from outside this state to a tribunal of this state by telephone, telecopier, or other electronic means that do not provide an original record may not be excluded from evidence on an objection based on the means of transmission.
(6) In a proceeding under this act, a tribunal of this state shall permit a party or witness residing outside this state to be deposed or to testify by telephone, audiovisual means, or other electronic means at a designated tribunal or other location. A tribunal of this state shall cooperate with other tribunals in designating an appropriate location for the deposition or testimony.
(7) If a party called to testify at a civil hearing refuses to answer on the ground that the testimony may be self-incriminating, the trier of fact may draw an adverse inference from the refusal.
(8) A privilege against disclosure of communications between spouses does not apply in a proceeding under this act.
(9) The defense of immunity based on the relationship of husband and wife or parent and child does not apply in a proceeding under this act.
(10) A voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, certified as a true copy, is admissible to establish parentage of a child.
History.s. 3, ch. 96-189; s. 29, ch. 2011-92.

Cases Citing F.S. 88.3161

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·Schwier v. Bernstein, 734 So. 2d 531 (Fla. 4th DCA 1999).

Cited 1 times | Published | Florida 4th District Court of Appeal | 1999 WL 333276

...Schwier, the child's mother, resides in Virginia. DOR and Ms. Schwier moved to allow her to appear by telephone conference call. The trial court denied the motion, and they now seek certiorari review. Respondent, the child's father, objected to the motion. Section 88.3161(5), Florida Statutes (1997), authorizes the court to permit a party or witness residing in another state to testify by telephone; it does not require it to do so....
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