Rule 12.050 When Action Commenced

When you file your petition with the court, that is the official start date of your family law case. The date you hand in your paperwork is the date your case begins.

There is one exception to this. For ancillary proceedings, which are side cases connected to a main case, the case starts either when a writ is issued by the court or when the first pleading is filed by the person starting that side case.