Family Court Self Help
This website is provided for Florida residents who wish to file a Family Court case without an attorney. This is known as filing as a pro se litigant. If you come across terms or phrases you do not understand you can look it up in the Legal Terms Defined link. If you are not sure that you want to represent yourself, contact the Florida Bar's Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-342-8011 to consult with an attorney.
Some examples of Family Court cases are: divorce, paternity, modification of final judgment, enforcement of final judgment, temporary custody by an extended family, and name change.
Self help means you have chosen to proceed without the assistance of an attorney. For more information on what a self help program can provide go to the general information for self-represented litigants at the Florida State Courts website. You are not required to have an attorney in this process, but only an attorney can give legal advice. If you file without an attorney, at any time during your case you can hire one. To begin a Family Court case, you'll need the petition and other paperwork necessary when filing your case. A list of packets available from the Clerk's office can be found in the Family Court Self Help Packets website.
Packets are available at your local county courthouse through the Clerk's office.
Pro se forms are available on the Florida State Courts website at http://www.flcourts.org/gen_public/family/forms_rules/index.shtml. There are forms that the 8th Judicial Circuit REQUIRES that are NOT on the Florida State Courts website. Some of the forms that are frequently requested can be found on the 8th Circuit Commonly Used Forms website . You can also contact the Murphree Law Library at the Alachua Family/Civil Justice Center to obtain the forms not on the web. Forms cannot be filed online. Following the instructions in your packet, you will file forms in person at your county's Clerk of the Court's office. Before filing with the Clerk, have your forms notarized and make a copy of the forms for yourself. If you're having the other party served through the Sheriff's Office, the Sheriff will require an additional copy.
If you do not plan to use an attorney, this website will let you know things to expect along the way. If you have any questions, call Family Court Self Help at (352) 374-3694.
If at any point during the process you wish to proceed with the help of an attorney, contact the Florida Bar's Lawyer Referral Service at 1-800-342-8011. If you cannot afford an attorney and are a victim of domestic violence you may be eligible for representation or assistance from Three Rivers Legal Services.