Getting Started as a pro se litigant

  • The role of the self-help center staff is to direct interested individuals to the self-help website where they can explore resources needed to represent themselves, access the courts, and other essential resources.
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  • The self-help website includes family law forms approved by the Florida Supreme Court. Additional resources include a directory of local self-help centers, web links to free and low cost legal aid, mediator search capabilities, and guardianship resources.
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  • Self-Help staff cannot provide legal interpretations or advice.
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  • IMPORTANT: Before receiving services from a self-help program or court staff, please click (HERE) to read through the NOTICE OF LIMITATIONS OF SERVICES Disclaimer. Self-help programs and court staff function under certain service limitations. For example, they can assist you administratively and procedurally but are not able to act as your lawyer or give you legal advice. This disclaimer sets out the limit of services from self-help program and court staff.

You should read the General Information thoroughly before taking any other steps to file your case or represent yourself in court. Click HERE to read information on representing yourself in court.

This information should provide you with an overview of the court system, its participants, and its processes. It should be useful whether you want to represent yourself in a pending matter or have a better understanding of the way family court works. A glossary of family law terms is also included.

The departments that provide Self-Help Services are the following:

Family Court Services - Family Matters

Domestic Violence - Civil Injunctions/Post Judgment Actions