The Florida State Courts System offers a comprehensive Self-Help Center online, designed to guide individuals through the complexities of the court system, particularly Family Law Court. This invaluable resource is tailored for those who are representing themselves and seeking to understand court procedures and access essential resources. It’s important to note that while the Self-Help Center staff can direct you to these resources, they are unable to provide legal interpretations or offer legal advice specific to your situation.
The Self-Help Center website is a rich repository of information, most notably including Florida Supreme Court-approved family law forms. Beyond forms, the site provides a directory of local self-help centers for in-person assistance, vetted web links to free or low-cost legal aid services for those who qualify, search tools to find qualified mediators for dispute resolution, and resources specifically related to guardianship matters.
Before utilizing the services offered by any self-help program or engaging with court staff, it is crucial to understand the scope and limitations of their assistance. Please review the NOTICE OF LIMITATIONS OF SERVICES Disclaimer provided by the Florida Courts. This disclaimer clearly outlines that self-help programs and court staff can offer procedural and administrative guidance but cannot act as legal counsel or give legal advice. Understanding these limitations is key to effectively using self-help resources within the family law court system.
Using Fillable Forms: Many of the forms available through the Self-Help Center are designed with fillable fields to enhance user convenience. To utilize these features on your computer or mobile device, you will need to download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader. This free software enables you to directly type your information into the designated fields on the PDF forms. If you find that the fillable form fields are not visible when you open a form, it indicates that Adobe Reader is not installed on your device. Installing Adobe Acrobat Reader ensures you can easily complete and interact with the family law court forms provided. We recommend downloading it from https://get.adobe.com/reader/ or your device’s app store for optimal access to these resources.
