Below are brief descriptions of the 3 services we provide.
Family Forms Clinic (Downtown Tampa Courthouse):
This program uses volunteer attorneys and law students to help those without an attorney, complete Hillsborough County’s court-approved family law forms and packets. The volunteers in the clinic cannot give legal advice or represent anyone in court. This free services is limited only to assist those with Family Law Cases in Hillsborough County. The clinic operates on a first come, first served basis only during walk-in hours. No Appointments can be scheduled. This program is operated by the Volunteer Lawyers Program of Bay Area Legal Services.
Legal Information Center (Downtown Tampa Courthouse):
The Legal Information Center is a free program to provide information to people who are representing themselves in Family Law cases in Hillsborough County. (Family law cases include divorce & equitable distribution, paternity, timesharing, parental responsibility, custody, child support, alimony, adoption, name change cases, and domestic violence civil injunctions, but NOT cases like guardianship, probate, foreclosures, criminal or any appeals). We cannot assist you with any cases that are not Family Law or any out of county or out of state cases.
The Legal Information Center's attorney assists people on a walk-in basis -- first come, first served. No appointments are scheduled. The walk-in hours change each day. Call 813-864-2280 (option #1) to listen to a recording that gives information and current walk-in hours. Please call this recording the day you plan to come to verify the walk-in hours.
The Legal Information Center attorney cannot complete forms for you, represent you in court, or give you legal advice. The attorney can give you information about available forms and the legal process so you can make informed decisions about your case. The information that you give to and receive from Legal Information Center personnel is not confidential. If another person involved in your case seeks assistance from this Center, that person will be given the same type of assistance that you receive.
The Legal Information Center is operated by Bay Area Legal Services, a non-profit law firm. Funding for this program is provided by: TECO Energy and the law firms of Holland & Knight and Carlton Fields.
Legal Information Program (Plant City Courthouse):
Attorney assists people who are representing themselves in Family Law cases which have been, or will need to be filed in the Plant City courthouse in Hillsborough County. The attorney can provide information about available forms and the legal process to allow parties to make informed decisions. The information given and received via this program is not confidential. Both parties to a case may seek assistance from this Program and will receive the same type of information; however, in domestic violence matters, information will be provided to Petitioners only.