Family Law Self Help Programs

Family Law Self Help Programs

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About Us

These Family Law programs are operated by Bay Area Legal Services, a non-profit law firm. These services are free and are designed to provide information to people who are representing themselves in family law cases held in Hillsborough County. These programs do not assist with any cases that are not Family Law or any out of county or out of state cases.

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.

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.

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.

Contact Us

Legal Information Center
Tampa, FL 33602
813-864-2280, option #1
(recording for information)

The Legal Information Center is a free program to give you information about available forms and the legal process so you can make informed decisions to represent yourself in your case. This program is limited to family law cases in Hillsborough County. Due to social distancing guidelines, the Legal Information Center will be operating remotely. If you have a Hillsborough County family law issue, please visit the Legal Information Center website and follow the instructions. The Legal Information Center website can be found at:

bals.org/LIC
or
by going to bals.org and typing “legal information center” in the search box

To reach Bay Area Legal Services, please call the Legal Aid Line at (800) 625-2257.

Family Forms Clinic (Tampa Courthouse)
George Edgecomb Courthouse
800 E. Twiggs Street, Room 210
Tampa, FL 33602
813-864-2280, option #2 (recording for information & current walk-in hours)

**IMPORTANT**
The Family Forms Clinic cannot assist anyone complete forms that are not Family Law or any out of county or for out of state cases. We cannot represent you in court or give you legal advice.If you are modifying an existing court order, please bring the case number and a copy of your court order. We cannot determine what forms you should use or suggest any information to put on the forms.

The Family Forms Clinic will generally be open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm. Hours are subject to change - CALL 813-864-2280 (option 2) BEFORE YOU COME for info & to verify daily walk-in hours.

If there are no volunteers or the clinic becomes full, the clinic will close early. You must sign-in to be seen. There is no guarantee everyone who signs in will be seen.

Legal Information Program (Plant City Courthouse)
Plant City Courthouse
301 N. Michigan Ave., 2nd Floor, Room
2085 Plant City, FL 33563
(813) 276-2688 (pre-recorded message and walk-in hours)

**IMPORTANT**
The Plant City Legal Information Program assists with Hillsborough County FAMILY LAW CASES only. In domestic violence matters, information provided only to Petitioners.

The Plant City Legal Information Program attorney cannot:

  • assist with
    • cases unrelated to Family Law;
    • out of county cases;
    • or out of state cases.
  • complete forms;
  • represent parties in court;
  • or give legal advice.

For questions regarding an existing case, please bring the case number and a copy of the Court Order or Final Judgment.The attorney can best determine the necessary forms upon review of the existing Order, Final Judgment or case.

The Plant City Legal Information Program will be open every Tuesday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00p.m. unless the pre-recorded message at the above telephone number indicates otherwise.

Please plan to arrive and sign in by 1:30 to ensure you will be seen.

Forms

Please click here to view the complete list of Forms and Packets