Family Law Self-Help Program
This program provides procedural guidance for “pro se” litigants who represent themselves in court. A pro se litigant is an individual who chooses to represent themselves in a court action without the aid of an attorney. If you choose to represent yourself in court you must follow the same rules and procedures that an attorney must follow. The Judge and the Family Law case management staff are prohibited from giving you legal advice.
It is strongly recommended that you seek legal advice before coming to court. However, if you choose to represent yourself in court, you should first go the law library and familiarize yourself with the Rules of Court and the Florida Statutes that relate to your family law issue. Self-Help forms are available in subject matter packets in the circuit civil division of each Clerk of Court office in the Fourteenth Circuit. The forms are also available on the Florida Supreme Court website.
Upon completion of the required forms, you should file your paperwork with the clerk of court. The clerk will forward your file to the Family Law Self Help program for review. The file will be reviewed by the case management staff to ensure the case meets procedural requirements. If the case lacks information or pleadings, a checklist will be placed in your file for review. After the file is procedurally ready for a hearing the case management staff will schedule a final hearing for your case.
Court staff may only offer procedural information. They can not give legal advice or conduct legal research for a litigant. If you need help determining “what to put in the blanks”, you need to seek the advice of an attorney.
| CASE MANAGEMENT | Contact | Phone | Fax |
| Family Law Manager | Barbara Wynn | (850) 747-5497 | (850) 914-6415 |
| Court Program Specialist II | Terry Holdnak | (850) 747-5623 | (850) 914-6415 |
| Court Program Specialist II | Patricia Riemer | (850) 747-5247 | (850) 914-6415 |
| Court Program Specialist II | Cary Godwin | (850) 718-0480 | (850) 482-9123 |
Approved Visitation Programs |
|
Restoration Visitation Center 850-215-5683
|
Stephanie Giles Director |
Tri-County Comm. Council |
Cindy Lee Director |
Life Management Center of Northwest Florida (850) 522-4485 |
Julie Kitzerow Director |
Related Links:
Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure