Free and low-cost legal help in Florida

Florida legal help: where to start

Free legal help exists in Florida, but there is far more demand than supply. Legal aid offices and volunteer lawyers turn many people away, not because their cases are weak, but because they don't have enough staff. The best approach is to know all your options, try several at once, and keep track of any court dates or deadlines while you look.

This guide covers free and low-cost legal assistance in Florida for family cases (divorce, child custody, child support, protection orders) and immigration cases, plus how to avoid fraud. If you prefer Spanish, we have a Spanish guide to asistencia legal gratuita en Florida for immigration: abogados de inmigración gratis en Florida.

Legal assistance in Florida for family cases

Legal aid societies and county bar pro bono programs

Legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to people with low income. In Central Florida they include the Legal Aid Society of the Orange County Bar Association, Community Legal Services, the Seminole County Bar Association Legal Aid Society and Brevard County Legal Aid. Many county bar associations also run pro bono programs that match qualifying clients with volunteer lawyers who take a case without charging a fee.

What to expect:

• Income limits. Most programs only help people below an income limit based on the federal poverty guidelines. Ask what the limit is before you apply.
• Priorities. Cases involving domestic violence, children at risk or housing often come first. Contested divorces with property disputes are harder to place.
• Waiting lists. Apply as early as you can, and apply to more than one program.
• Advice versus representation. Some programs give brief advice or help with forms; only some cases get a lawyer for the whole case.

FloridaLawHelp.org is a statewide website with plain-language information and a directory of legal aid programs by county. Florida Free Legal Answers lets qualifying low-income residents post a civil legal question online and get an answer from a volunteer Florida lawyer.

Clerk self-help centers and free Florida Supreme Court forms

You can represent yourself in a Florida family case. The Florida Supreme Court approved family law forms are free to download from the Florida courts website and come with instructions. They cover divorce (simplified and regular), paternity, child support, parenting plans, modifications, name changes and more. See our guide to Florida divorce forms for which ones a divorce needs.

Many clerks of court and circuit courts run family law self-help centers. Staff can explain which forms you need, check that they are complete and tell you how to file. They cannot give legal advice, tell you what to ask for, or represent you at a hearing.

Filing-fee waiver (civil indigent status)

Court fees are a barrier for many people. The Florida filing fee for a divorce is about $400. If you cannot afford it, you can file an Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status with the clerk. The clerk reviews your income, assets and debts. If you qualify, you can file without paying the filing fee and certain other court costs up front. Ask the clerk's office for the form, or find it with the family law forms.

A few things are free for everyone: there is no filing fee for a petition for an injunction for protection against domestic violence, and the clerk's office can help you fill it out. The Florida Department of Revenue's Child Support Program can help establish paternity and child support at no or low cost, although it does not represent either parent. See our child support page.

Court-connected family mediation is charged on a sliding scale based on income, so it is often low-cost for people with lower incomes. See our family mediation page.

Legal help for child custody and parenting plans in Orlando

Child custody (in Florida, parental responsibility and time-sharing) is where free legal help is hardest to find and mistakes cost the most. If you need legal help for child custody and parenting plans in Orlando:

1. Apply to legal aid in your county right away, especially if there is domestic violence.
2. Use the free parenting plan forms. The Florida Supreme Court forms include a standard parenting plan, a safety-focused parenting plan and a relocation/long-distance parenting plan.
3. Ask the self-help center to review your paperwork before you file.
4. Get at least a short consultation before you sign a parenting plan. Once a judge approves it, changing it requires showing a substantial change in circumstances.

Read more on our child custody page and our family law page.

Free immigration legal help in Florida

In immigration cases there is no right to a government-appointed lawyer, not even in deportation (removal) proceedings. Free help comes from nonprofits, accredited representatives and volunteer lawyers.

EOIR pro bono list

The Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which runs the immigration courts, publishes a List of Pro Bono Legal Service Providers by state and immigration court. If you have a case at the Orlando Immigration Court, start there. The list is updated regularly and shows which providers take which kinds of cases.

DOJ recognized organizations and accredited representatives

The Department of Justice keeps a roster of recognized organizations and accredited representatives. An accredited representative is not a lawyer, but is authorized to represent you in immigration matters while working for a recognized organization, often for free or a low fee. Before you trust anyone who is not a lawyer with your case, check that they appear on this roster.

ImmigrationLawHelp.org

ImmigrationLawHelp.org is a national directory of nonprofit immigration legal services for low-income immigrants. You can search by ZIP code, type of case and language.

Catholic Charities of Central Florida immigration services

Catholic Charities of Central Florida offers immigration legal services in the Orlando area. Like most nonprofits, it has limits on the cases it can take and may have a waiting list, so contact it early.

Some Florida law schools also run immigration clinics where supervised students handle cases for free. USCIS allows a fee waiver for some applications if you meet the requirements; ask whether your form qualifies.

If free help doesn't come through in time, don't miss your hearing. Go, tell the judge you are looking for a lawyer, and ask for more time. Missing a hearing can result in an order of removal that is very hard to undo. See our immigration court representation page.

Beware of notario fraud

In much of Latin America a notario público is a lawyer. In the United States, a notary public is not a lawyer and cannot give legal advice, choose which immigration benefit to apply for, or represent you. Florida law requires a notary who is not a lawyer and who advertises in a language other than English to state that he or she is not an attorney and cannot give legal advice.

Warning signs:

• Promises of a work permit, green card or "papers" that are fast or guaranteed.
• Asking you to sign blank forms or forms with false information.
• No copy of what was filed and no receipt for your payment.
• Charging you for forms that are free.

Before you pay anyone, check that the person is a lawyer on The Florida Bar website, or an accredited representative on the Department of Justice roster. You can report notario fraud to the Florida Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission.

If you don't qualify for free help: our free 15-minute call

Many people earn too much for legal aid but not enough to pay a large retainer. For them, a flat fee with a payment plan is often the way to get a lawyer.

At Luis Morales Legal we offer a free 15-minute phone call for family and immigration questions. We tell you your options and, if you want us to take the case, the flat fee in writing. An in-person or longer consultation costs $150.

Government and court fees are separate. See how much a divorce costs in Florida and our immigration page.

We handle family court cases in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk, Volusia, Brevard, Marion and Sumter counties, immigration court cases at the Orlando Immigration Court, and USCIS filings for clients anywhere in Florida.

Luis A. Morales has been a lawyer since 2001 and is admitted to practice in Florida and Puerto Rico. He is a U.S. Army veteran who served as a military legal officer. He handles each case personally, in English or Spanish, from our office at 390 N Orange Ave, Suite 2300, in downtown Orlando.

Frequently asked questions