Helping Hands Document and Mediation Services

727-992-3039

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    • Home
    • Welcome
    • Helping With Forms
    • Parenting classes
    • About us and Prices
    • Gallery
    • Notary services
    • Contact
    • Zoom Mediation

727-992-3039

Helping Hands Document and Mediation Services
  • Home
  • Welcome
  • Helping With Forms
  • Parenting classes
  • About us and Prices
  • Gallery
  • Notary services
  • Contact
  • Zoom Mediation

We Help Clients Referred BY CPI , DCF , Safe At Home, FSS and Children's Board of Hillsborough .

Reasons for Temporary Custody Arrangements

There are several reasons why a parent would consider giving temporary custody to another person or couple. Reasons for Temporary Custody or Concurrent

Parenting responsibilities: A parent with an unusual work schedule, who has work-related travel commitments, or who has exceptional educational responsibilities may ask a relative or friend to care for their children temporarily.

  • Divorce or separation: Parents agree to a temporary custody arrangement while waiting for a final child custody order to be issued.
  • Domestic violence: If the child is threatened with abuse, the court may order a temporary custody arrangement in order to protect the child.
  • Illness or hospitalization: A parent who is temporarily incapacitated may ask a friend or relative to care for their children for a short time.
  • Lack of financial resources: A parent who cannot afford to care for their children may grant temporary guardianship to a trusted relative.
  • CPI Involvement : CPI or Safe At Home or another agency has placed the children in your care. 
  • military  Deployment : A parent is being temporarily deployed.

Choosing a Custodian

Anyone can, in theory, be a temporary custodian. It's important, however, to choose a custodian who will be able to provide consistent care and support, and with whom the child's parents have a strong relationship.

Parents may consider the following people as appropriate temporary custodians of their children:

  • Extended family members such as sister and brother or aunt or uncles 
  • Friends also known as fictitious kin 
  • Godparents
  • Grandparents

If all parties are agree the process can be very smooth  we will help you complete the paperwork packet that you buy from the courthouse.


please be advised that we are not attorneys and do not give any legal advise we only help you complete the paperwork and give you directions on how to file it with the court also if you  are indigent, we will give you the form to get the court fees waived if you have low income .


Self Help Services

IMPORTANT: Before receiving services from a self-help program or  staff, please read through the https://help.flcourts.gov/Self-Help-Centers-Near-You/Notice-of-Limitation-of-Services-Provided Self-help programs and staff function under certain service limitations. For example, they can assist you administratively and procedurally but are not able to act as your lawyer or give you legal advice. This disclaimer sets out the limit of services from self-help program and  staff.

Help with Family Law Forms

Services Available:

  • (Family Law, Small Claims and Landlord/Tenant matters ONLY). 
  • Form and packet purchases for civil court actions from the Clerk of Court.
  • Notarization and copies of documents.
  • Help with completing Form Packets  

If You believe that you need assistance from an attorney  and Need More than a Document Preparer . There is assistance from the Clerk of Court in Pinellas County for a Fee . Please Call them for More Information. 


Legal Self Help in Pinellas County only . 

The Clerk's Legal Self Help Centers provide affordable legal assistance with court forms and documents to people who do NOT have a private attorney.

Hours, Locations & Phone Numbers

A Spanish interpreter may be requested by contacting the Hispanic Outreach Center at (727) 445-9734.

Clearwater Courthouse
Wednesday and Friday appointments.
315 Court St., Room 114
Clearwater, FL 33756
Phone: (727) 464-5150
Fax: (727) 453-3423
St. Petersburg Judicial Building
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday attorney appointments.
545 First Ave. N., Room 103
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Phone: (727) 582-7941
Fax: (727) 582-7945
North County Customer Information & Service Center
Tuesday attorney appointments only.
29582 U.S. 19 N., Room 101 
Clearwater, FL 33761
Phone: (727) 464-5150
Fax: (727) 453-3423
You can also go online and use the Sixth Judicial Website to down load forms based on your situation https://www.jud6.org/GeneralPublic/RepresentingYourselfInCourt.html

links

Additional Information

Help full links for pro se clients


https://jud6.org/GeneralPublic/RepresentingYourself/Basic-Information-for-Unrepresented-Litigants-in-Civil-Cases-2022-07-20.pdf


https://pasco.floridahealth.gov/_files/_documents/2020-comm-resource-guide-v3-web.pdf


https://healthystartpinellas.org/resource-manual/


https://www.flcourts.gov/Resources-Services/Office-of-Family-Courts/Family-Court-in-Florida/Family-Law-Forms?parentId=669505&sort=form/number%20asc,%20form/date%20desc&view=embed_custom&searchtype=form&limit=50&query=&offset=0

Helping Grandparents and Relatives get Temporary Custody of

notice of limited services

Notice of Limitation of Services Provided. Before receiving the services of a self-help program, self-help personnel shall throughly explain the “ Notice of Limitation of ServicesProvided” disclaimer below. Each self-represented litigant, after receiving an explanation of the disclaimer, shall sign an acknowledgment that the disclaimer has been explained to the self-represented litigant and that the self-represented litigant understands the limitations of the services provided. The self-help personnel shall sign the acknowledgment certifying compliance  with this requirement. The original shall be files by the self-help personnel in the court file and a copy shall be provided to the self-represented litigant.

Rule 12.750. Family Self-Help Programs (a) Establishment of Programs. A Chief judge, by local rule, may establish a self-help program to facilitate access to family courts . The purpose of a self-help program is to assist self represented litigants, within the bounds of this rule, to achieve fair and efficient resolution of their family law case. The purpose of the self-help program is not to provide legal advice to self represented litigants.  (1) “Family law case” means any case in the circuit that is assigned to the family law division. (2) “Self-represented litigants” means any individual who seeks information to file, pursue, or respond to a family law case without the assistance of a lawyer authorized to practice before the court. (3) “Self-help personnel” means lawyer and non lawyer personnel in a self-help program. (4) “Self-help program” means a program established and operating under the authority of this rule. (5) “Approved form” means (A) Supreme Court approved forms or (B) forms that have been approved in writing by the chief judge of the circuit and that are not inconsistent with the Supreme Court approved forms, copies which are to be sent to the Chief Justice, the chair of the Family Law Rules Committee of The Florida Bar, the chair of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, ans the chair of the Family Law Steering Committee. Forms approved by the chief judge may be used unless specifically rejected by the Supreme Court.  (c) Services provided. Self-help personnel may: (1) encourage self-represented litigants to obtain legal advise; (2) provide information about available pro bono legal services , low cost legal service, legal aid programs, and lawyer referral services; (3) provide information about available approved forms, without providing advice or recommendation as to any specific course of action; (4) provide approved forms and approved instructions on how to complete the forms; (5) engage in limited oral communications to assist a person in completion of blanks in approved forms; (6) record information provided by a self-represented litigants on approved forms; (7) provide, either orally or in writing, definitions of legal terminology from wifely accepted legal dictionaries or other dictionaries without advising whether or not a particular definition is applicable to the self-represented litigant’s situation; (8) provide, either orally or in writing, citations of statutes and rules, without advising whether or not a particular statute or rule is applicable to the self-represented litigant’s situation; (9) provide docketed case information; (10) provide general information about court process, practice and procedure; (11) provide information about mediation, required parenting courses and courses of children of divorcing parents; (12) provide, either orally or in writing, information from local rules or administrative orders; (13) provide general information about local court operations; (14) provide information about community services; and (15)facilitate the settings of hearings. (d) Limitations on Services. Self-help personnel shall not: (1) provide legal advice or recommend a specific course of action for a self-represented litigant; (2) provide interpretation of legal terminology, statutes, rules, orders, cases, or the constitution; (3)provide information that must be kept confidential by statute, rule, or case law; (4) Deny a litigant’s access to the court; (5) encourage or discourage litigation; (6) record information on forms for a self represented litigant, except by otherwise provided by this rule; (7) engage in oral communication other than those reasonably necessary to elicit factual information to complete the blanks on forms except as otherwise authorized by this rule; (8) perform legal research for litigants; (9) represent litigants in court ; and (10) lead litigants to believe that they are representing then as lawyers in any capacity or induce the public to rely on them for legal service. (e) Unauthorized Practice of Law. The services listed in subdivision (c), when performed non lawyer personnel in a self-help program, shall not be the authorize practice of law. (f) No Confidentiality. Notwithstanding ethics rules that govern attorneys, certified legal interns, and other persons working under the supervision of an attorney, information given by a self represented litigant to self-help personnel is not confidential or privileged. (g) No Conflict. Notwithstanding ethics rules that govern attorneys, certified legal interns and other persons working under the supervision of an attorney, there is no conflict of interest in providing services to both parties. (h) Notice of Limitation of Services Provided. Before receiving the services of a self-help program, self-help personnel shall throughly explain the “ Notice of Limitation of Services Provided” disclaimer below. Each self-represented litigant, after receiving an explanation of the disclaimer, shall sign an acknowledgment that the disclaimer has been explained to the self represented litigant and that the self-represented litigant understands the limitations of the services provided. The self-help personnel shall sign the acknowledgment certifying compliance with this requirement. The original shall be files by the self-help personnel in the court file and a copy shall be provided to the self-represented litigant.

Rule 12.750. Family Self-Help Programs (a) Establishment of Programs. A Chief judge, by local rule, may establish a self-help program to facilitate access to family courts . The purpose of a self-help program is to assist self represented litigants, within the bounds of this rule, to achieve fair and efficient resolution of their family law case. The purpose of the self-help program is not to provide legal advice to self represented litigants. This rule applies only to programs established and operating under the auspices of the court pursuant to this rule. (b) Definitions (1) “Family law case” means any case in the circuit that is assigned to the family law division. (2) “Self-represented litigants” means any individual who seeks information to file, pursue, or respond to a family law case without the assistance of a lawyer authorized to practice before the court. (3) “Self-help personnel” means lawyer and non lawyer personnel in a self-help program. (4) “Self-help program” means a program established and operating under the authority of this rule. (5) “Approved form” means (A) Supreme Court approved forms or (B) forms that have been approved in writing by the chief judge of the circuit and that are not inconsistent with the Supreme Court approved forms, copies which are to be sent to the Chief Justice, the chair of the Family Law Rules Committee of The Florida Bar, the chair of the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, and the chair of the Family Law Steering Committee. Forms approved by the chief judge may be used unless specifically rejected by the Supreme Court.  (c) Services provided. Self-help personnel may: (1) encourage self-represented litigants to obtain legal advise; (2) provide information about available pro bono legal services , low cost legal service, legal aid programs, and lawyer referral services; (3) provide information about available approved forms, without providing advice or recommendation as to any specific course of action; (4) provide approved forms and approved instructions on how to complete the forms; (5) engage in limited oral communications to assist a person in completion of blanks in approved forms; (6) record information provided by a self-represented litigants on approved forms; (7) provide, either orally or in writing, definitions of legal terminology from wifely accepted legal dictionaries or other dictionaries without advising whether or not a particular definition is applicable to the self-represented litigant’s situation; (8) provide, either orally or in writing, citations of statutes and rules, without advising whether or not a particular statute or rule is applicable to the self-represented litigant’s situation; (9) provide docketed case information; (10) provide general information about court process, practice and procedure; (11) provide information about mediation, required parenting courses and courses of children of divorcing parents; (12) provide, either orally or in writing, information from local rules or administrative orders; (13) provide general information about local court operations; (14) provide information about community services; and (15)facilitate the settings of hearings. (d) Limitations on Services. Self-help personnel shall not: (1) provide legal advice or recommend a specific course of action for a self-represented litigant; (2) provide interpretation of legal terminology, statutes, rules, orders, cases, or the constitution; (3)provide information that must be kept confidential by statute, rule, or case law; (4) Deny a litigant’s access to the court; (5) encourage or discourage litigation; (6) record information on forms for a self represented litigant, except by otherwise provided by this rule; (7) engage in oral communication other than those reasonably necessary to elicit factual information to complete the blanks on forms except as otherwise authorized by this rule; (8) perform legal research for litigants; (9) represent litigants in court ; and (10) lead litigants to believe that they are representing then as lawyers in any capacity or induce the public to rely on them for legal service. (e) Unauthorized Practice of Law. The services listed in subdivision (c), when performed nonlawyer personnel in a self-help program, shall not be the authorize practice of law. (f) No Confidentiality. Notwithstanding ethics rules that govern attorneys, certified legal interns, and other persons working under the supervision of an attorney, information given by a self represented litigant to self-help personnel is not confidential or privileged. (g) No Conflict. Notwithstanding ethics rules that govern attorneys, certified legal interns and other persons working under the supervision of an attorney, there is no conflict of interest in providing services to both parties. (h) Notice of Limitation of Services Provided. Before receiving the services of a self-help program, self-help personnel shall throughly explain the “ Notice of Limitation of Services Provided” disclaimer below. Each self-represented litigant, after receiving an explanation of the disclaimer, shall sign an acknowledgment that the disclaimer has been explained to the self represented litigant and that the self-represented litigant understands the limitations of the services provided. The self-help personnel shall sign the acknowledgment certifying compliance with this requirement. The original shall be files by the self-help personnel in the court file and a copy shall be provided to the self-represented litigant. see form below 

https://www.jud11.flcourts.org/docs/selfhelp_Rule.pdf#link

Find out more

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.We are Family  Mediators and Document preparers.  we  do not give legal advice if you are in need of legal advice please contact a Florida Family Law attorney . 

http://www.floridabar.org/

We help clients in  .  with minor children going through a divorce or a paternity action

Our service area includes  Tampa, Clearwater, Largo, Palm Harbor , New Port Richey, Port Richey, Holiday,Tarpon Springs, Brooksville,Inverness ,Spring Hill , Weeki Wachee Springs, Shady Hills,  Dade City, Zepherhills, Lutz, Wesley chapel ,Crystal River  and the New Tampa area.  

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