The Clerk’s Self Help Centers are designed to assist Pinellas County citizens representing themselves (commonly referred to as a Pro Se individual) in court who are NOT represented by a private attorney and who are unable to otherwise afford an attorney. The Self Help Center is a collaborative effort between Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Sixth Judicial Circuit, the Community Law Program and the Clearwater Bar Association.
The Centers provide the citizens of Pinellas County access to affordable legal assistance. Citizens can purchase forms and packets for Civil Court actions and/or schedule a consultation with an attorney for the very affordable fee of $1 per minute (in 15 minute increments). There are no income eligibility requirements for the service which makes it available to all of our citizens.
The Clerk’s Self Help Centers are limited to providing assistance in the following areas:
- Divorce
- Alimony
- Child support
- Child custody
- Paternity
- Name change
- Residential landlord/tenant issues
- Small claims
The Self Help Center has three convenient locations: (1) Clearwater (in the Historic Old Courthouse); (2) St. Petersburg (in the Judicial Building) and (3) North County (in the North County Service Center). The Centers are open 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Visit our website at www.mypinellasclerk.org and click on the “Self Help Center” tab at the top of the page for additional information, phone numbers and appointment schedules. Our knowledgeable staff will assist you with any questions that you have regarding the service.
The Clerk’s Self Help Center was selected as the national recipient of the American Bar Association’s 2011 Louis M. Brown Award. This honor is awarded annually to programs that contribute to the delivery of affordable legal services in innovative ways and displays that dedication in their creation, development and implementation of those methods. The Clerk’s Self Help Centers have scheduled over 23,000 appointments since its inception October 2007.
If you have any additional questions, please contact us at 582-7941or 464-5150. If your organization would benefit from learning about the Clerk’s Self Help Center, please contact Jeff Tomeo, Assistant Manager, Clerk’s Self Help Center at (727) 4645150 or Constance Daniels, Director at (727) 464-4815 to schedule a presentation.
We have a Spanish interpreter available by-appointment on Friday morning from 10-12.