A collaboration designed to offer affordable legal services to the public
Self Help Center
A collaboration by the offices of Ken Burke, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, the Sixth Judicial Circuit, The Community Law Program and the Clearwater Bar Association, to offer affordable legal services to the public.
Announcements
A Big Move: Clerk's Self Help Center Now Located Inside Clearwater Courthouse
The Clerk's Self Help Center is now located inside the Clearwater Courthouse at 315 Court Street, Room 114, across from the information desk. Read the complete press release here.
Pinellas Clerk’s Self Help Center Now Offers Convenient Online Appointment Scheduling
Conveniently schedule your attorney consultations online. Read the complete press release here.
Gulfcoast Legal Services Announces FREE FORECLOSURE ASSISTANCE
Gulfcoast Legal Services recently received funding to expand our legal assistance to many previously ineligible homeowners in Pinellas and Manatee Counties who are facing foreclosure. Whether you are behind on your mortgage payments or have already received foreclosure papers, we may be able to help you find a workable solution. GLS can help you fight a mortgage foreclosure of your homestead property and/or help you with a mortgage restructure or modification negotiation with your bank or other lender.
We cannot guarantee representation. However, we can provide you with information that you may need to keep your home. Call NOW to get legal advice from an attorney.
Pinellas residents: Call (727) 821-0726
Manatee residents: Call (941) 746-6151
Self Help Center Receives 2011 Louis M. Brown Award
The Self Help Center was selected as the recipient of the 2011 Louis M. Brown Award for Legal Access by the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services. Learn more.
The purpose of the Clerk's Self Help Center is to offer affordable legal assistance to citizens representing themselves in court (pro se litigants) without a private attorney.
Services Available:
If you are a person with a disability who needs an accommodation, you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. To request such an accommodation please contact the Office of Human Rights, by written or oral request, within seven days of the date but at least three (3) business days prior to the date the service is needed, at: 400 South Fort Harrison Avenue, Suite 500, Clearwater, Florida 33756, Phone: (727) 464-4880, TDD: (727) 464-4062; if you are hearing or voice impaired, call 711.
Open Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Clearwater Courthouse 315 Court St., Room 114 Clearwater, FL 33756 Phone: (727) 464-5150 Fax: (727) 453-3423
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday appointments. A Spanish interpreter may be requested by contacting the Hispanic Outreach Center at (727) 445-9734.
Open Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Closed from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.)
St. Petersburg Judicial Building 545 First Ave. N., Room 103 St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Phone: (727) 582-7941 Fax: (727) 582-7945
Monday, Wednesday and Friday appointments.
Open Tuesdays only, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. (Closed from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.)
North County Branch 29582 U.S. 19 N., Room 101 Clearwater, FL 33761 Phone: (727) 464-5150 Fax: (727) 453-3423
Tuesday appointments only.
Welcome to the online scheduling system. To get started, select an appointment location from on the Book Appointment tab above. To schedule an online appointment, please have your Credit Card or Bank Card ready.
Self Help Center services are available to all persons who are or will be parties to a Family Law case, a Residental Landlord/Tenant case (Non-Payment Rent only), or a Small Claims case (Not for injunctions, criminal, traffic, expungement, guardianship, probate, real property, foreclosures, commercial landlord/tenant, civil claims over $8,000, appeals, bankruptcy, federal case, etc.) and are not already represented by an attorney.
The information that you give to and receive from Self Help Center personnel is NOT confidential and may be subject to disclosure at a later date. If another person involved in your case seeks assistance from this center, that person will be given the same type of assistance you receive.
Consulting with the Self Help attorney is limited to assistance with court-approved forms and procedural information. Meeting with a self help attorney is not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship. If more detailed legal assistance is required, it is best to consult with your own attorney.
Attorney appointments may only be scheduled for a minimum of 15 minutes to a maximum of one hour. All appointments must be scheduled in 15-minute increments, i.e., 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes at a rate of $1 (one dollar) per minute, therefore payments will be $15, $30, $45 or $60 accordingly.
Attorney consultation fees must be paid at the time the appointment is scheduled. When making appointments online, you will need to pay by credit card. If you need to pay for an appointment by cash, check or money order, you will need to come into one of our offices to schedule your appointment. Refunds will not be issued for cancelled or missed appointments. Appointment times may not be changed once set.
If you have any questions, please call our Clearwater office at (727) 464-5150 or our St. Petersburg office at (727) 582-7941.
During this time of social distancing for your convenience and safety, phone appointments are being offered as an option. Please notate that request in the “Special Instructions” box. Be sure to make yourself available at the time of the appointment. Be advised that the attorney will make only two attempts to contact you at the number provided. Refunds will not be provided if you are unable to take the call at the designated appointment time nor will missed appointments be rescheduled.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact us:
Located at:
North County Branch Office
29582 U.S. 19 N., Room 101
Clearwater, FL 33761
Attorney does not represent litigants in court. Tuesday appointments only. Open Tuesdays only, 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m. (Appointments unavailable from 12:00p.m. - 1:00p.m.) Phone: (727) 464-5150 Fax: (727) 453-3423
St. Petersburg Judicial Building
545 First Ave. N., Room 103,
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Attorney does not represent litigants in court. Monday, Wednesday and Friday appointments. Open Monday - Friday, 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m. (Appointments unavailable from 12:00p.m. - 1:00p.m.) Phone: (727) 582-7941 Fax: (727) 582-7945
Clearwater Courthouse
315 Court St., Room 114,
Clearwater, FL 33756
Attorney does not represent litigants in court. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday appointments. Open Monday - Friday, 8:30a.m. - 4:30p.m. (Appointments unavailable from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.) Para asistencia en español, llame al Centro de Apoyo Hispano al (727) 445-9734 Phone: (727) 464-5150 Fax: (727) 453-3423
The price listed on the cover of the following packets corresponds to the cost of paper copies, which are available at each Self Help Center location. There is no cost to you if you wish to download any forms from this site. Please note, not all forms may be necessary for every type of action. Instructions are provided.
Use the Book Appointment tab above to schedule an appointment with a Self Help Center attorney. During your appointment, the attorney will provide you with procedural advice and assist in filling out civil court forms. Appointments are made in 15-minute increments at a rate of $15.00 each, and may be scheduled up to 60 minutes for $60.00.
To purchase paper copies of any of the packets below, call (727) 464-5150.
Revised 2/2020
"Pro se" means "for oneself" or, "on one's own behalf", as in pursuing legal proceedings without an attorney.
For a quick referral guide on the legal areas the Clerk’s Office may statutorily assist with, please click here.
No. The attorneys will only assist with the Florida Bar pro se forms and aid in the understanding of the overall legal process. They will assist with any pleadings the person has received. They cannot represent people in Court.
There are three ways to schedule an appointment. Visit the Clearwater or St. Petersburg Self Help Center in person Schedule an appointment online Call either location - Clearwater (727) 464-5150 or St. Petersburg (727) 582-7941 Payment in full is required in order to make an appointment. We are sorry, but refunds will not be issued for canceled or missed appointments.
There are three ways to schedule an appointment.
Payment in full is required in order to make an appointment. We are sorry, but refunds will not be issued for canceled or missed appointments.
It is not necessary, but we highly recommend it. We understand that some issues require immediate action and we will try to accommodate walk-ins. However, the appointment calendar can fill very quickly. It will save you time and frustration if you make an appointment in advance.
There are several "pro bono" or free legal assistance programs in Pinellas County that you may use if you meet the eligibility requirements. For information about pro bono programs, Pinellas County residents may visit the Bay Area Legal Services website www.bals.org or call 1-800-625-2257.
Yes. All forms/packets are available for sale at a reasonable price. You may also download them at no cost from this site. A complete list of forms and packets may be found by clicking here.
Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity.
