UNBUNDLED LEGAL SERVICES REQUIREMENTS
Many pro se litigants want to do it themselves but need and want some help. Florida law permits this and The Family Law Firm's "Family Law Self Help Center” has been created to fulfill this public need. A pro se party may hire an attorney to perform certain services for them or assist them with their case without acting as their attorney in all of the proceedings. This is called unbundled legal services or “Limited Appearance.” The attorney and their staff could:
1. Act as a coach for the pro se litigant
2. Help Prepare a parenting Plan for the Pro Se
3. Help Prepare Financial Affidavits for the Pro Se
4. Help prepare the Pro se to have their deposition taken or to take the deposition of another party or witness.
5. Take a deposition for the pro se
6. Prepare discovery requests for the pro se
7. Assist the pro se in analyzing evidence
8. Prepare Pleadings or Other documents for the pro se litigant
9. Attend and represent the pro se litigant at certain hearings, mediations or meetings without being responsible for the balance of the case.
10. Assist the pro se litigant by performing legal research or drafting a memorandum.
11. Direct the Pro se litigant to forms or provide the pro se litigant with forms
12. Assist the Pro se in filling out forms
13. Provide education to the pro se litigant
14. Virtually any other task that can be imagined.
Rule 12.040, FL. Fam. L. R.P. provides the guidelines of how such “limited representation takes place.
RULE 12.040. ATTORNEYS
(a) Limited Appearance. An attorney of record for a party, in a family law matter governed by these rules, shall be the attorney of record throughout the same family law matter, unless at the time of appearance the attorney files a notice, signed by the party, specifically limiting the attorney’s appearance only to the particular proceeding or matter in which the attorney appears.
(b) Withdrawal or Limiting Appearance.
(1) Prior to the completion of a family law matter or prior to the completion of a limited appearance, an attorney of record, with approval of the court, may withdraw or partially withdraw, thereby limiting the scope of the attorney’s original appearance to a particular proceeding or matter. A motion setting forth the reasons must be filed with the court and served upon the client and interested persons.
(2) The attorney shall remain attorney of record until such time as the court enters an order, except as set forth in subdivision (c) below.
(c) Scope of Representation.
(1) If an attorney appears of record for a particular limited proceeding or matter, as provided by this rule, that attorney shall be deemed “of record” for only that particular proceeding or matter. Any notice of limited appearance filed shall include the name, address, and telephone number of the attorney and the name, address, and telephone number of the party. At the conclusion of such proceeding or matter, the attorney’s role terminates without the necessity of leave of court, upon the attorney filing a notice of completion of limited appearance. The notice, which shall be titled “Termination of Limited Appearance,” shall include the names and last known addresses of the person(s) represented by the withdrawing attorney.
(2) An attorney for the State’s Title IV-D child support enforcement agency who appears in a family law matter governed by these rules shall file a notice informing the recipient of Title IV-D services and other parties to the case that the IV-D attorney represents only the Title IV-D agency and not the recipient of IV-D services. The notice must state that the IV-D attorney may only address issues concerning determination of paternity, and establishment, modification, and enforcement of support obligations. The notice may be incorporated into a pleading, motion, or other paper filed with the court when the attorney first appears.
(d) Preparation of Pleadings or Other Documents. A party who files a pleading or other document of record pro se with the assistance of an attorney shall certify that the party has received assistance from an attorney in the preparation of the pleading or other document. The name, address, and telephone number of the party shall appear on all pleadings or other documents filed with the court.
(e) Notice of Limited Appearance. Any pleading or other document filed by a limited appearance attorney shall state in bold type on the signature page of that pleading or other document: “Attorney for [Petitioner] [Respondent] [attorney’s address and telephone number] for the limited purpose of [matter or proceeding]” to be followed by the name of the petitioner or respondent represented and the current address and telephone number of that party.
(f) Service. During the attorney’s limited appearance, all pleadings or other documents and all notices of hearing shall be served upon both the attorney and the party. If the attorney receives notice of a hearing that is not within the scope of the limited representation, the attorney shall notify the court and the opposing party that the attorney will not attend the court proceeding or hearing because it is outside the scope of the representation.
Let the Family Law Firm's provide you with low cost assistance on your case.Family Law Self Help Center .
Family Law Firm's "Family Law Self Help Center"
Norman D. Levin, P.A.
165 West Jessup Avenue
Longwood, Florida 32779
(407)834-9497