FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (June 7, 2018) – Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) has launched a Family Court Self Advocacy Program, one of the many new community services that are offered at the Broward County Courthouse. The program provides general legal information and guidance for people who need assistance on divorce and paternity cases, including child support issues and other family court motions.
The office is located in room WW 04101 of the West Wing of the Broward County Courthouse. Open Monday through Friday, the hours for walk-ins are 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Appointments are scheduled in the afternoon for follow-up questions.
Divorce education classes for individuals who want to learn more about the process will be provided. The CCLA staff attorney at the courthouse will also provide assistance and guidance on which forms to file, however, the attorney does not fill out forms.
“This program steers people in the right direction by answering general legal questions on family court matters,” said Lisa G. Goldberg, supervising attorney of the family and domestic violence law department at CCLA. “Our program attorney, Angela Fernandez, has already met with hundreds each month since our soft launch in March. The response has been so overwhelming that full time legal interns are assisting with initial triage and appointment scheduling, and there is a real need for a second attorney. We are working to find funding in the community to underwrite the staffing of this program.” Goldberg added.
Cases on dependency, adoption, guardianship/kinship will be referred to other agencies.
A ribbon cutting is scheduled for Friday, June 8 at 11:30 a.m. to kick-off the new program alongside other community agencies with new courthouse presence. For more information about the work of CCLA and the Family Court Self Advocacy Program visit www.coasttocoastlegalaid.org.
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Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida is a not-for-profit law firm established in 2003 and funded, in part, by the Legal Services Corporation. The mission is to improve the lives of low income persons in our community through advocacy, education, representation and empowerment.
Annual sponsors of CCLA include: Birnbaum, Lippman & Gregoire, PLLC; Florida Power & Light; JM Family Enterprises, Inc.; Kelley Kronenberg, Attorneys at Law; Kim Vaughan Lerner, LLP; Valley National Bank and Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, P.L. For more information about the work of CCLA visit www.coasttocoastlegalaid.org.
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) is a 501(c)(3) corporation registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer services (#CH19226). All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free 1-800-435-7352 within the state OR VISITING WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval or recommendation by the State.