The Family Law group is staffed with four dedicated and experienced family law attorneys to serve residents from four GLS offices: Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Bradenton and Sarasota. Each staff member has been trained, specifically, on the dynamics of domestic violence and working with survivors in a compassionate and empowering manner.
Attorneys provide assistance in all areas of civil, family law cases where there has been domestic violence or child abuse. This includes representation at Injunction for Protection hearings, Dissolution of Marriage (divorce) proceedings, Paternity actions, and Child Custody and Child Support matters.
If full representation cannot be provided in your case, we strive to provide an attorney that can guide and assist you in this critical time of need. This may be achieved by providing forms review, assistance with hearing preparations and/or review of the next steps in your case. In the past year, the Family law group provided services to over 600 clients. It is our hope that by providing you with these kinds of services, our community will be a safer place for everyone.
If you do not feel safe from your abuser, we suggest you first contact your local domestic violence shelter.
Do you need help with a Domestic Violence Injunction? Please check out this Important Informational Video
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How to Schedule an Appointment ^ Back to the Top
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For an appointment in the Pinellas County Area (Clearwater/St. Petersburg), call (727) 821-0726. GLS also accepts referrals from CASA in St. Petersburg and The Haven of R.C.S in Clearwater. CASA/Center Against Spouse Abuse, Inc. can be reached at (727) 895-4912; Hotline/Crisis: (727) 898-3671 or by going to http://www.casa-stpete.org. The Haven of R.C.S can be reached at (727) 441-2029, Hotline/Crisis: (727) 442-4128 or by going to http://www.rcspinellas.org. For appointment in Manatee County, please first contact HOPE Family Services, Inc. HOPE Family Services, Inc, can be reached by calling (941) 755-6805 24/hour hotline or (941) 747-8499 during business hours, or by going to http://www.hopefamilyservice.org. HOPE Family Services will assess the needs of clients and will send a referral to the Bradenton office. GLS staff from the Bradenton office will contact those clients to set up appointments. For an appointment in Sarasota County, please first contact SPARCC, Inc. (Safe Place Rape Crisis Center) which can be reached by calling (941) 365-1976 24/hour hotline or (941) 365-0208 during business hours, or by going to http://www.sparcc.net. SPARCC will assess the needs of clients and will send a referral to the Sarasota Office. Staff from the Sarasota office will contact those clients to set up appointments. |
Florida Family Law Resources ^ Back to the Top
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Most family law forms can be obtained through the Florida Courts website at http://www.flcourts.org, including the Petition for Injunction for Protection Against Domestic Violence. Other forms can often be obtained through the Clerk of the Court's website for your County. For your convenience, below is contact information for Clerk of the Court for some nearby counties: Pinellas County Clerk of the Court: visit http://www.pinellasclerk.org or call (727) 464-3267 Pasco County Clerk of the Court: visit http://www.pascoclerk.org or call (727) 847-2411 Manatee County Clerk of the Court: visit http://www.manateeclerk.org or call (941) 749-1800 Sarasota County Clerk of the Court: visit http://www.sarasotaclerk.org or call (941) 861-7400 Hillsborough County Clerk of the Court http://www.hillsclerk.com/publicweb/Domestic_Violence.aspx |
Domestic Violence Shelters and Resources ^ Back to the Top
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State-wide Assistance
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Pinellas County/St. Pete-Clearwater
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What to Bring to Your Appointment ^ Back to the Top
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If possible, please bring the following with you to your appointment:
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