External Links
Disclaimer for External Links: These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Manta Law of any of the products, services, or opinions of the corporation, governmental agency, organization, or individual. Manta Law bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, content, or security of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
Court and Legal Resources
Florida Rules of Procedure – https://www.floridabar.org/rules/ctproc/
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure – https://www.uscourts.gov/rules-policies/current-rules-practice-procedure/federal-rules-civil-procedure
Florida Statutes – http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/
U.S. Code – https://uscode.house.gov/
United States District Court for Middle District of Florida – https://www.flmd.uscourts.gov/
United States District Court of Southern District of Florida – https://www.flsd.uscourts.gov/
United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida – http://www.flnd.uscourts.gov/
Florida District Courts of Appeal – https://www.flcourts.org/Florida-Courts/District-Courts-of-Appeal
Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeal – http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/
Public Access to Court Electronic Records (Pacer) – https://www.pacer.gov/
Hillsborough County Clerk’s Office – https://www.hillsclerk.com/
Pinellas County Clerk’s Office – https://www.mypinellasclerk.org/
Pasco County Clerk’s Office – https://www.pascoclerk.com/
Hernando County Clerk’s Office – https://www.hernandoclerk.com/
Consumer Resources
Florida Office of Financial Regulation – https://www.flofr.com/
Florida Attorney General – http://myfloridalegal.com/
Complaints about collection agencies may be filed either with Office of Financial Regulation at http://www.flofr.com/StaticPages/documents/OFR-CCA-103.pdf or with the Federal Trade Commission, Correspondence Branch, Washington, D.C. 20580.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – www.ftc.gov
Consumer Protection Financial Bureau (CFPB) – https://www.consumerfinance.gov/
To remind people of their rights – and debt collectors of their obligations – the FTC is featuring a new video available at https://www.ftc.gov/MoneyMatters, in the section called “Dealing with Debt”. The video is also available in Spanish at www.ftc.gov/asuntosdedinero.
You may download, copy, and distribute the FTC’s consumer alert available at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt086.shtm and the FTC’s Debt Collection FAQs: A Guide for Consumers available at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm. These and other publications on debt collection and managing debt are also available in Spanish at www.ftc.gov/asuntosdedinero.
National Consumer Law Center (NCLC) – https://www.nclc.org/
Florida Bar Consumer Pamphlets – https://www.floridabar.org/public/consumer/
One Tampa: Relief Now, Rise Together Fund – https://www.tampagov.net/relief-now
Small Business Resources
Small Business Administration – https://www.sba.gov/
Economic Injury Disaster Loan Emergency Advance – https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/economic-injury-disaster-loan-emergency-advance
Paycheck Protection Program – https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp
Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan (EBL) – http://floridasbdc.org/disaster/
One Tampa: Relief Now, Rise Together Fund – https://www.tampagov.net/relief-now
Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida – https://sbdctampabay.com/
Hillsborough County Entrepreneur & Small Business Support –https://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/businesses/entrepreneur-and-small-business-support
Tampa Chamber of Commerce – https://www.tampabaychamber.com/
Carrollwood Area Business Association – https://www.usecaba.com/
St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce – https://www.stpete.com/
Legal Aid Resources
Are You Safe, a nonprofit organization, helps victims of domestic violence with obtaining restraining orders and injunctions. For information, call (813) 997-7432 or visit their website.
Aging Solutions Inc. provides assistance to guardians for indigent wards of the state. The organization offers information on health care law as well as assistance to individuals who do not have an advocate. For information, call (813) 949-1888 or visit http://www.aging-solutions.org/.
The Bankruptcy Court Legal Assistance Program helps low-income litigants in certain proceedings. For information, visit their website.
Bay Area Legal Services offers assistance with many legal issues such as foreclosures, family law and taxes. For information, call (813) 232-1343 or visit https://bals.org.
The Consumer Protection Agency of Hillsborough County deals with cases involving fraud, theft or deceptive business practices. For information, call (813) 903-3430 or visit their website.
The Family Forms Clinic is a free program offered by Bay Area Legal Services that uses volunteer attorneys to help people complete the paperwork involved in family law cases. For information, call (813) 864-2280 or visithttps://www.fljud13.org/LegalCommunity/ForCitizens/FamilyFormsClinic/FAQs.aspx
The Federal Forms Litigation Project offers a one-time consult to people who are representing themselves. For information, call (813) 227-8418.
Florida Rural Legal Services serves individuals in Polk County with landlord-tenant issues, evictions, social security overpayment, foreclosures and power of attorney. For information, call (863) 688-7376 or visit https://www.frls.org/.
Guardiam ad Litem is a group of volunteers who are appointed by the Court to speak up for children who are victims of abuse, neglect, or abandonment and are without legal representation. For information, call (813) 272-5110 or visit their website.
Gulf Coast Legal Services provides free legal assistance in areas such as foreclosure, elder law and immigration. For information, call (813) 490-9412 or visit https://gulfcoastlegal.org/.
The Lemon Law Arbitration Division of the Attorney General’s Office hosts a hotline to help individuals with “Lemon Law” cases. For information, call 1-800-321-5366 or visit their http://myfloridalegal.com/lemonlaw.
The Military & Veterans Affairs Committee Legal Assistance Registry includes attorneys who may be available to assist veterans and active-duty personnel. Attorney’s fee options may include a full fee arrangement, a sliding fee scale, a reduced rate, or a pro bono or no charge basis.
The Pro Bono Bankruptcy Clinic led by the Tampa Bay Bankruptcy Bar Association provides information and prepares documents for people who are representing themselves in bankruptcy court. For information, email Jake Blanchard at jake@jakeblanchardlaw.com.
Project H.E.L.P. (Homeless Experience Legal Protection) provides free legal advice to Hillsborough County’s homeless. Legal consultations are available every Tuesday night. For information, call (813) 209-1200.
The Spring of Tampa Bay is the local domestic violence center. The Spring’s services are confidential and free of charge. The 24-hour domestic violence hotline number is (813) 247-SAFE (7233). Website: https://www.thespring.org/.
St. Michael’s Legal Center helps low-income women and men who need assistance with family law cases. The center’s primary service is in the collection of child support for those who cannot afford to hire an attorney. For information, call (813) 289-5385 or visit https://www.stmichaelslegalcenter.com/.
St. Paul’s Catholic Church Legal Clinic offers free consultations on family law cases. For information, call (813) 961-3023.
The Victim Assistance Program of the State Attorney’s Office offers counseling to victims of crime. Counselors may also serve as liaisons between victims and law enforcement agencies. For information, call (813) 272-6472 or visit their website.
Wills for Heroes, a program supported by the Hillsborough County Bar Foundation, provides essential legal documents such as wills, health care advance directives and durable powers of attorney to Hillsborough County’s first responders and their spouses or domestic partners. For information, call (727) 471-0675.
Disclaimer for External Links: These links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Manta Law of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation, governmental agency, organization, or individual. Manta Law bears no responsibility for the accuracy, legality, content, or security of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.