Named in honor of the late Orange County Clerk of Courts Lydia Gardner, the Self Help Center was created to provide customers with limited legal guidance and low-cost attorney consultations. The Center is the first of its kind in the Orange County Community to help citizens who either don’t have a lawyer or cannot afford one. The services provided are not based on income.
The Self Help Center will assist only with the following case types:
- Family Law (excluding restraining orders)
- Child Custody
- Divorce
- Paternity
- Small Claims ($8,000 or less)
- Residential Evictions
Services Include:
- Document review for accuracy and completeness
- Notary
- Computer/print access
Location
Orange County Courthouse
425 North Orange Ave. | Suite 340 (3rd floor)
Orlando, FL 32801
Hours of Operation: Mon - Fri: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Winter Park Courthouse
4037 Metric Drive, Winter Park 32792
(407) 836-2007
Hours of Operation: Mon – Fri: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Attorney Consultations
Attorney consultations are available and may be scheduled in 15-minute sessions, for up to 1 hour per day, per person. The cost for an attorney consultation is $1 per minute.
The Self Help Center is a collaborative partnership between the Orange County Bar Association and the Clerk’s Office. All attorneys are referred by the Orange County Bar Association. Note, the attorneys that provide legal assistance at the Self Help Center cannot represent you in court.
Attorney consultation fees must be paid at the time the appointment is scheduled. Refunds will not be issued for cancelled or missed appointments – no exceptions. Once set, appointment times may not be changed. Attorney consultation appointments cannot be made nor conducted by telephone.