Can a Paralegal fill out Child Support Paperwork to file for court?
Hi, I’m low on cash and need to file for child support from my son’s father. My question is, if I go to the courthouse and buy the paperwork for child support, can a paralegal fill it out or do I need to spend the money for an attorney? If it matters, I’m in Tampa, Florida. Thanks.
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A paralegal may assist you in filling out the forms. They may not give you any advice on what to answer nor can they represent you in any way.
This is a very slippery slope and as one of the most important decisions about the Unauthorized Practice of Law by Paralegals came out of Florida, I would think most paralegals would be reluctant to do this. I would.
Have you tried applying for Legal Aid in Florida?
Yes, it matters where you are. In some places that would be considered the unauthorized practice of law. In others it won’t be.
The forms for child support should be free, or you should be able to find them for free some place.
They are basically financial statements. You could fill them out yourself. You would be providing the information in the first place.
See what you can do on your own.
** Note: This is a general discussion of the subject matter of your question and not legal advice. Local laws or your particular situation may change the general rules. For a specific answer to your question you should consult legal counsel with whom you can discuss all the facts of your case. Answering this question does not indicate an attorney-client relationship. **
I’d recommend getting the attorney, and I doubt a paralegal who knows what she’s doing would take any responsibility for your filings–paralegals are not allowed to give legal advice.
You are allowed to represent yourself in court, and the paralegal could help you out if you are a friend and you are willing to do it. If the paralegal works in that area of law, they may even know enough to really be helpful. But the responsibility if something were left out or screwed up would be all yours. I do not recommend it.
I am not an attorney.
You can have a paralegal do you paperwork for you but you might want an attorney to make your appearances for you.
You can go straight to your local cs office. They will do it all for you for free. The cs office has their own attorney’s on staff. You DO NOT need to hire a seperate attorney. Now if it were a divorce that’s different, but if you are just going after child support do it this way. They will take care of everything, they’ll file the paperwork, they’ll contact "dad", they’ll handle DNA testing if you need it, etc. etc. All you have to do is give them any info. they ask for and show up.
You should not have to pay for the forms.
I do not know about Florida, but in Arizona paralegals cannot fill out legal forms. If you know someone that is a paralegal you could ask them, but they would be risking their job for engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.
This is terrible to say, but I know there are businesses out there that are more affordable and help people in positions like yours. Here they are called like "The Divorce Store" or "Community Legal Services". Check to see if there is one in your area. It would be cheaper than an attorney.
Best of luck to you.