More than 1,100 use new legal gateway

Program lets people file some family law documents without help of an attorney


  • By Max Marbut
  • | 12:00 p.m. May 19, 2017
  • | 5 Free Articles Remaining!
The Florida Court Technology Commission convened Thursday at the Duval County Courthouse. It was formed in 2010 to oversee, manage and direct the use of technology within the judicial branch under the direction of the state Supreme Court.
The Florida Court Technology Commission convened Thursday at the Duval County Courthouse. It was formed in 2010 to oversee, manage and direct the use of technology within the judicial branch under the direction of the state Supreme Court.
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The Florida Legal Access Gateway launched in October at the Clay County Clerk of the Circuit Court in Green Cove Springs.

It’s proven to be popular among people who want to — or need to — file certain family law documents without the assistance or expense of an attorney.

That was the report given Thursday to the Florida Courts Technology Commission by attorney Jim Kowalski, executive director of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.

The program provides “digital access to the courthouse,” for self-represented litigants who want to use a source they trust, Kowalksi said.

The gateway has been used by 1,172 people who, in 2,044 sessions, viewed 4,877 pages of information and documents related to family law and landlord/tenant matters.

About 25 percent of the users linked to FlaLawHelp.org, a service provided by JALA and more than 25 other legal aid organizations in the state, he said.

That site provides referrals to an agency near the user or online legal forms approved by the state Supreme Court that people can fill out themselves and then take to their county courthouse for filing.

The pilot program was developed by the Florida Commission on Access to Civil Justice and is coordinated by the Florida Justice Technology Center, The Florida Bar and The Florida Bar Foundation.

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