Family Court Case Management
The primary function of the "Family Court Services" (FCS) Department is to provide non-legal assistance to "pro se" parties who have filed for a divorce or a name change and to case manage those particular cases. Pursuant to Administrative Order 07-94-53, "pro se" petitioners in divorce and name change cases are required to have their initial paperwork stamped by the FCS prior to filing with the Domestic Clerk's office. After filing, the case is assigned to one of FCS's Court Specialists, who, under the direction of the staff attorney, then is available to assist the petitioner to the conclusion of his\her case. To promote uniformity of forms and procedures and public access, FCS created Divorce, Adult Name Change and Modification of Orange County Child Support Packets. These packets are sold to the public at a nominal cost through the Domestic Clerk's Office. For more information, which includes filing fees and requirements for a simplified divorce, please visit the Orange County Clerk website, or the Osceola County Clerk website.
If you will be filing for divorce or an adult name change in Orange County and intend to represent yourself, you will need to have your initial paperwork stamped by the Unit prior to your filing with the Domestic's Clerk Office. Since the Domestic's Clerk Office does not accept these INITIAL filings after 4:30 p.m., you should come to the Unit no later than 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
After you file, the Unit is available to answer procedural questions that you may have. Also, if your case is uncontested, the Unit will review your case to determine if it is ready for a final hearing. If your case is ready, the Unit will schedule your final hearing.
Other services of FCS are: (1) provision of various forms and instructions pertaining to divorce, name change, visitation, paternity, custody and child support issues; (2) free notary services for court approved forms (8a.m. to 3:30p.m.); and (3) "pro se" dissolution of marriage workshops.
Videos
Pre-Court Training (English)
Pre-Court Training (Spanish)
Information Brochures (pdf format)
Helpful Links
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