ATTENTION ALL PRO BONO ATTORNEYS!
All Put Something Back (“PSB”) clients are low-income. Under no circumstances may you charge a client attorney’s fees. Clients are informed that while the attorney’s services are free, the project does not cover costs and the client is responsible for costs associated with their case.
The Application for Determination of Civil Indigent Status* is the official court document which MUST be filed with the Clerk of Court in order to waive payment of filing fees. Once an Affidavit of Indigency is filed, the Clerk of Court waives certain costs in each case. To defer the prepayment or any other cost such as sheriff costs, copies, mediation costs and/or legal publication costs, you must enroll in the clerk’s office payment plan. PSB may help to obtain reduced or free costs for services such as private process servers, court reporters, expert witnesses, investigators, mediators, mentors and translators (see list below); however, most firms and lawyers will absorb costs related to handling pro bono cases.
On a limited basis, PSB may reimburse for out-of-pocket expenses in cases where neither the client nor attorney are able to pay for these costs. We do notreimburse for couriers, photocopies, publication, service of process, postage, secretaries, paralegals, long distance, parking, tolls, faxes or filing fees. All pro bono attorneys must fill out, in advance, a proposed budget and request for reimbursement in writing detailing the purpose and the amount requested and submit to mbrown@dadelegalaid.org. If approved, PSB will reimburse only after the attorney submits receipts of approved expenditures. (Click Here for Costs Agreement) Only preapproved costs may be reimbursed.
PLEASE SEEK TO RECOVER FEES AND COSTS FROM THE OPPOSING SIDE WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THIS ALLOWS US TO SERVE MANY MORE NEEDY CLIENTS. FLORIDA CASE LAW PERMITS AWARDING ATTORNEY’S FEES IN PRO BONO CASES. Butler v. Butler, 376 So. 2d 287 (Fla. 5th DCA 1979)
Below is a list of providers that may perform pro bono or low bono services on a case by case basis.
Court Reporters:
Esquire Deposition Solutions, LLC 305-371-2713
Har-Mel Reporters 305-541-6234
U.S. Legal Support 305-373-8404
Veritex Legal Solutions 305-376-8800 or 1-800-275-7991
Process Servers:
Caplan, Caplan and Caplan Process Servers 305-374-3426 or 954-462-1800
Rubi Legal Services 786-277-1451
Interpreters:
Cakov Group Language Solutions 305-854-8181
Horizon Legal Solutions, Inc. 954-647-7211
Miami Interpreters 305-271-5669
Professional Translating Services, Inc. 305-371-7887
Mediators:
Evan Frankel 305-759-6100
Kayla Riera-Gomez 786-938-5180
Barbara Locke 305-815-1235
William C. Sussman, P.A. 786-897-4381
When calling a vendor, please identify yourself as a PSB pro bono attorney and ask them to provide the services free of charge or on a low bono basis. For a list of additional vendors, or further information, please contact PSB at 305-579-5733 ext. 2252. Please be reminded PSB cannot reimburse you if you pre-pay for any above services. In cases where you have prior approval, please tell the vendor to invoice PSB directly in order for us to promptly process the bill.
*Filings Fees Visit Miami-dadeclerk.com
FAMILY COURT RELATED FEES
Adoptions, including sealing the file …………………………………………………$443
Dissolution of marriage …………………………………………………………………$409
All other actions(except non-domestic petitions) …………………………..………$301
Non-domestic-related petitions …………………………………..……………………..$401
Each defendant in excess of 5 ………………………………….…………………………$2.50
Appeal to District Court of Appeals (Check written to District Court) ……….….$300
Appeal to District Court of Appeals (Collected by Clerk) …………..…………….$100
Proceedings of garnishment,attachment,replevinsandistress ……………..…….$85
Filing fee for reopening a case ………………………………………………………….$50
Attorney appearing pro hac vice ………………………………………………………$100
Notice of recording foreign judgments – new suits ………………………….……..$42
Cross claim, counterclaim 3rd party complaint filing fee …………………………$295
Maintain professional guardian files ………………………………………………….$7.50
Other Fees:
Examining, comparing, correcting, verifying & certifying transcripts…………..$5
In appellate proceedings, per page, Preparing, numbering & indexing original record of appellate proceedings, per instrument …$3.50
Verifying an instrument prepared by someone other than clerk ………………$3.50
Writing paper other than specifically mentioned, same as for copying, including signing and sealing …………. $7
Oath, administering, attesting and sealing …………………………………………$3.50
Validating certificates …………………………………………………………………..$3.50
Preparing affidavit of domicile ………………………………………………………. $5
Exemplified clerk certificates, including signing and sealing …………………..$7
Authenticated clerk certificates, including signing and sealing …………..…$7
Issuing and filing subpoena for a witness, including signing & sealing………$7
Signing and sealing subpoena ……………………………………………………….$2
Searching records, each year ……………………………………………………….$2
Payment plan fee ………………………………………………………………….…..$25
Certified or registered mail postal charges – Cost
Non-sufficient funds: <= $50 – $25
Non-sufficient funds: $50.01 to $300 – $30
Non-sufficient funds: > $300 – >of $40 or 5% of check
Interest Rates on Final Judgments – April 1, 2024 – June 30, 2024 – 9.34%
APPLICATION FOR DETERMINATION OF CIVIL INDIGENT STATUS
Notice of Applicant: If you qualify for civil indigence, payment of filing fees will be waived, but, to defer the prepayment or any other cost you must enroll in the clerk’s office payment plan and pay a one-time administrative fee of $25.00. This fee shall not be charged for Dependency or Chapter 39 Termination of Parental Rights actions.
Click HERE to submit a PSB Pro Bono Service/Costs Request.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!