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 jnapoles@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)
Please contact Jnapoles@dadelegalaid.org for a list of providers that may perform pro bono or low bono services on a case by case basis.
Click HERE to submit a PSB Pro Bono Service/Costs Request.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!