Agencies

Miami, Nov 16: Residents of Broward County in Florida, US, can now file for a divorce without leaving the house, or at least get the paperwork rolling.

The county Clerk of Courts launched an online service this month that steers citizens through the application process for filing divorce actions, small claims lawsuits and tenant evictions.

"It kind of guides you through, it asks questions. Once it knows your name, it will put it in every space it should go," said Kris Mazzeo, director of the circuit/civil family division of the clerk of courts.

The self-service system is intended for people who can’t afford an attorney or don’t want to spend the money on one.

Each section provides legal definitions and asks questions to determine which forms need to be filled out. The completed forms can be printed at home and mailed to the clerk’s office. Some paperwork requires a notary signature.

Mazzeo says the new service will save residents hours of hassle. "People come downtown and it’s expensive to park. If we can keep them from making extra trips to the courthouse, it would be great for them.”

The clerk of courts adopted the program following the lead of Palm Beach County and others. Soon, Mazzeo hopes to expand the service to offer help with other matters, such as name changes and paternity matters.

Although the program simplifies the legal process for the average citizen, it also simplifies the paperwork for the court clerks, who often have to deal with throngs of customers and incomplete applications.