We are honored to be the Paul Doyle Children's Advocacy Award winner of 2023 for our Foster Youth Disability Advocacy Project! This award is to be presented at the Florida Bar Foundation's Annual Award Ceremony and we will receive a cash award of $5,000.

For many years Attorney Levin has supported our organization and the Seminole County community through his continued pro-bono service and assistance in our annual fundraiser. With a heavy heart, we extend our sincerest condolences to the Levin family. His presence will be greatly missed.

It's time to start thinking of the impact you could have on the Seminole County community. We ask you to please join us in our efforts to maintain the wonderful quality of life we enjoy in Seminole County by donating your time and talents to help a disenfranchised person(s) with their legal needs or by providing an in lieu of service monetary donation to help support our legal program. Below is a link to our 2023 Pro Bono Registration form for your consideration. Click here to let us know how you plan to impact the Seminole County community.

Test your financial prowess with the FDIC's financial empowerment tool called "How Money Smart are You?" With a variety of courses covering everything from the basics to borrowing and how to protect yourself from financial scams to planning your savings and spending plan. Learn to responsibly manage your assets and prepare for any financial emergency with these resources.

Click the following link to play any of the fourteen games to improve your financial literacy.

If you haven't filed your taxes yet, here is a reminder that they are due April 18th! Confused about how to file? Visit one of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program sites which is a free tax preparation service run by IRS-certified volunteers for families and individuals across the Greater Orlando area. VITA offers this free tax help to those who make less than $73,000, and the volunteers will provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing.

Included below are VITA sites located in Seminole County. For more information about the program or other sites please click here.

Seminole County VITA locations:

Seminole State College Sanford/Lake Mary Campus

100 Weldon Blvd., Bldg J, Room 102, Sanford, FL 32773

Open starting 02/04/2023, offering both in-person and virtual appointments on Fridays at 6:00pm-9:00pm and Saturdays at 10:30am - 2:30pm. Walk-ins are welcome and Spanish translators will be present at this site.

The Sharing Center

600 N. Hwy 17-92, Suite 158, Longwood, FL 32750

Open starting o2/08/2023, offering in-person appointments on Wednesdays at 10:00am-3:00pm. You may schedule your appointment by calling (689) 208-2153 or emailing vitatax@thesharingcenter.org

Banks provide a variety of accommodations for disabled individuals. One such offering is the ABLE bank account which allows for people to save without it affecting their eligibility for federally-funded benefits. To see if you qualify, visit the IRS website and Social Security Administration page for eligibility requirements.

For more information on account options, click the following link to visit the ABLE National Resource Center.

With scams to get your personal information on the rise it is more important than ever to make sure that you keep your documents secure. Personal identification documents such as your Social Security Card, birth certificate, passport, etc. need to be safely secured in your home to protect your identity and future.

Additionally, frequent scam calls leave individuals vulnerable to exploitation, the Social Security Administration has identified four signs that a caller is trying to scam you.

1. Scammers pretend to be from an agency you're familiar with to gain your trust.
2. Scammers say there is a problem or a prize.
3. They pressure you to act immediately.
4. They tell you to pay in a specific way.

For more information on how to protect yourself against scammers, click the link.

On March 16th, the Supreme Court made amendments to 17 Bar rules and 1 bylaw on regulating the Florida Bar. The amendments cover topics from revealing confidential information to prevent death to retired lawyers. This will take effect May 15, 2023.

To read all the amendments, click the following link.

As a college student, there are already so many important things pressing on your mind like exam due dates, homework assignments, and juggling your personal responsibilities, the last thing you should have to worry about is an eviction or time-sharing issues. Our staff attorneys will be on campus every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 9:00am-12:00pm in order to help student address any legal concerns they have that may be affecting their ability to focus on graduation.

Location: 100 Weldon Blvd., Sanford, FL 32771 Student Center Building, Room: SC260

Upcoming Dates:

April 13th

April 27th

For more information email Camryn Williams at camrynw@scbalas.com

Our sealing and expungement workshop is back full in swing this year both virtually and in-person. Don't let that arrest on your record prevent you from getting the job of your dreams. In partnership with Goodwill Industries, our office holds a workshop to learn from our experienced volunteer attorneys how to seal or expunge your record. This workshop takes place every first Wednesday of the month in-person at the Sanford Library and virtually every third Wednesday of the month via Zoom.

You may qualify if you had:

• Adjudication withheld or charges dropped
• AND never previously sealed or expunged your record

To check the list of disqualifying crimes, click here.

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO: 23-15-S SUPERSEDES 22-09-S 3rd Amended

IN RE: JUDGES - DIVISION AND CASE ASSIGNMENTS

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO: 23-16 SUPERSEDES 11-24 AMENDED

IN RE: DOMESTIC RELATIONS - FAMILY DIVISION - MODEL FAMILY COURT

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO: 23-17 SUPERSEDES 19-19 AMENDED

IN RE: MENTAL HEALTH – RISK PROTECTION ORDERS

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO: 23-18 SUPERSEDES 17-29-B and 17-30-S

IN RE: CRIMINAL - ALTERNATIVE SANCTIONS PROGRAM

Upcoming Events

April 5, 2023 - In-Person Sealing and Expungement

April 7, 2023 - Court Holiday - Office Closed

April 13, 2023 - Seminole State College Legal Advice Clinic

April 17, 2023 - ProjectRISE Presentation

April 19, 2023 - Virtual Sealing and Expungement

April 20, 2023 - Veterans Free Legal Advice Clinic

April 27, 2023 - Seminole State College Legal Advice Clinic