This Chapter is intended to aid pro se parents involved in dependency and termination of parental rights proceedings, which are governed by Chapter 39, Laws of Florida. Pro se means that the parent does not have an attorney and has to represent himself or herself. If the trial court has already found that a parent is indigent in the trial-level proceedings (i.e., that the parent does not possess the financial means to afford an attorney), then an attorney will often also be appointed to represent the parent in the appeal. If the court-appointed attorney for the appeal does not find anything of merit to argue after a thorough review of the appellate record, the attorney will withdraw from the appeal without filing an initial brief on behalf of the parent. Under those circumstances, the parent will usually be allowed a short period of time to file his or her own pro se initial brief. This Chapter provides guidance to the parents who file their own briefs in the appellate courts in Chapter 39 cases.
