Department Functions and Services:
The main function of the clerks in the Domestic Violence Division is to make sure that paperwork is complete, to maintain the files, and clerk for the judge at the hearings.
Anyone who resides in St. Lucie County and needs to file for an Injunction for Protection, must come to the St. Lucie County Courthouse located 218 S. 2nd Street, Ft. Pierce, Florida, 34950. Our hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. , Monday through Friday. The clerks in the Domestic Violence Division are there to assist petitioners with the procedures for filing for an Injunction. The clerks are not attorneys and cannot give legal advice. It is our job to make sure the paperwork is properly completed and signed. Once the paperwork is completed, the clerk prepares the file for the judge to review. When the file returns from the judge's office, the clerk must process whichever order the judge has signed. If a Temporary Injunction is granted, the clerk must set it for a hearing within 15 days per Florida Statute. The clerk will then send the Temporary Injunction to the appropriate sheriff's office for service on the respondent. The clerk will also attend the hearing, assist the judge when needed, and give out Certified Copies of the orders to the parties.
Additional Information |
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When filing a Petition for an Injunction, the Petitioner must have a photo I.D. |
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The Petitioner will be in our office approximately 45 minutes to an hour filling out the paperwork. |
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It must be remembered that the clerks who work in the Domestic Violence Division are not attorneys. Therefore, they are not able to give legal advice or answer any legal questions. An attorney must be consulted for all legal matters. |
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Department History:
The Clerk's Office started filing petitions for Injunctions for Protection in 1984. At that time they were handled in the Family Relations Division. In 1994, because of the volume of filings, the Domestic Violence Division was formed. There are currently five employees in the Domestic Violence Division, and approximately 1,000 petitions are filed per year.
