Legal Services

IFP Project attorneys located at SPARCC* provide free legal services to help obtain injunctions for survivors of domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking. Services include the following:

  • Meet with survivors to provide legal advice to determine whether seeking an injunction is a safe and appropriate legal remedy.
  • Complete and file petitions for injunctions for survivors and represent them at the final injunction hearing.
  • Represent survivors who have obtained temporary injunctions and request representation at the hearing on the final injunction.
  • Represent survivors who have a final injunction for protection at a civil hearing for a violation of the injunction, or refer the violations to the Office of the State Attorney for prosecution.
  • Represent survivors at hearings to extend or modify an injunction.
  • Assist survivors in defending against a motion to dismiss an injunction.
  • Attend continued injunction hearings regarding child support, alimony, and timesharing requested in an injunction petition.

*SPARCC is not providing the legal services and is acting only as an intermediary to refer survivors to the following Florida Bar Licensed Attorneys:

Shannon Stafford, Esq.
Sarasota – North County
941-780-7376

Gabriele Plendl, Esq.
Sarasota – South County
Desoto County
941-780-7377

This project was supported by VOCA-2016-Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence-00842 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs. Sponsored by Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence-Legal Project (FCADV) and the State of Florida.

The SPARCC Injunction for Protection Legal Project is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Individuals who are hearing impaired or have speech disabilities may also contact OCR through the Federal Relay Service at 800-877-8339 (TTY), 877-877-8982 (Speech), or 800-845-6136 (Spanish).

If you are sure- or you suspect- you are being abused, SPARCC is here for you. Call our helpline at 941-365-1976 (TTY) for support.