IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE SIXTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT

IN AND FOR PASCO/PINELLAS COUNTY, FLORIDA

CIVIL DIVISION

 

                                    Plaintiff(s),                                         REF:

                                                                                                UCN:

v.                                                                                                        

 

                                    Defendant(s).

_______________________________________________________/

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO HOMEOWNER

A FORECLOSURE ACTION HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST YOU

YOU HAVE RIGHTS DURING THE FORECLOSURE

 

 

IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS LAWSUIT, A FINAL JUDGMENT WILL BE ENTERED AND YOUR HOME WILL BE SOLD AT A FORECLOSURE SALE.

 

IF YOU WANT TO TRY TO SAVE YOUR HOME, YOU MUST RESPOND TO THIS LAWSUIT AS DIRECTED IN THE SUMMONS.

 

IN ADDITION, YOU MAY WANT TO ASK TO PARTICIPATE IN MEDIATION.  YOU MUST FILE A MOTION ASKING THE COURT TO REFER THIS CASE TO MEDIATION.  PLEASE SEE BELOW.   

 

 

LEGAL RESOURCES

 

You are urged to get a lawyer to protect your rights and your home.  You should find a lawyer even if you ask for mediation or other services.  If you are able to afford a lawyer, you may contact the local Bar Associations lawyer referral services.

 

If you cannot afford an attorney, you may contact your local legal aid or legal service provider. 

 

Bay Area Legal Services, Inc.    (727) 490-4040    (352) 567-9044           www.bals.org               

Community Law Program (only Pinellas County)  (727) 582-7480               www.lawprogram.org

Gulf Coast Legal Services (only Pinellas County)  (727) 821-0726                 www.gulfcoastlegal.org

 

MEDIATION

 

You may ask to participate in mediation in an attempt to resolve this matter.  If you want in good faith to attempt to come to an agreement with the lender about this matter, you or your attorney should file a motion asking the court to refer the case to mediation. You must also respond to the lawsuit as directed in the summons.

 

Please review the Court’s website at www.jud6.org for more information about mediation of mortgage foreclosure cases and a form motion requesting mediation.   

 

ATTACHMENT C – NOTICE TO HOMEOWNER

 

In addition, you may wish to contact a Housing Counseling agency to find out more information. 

 

HOUSING COUNSELING

 

Catholic Charities Diocese of St. Pete           (727)893-1313     www.thefloridacatholic.org/stp/stphp.php

City of St. Pete Housing & Community Dev.(727) 893-7247     www.stpete.org/housing/home_forclosure

Consumer Credit Counseling Svc.               (800) 984-0977      www.cccsfl.org

Homeowners Hope Hotline                         (888) 995-4673      www.makinghomeaffordable.com, or                                                                                                         www.995hope.org,or  www.hopenow.com

Housing & Education Alliance                    (813) 261-5151      www.myhomeamerica.org

National Foundation for Debt Management  (727) 254-5353      www.nfdm.org

Solita’s House, Inc.                                     (813) 425-4847
St. Pete Neighborhood Housing Svc.           (727) 821-6897      www.stpetenhs.org

Tampa Bay Community Development Corp.(866) 608-3220      www.tampabaycdc.org

 

OTHER RESOURCES

 

2-1-1 Tampa Bay Cares, Inc.                       211                         www.211tampabay.org

Clearwater Neighborhood Housing Svc.      (727) 442-4155        www.cnhs.biz

Pasco County Office of Management           (727) 834-3445,

& Budget                                             (352)521-4274 x3445     www.pascocountyfl.net

Pinellas County Community

Development Department                             (727) 464-8210               www.pinellascounty.org/community

The Florida Department of Children and Families                      www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/

U.S. Dep. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) (800) 225-5342   www.fha.gov

                                            

AVOID FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS:

 

You may be contacted by individuals or companies that claim they can save your home from foreclosure.  Please seek legal advice before you sign any documents or pay money to anyone offering to save your home from foreclosure.  If you think that you have been a victim of a foreclosure scam, you may call one of the following numbers for assistance:

 

Florida Department of Financial Regulation                                           1-800-342-2762

Federal Trade Commission                                                                    1-877-382-4357

Office of the Attorney General                                                              1-866-966-7226

Consumer Services Division of Florida Department of Agriculture         1-800-435-7352

Pinellas County Justice & Consumer Services                                       (727) 464-6200            www.pinellascounty.org/consumer

 

One or more of the following options may be available to help you save your home. 

 

Reinstatement:  Repayment of the total amount that you are behind in a lump sum payment.

Forbearance:  Temporary reduction or suspension of your mortgage payments. 

Repayment Plan:  Agreement that allows the homeowner to repay the amount that you are behind gradually while making your regularly scheduled monthly payments.

Loan Modification:  Written agreement that permanently changes one or more of the original terms of your mortgage to make the payments more affordable. 

Short Sale:  Lender may allow you to sell the home for less than the total amount owed on the mortgage.  If the lender agrees to the short sale, the remaining portion of the mortgage that exceeds the net proceeds from the sale will be written off by the lender.

Deed-in-lieu of Foreclosure:  Lender will cancel the mortgage if the homeowner voluntarily transfers the title of the property to the mortgage lender.