Representing Yourself in a Divorce Proceeding

The worst has happened and you find yourself served with divorce papers… what should you do?  Family Lawyers can be expensive, and you’re not sure how high the bill might go.  Should you hire a lawyer, or should you try to navigate the ins and outs of family court on your own?

The answer might surprise you because handling your own divorce is sometimes the right thing to do.  Remember, I said ‘sometimes’.

Family law courts see thousands of cases a year, and handle divorces of all shapes and sizes. Most of them are prepared for you; relatively inexperienced, hardworking people who just want to make it through the proceeding with as few scars as possible.  Most jurisdictions have forms on-line that can walk you through the step-by-step procedures of what documents to file, how to respond to the opposing side, and some even waive filing fees if you meet the income requirements.  Simply search for: ‘[your county name] divorce forms’ and you’ll find them.