In this post, I’ll be giving you more ideas on how to lay the groundwork for success when you’re before Family Court Services, custody evaluators and even judges. Many of these decision makers got into this work because they care about children, and most want to see the type of parenting that their scientific studies and clinical training have told them is “good.”
Many readers will be surprised to learn that throughout much of American history, the law presumed that children of divorce…
This is the second installment in the series on doing your own divorce, if you have to. In the simple case, you can prepare much of the paperwork yourself, and use a lawyer for spot services, such as preparing complex pleadings, appearing at motion hearings or preparing a marital settlement agreement. You can use a mediator to assist you in negotiations with your spouse.
To get started, click here to open the San Diego Dissolution Package. Then, click here for a sample Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, and print this out so that you can follow along. I’ll give you some tips that will prevent you from making several trips to the court clerk and getting documents returned. In later installments, I’ll cover the summons, service of papers, pre-trial motions and disclosures. You can use an attorney or contact my office if you get stuck.
This article is the first in a series of posts on what to do when you have to do it yourself. My hope is to point you, the lawyerless litigant, toward some resources that will help you to “do it yourself.” There are ways of using lawyers for “unbundled services” that can get results at relatively low cost, using the lawyer only for what’s essential.