Can you file for divorce without a lawyer?

Question

My friend is ABSOLUTELY BROKE and her husband says that if she wants the divorce she will have to get it herself.

My question is -are there forms that one can fill out without having the expense of a layer? Ive also heard that filing a legal separation doesnt cost anything and will result in divorce after a year or so?

Answer 1

Go to Women's Resource Center and inquire about legal aid services. Most states provide such; lawyers are required to perform so many hours pro bone estes work every year. You can download a do it yourself set of papers but they are only good for an uncontested divorce of the simplist kind. Anything else and you can really mess things up.

Answer 2

Yes she can,she can find the forms for her state and either type in the info or fill it out and have someone to type it up for her and if shes unable to afford the filing fee there is a form that she can sign before a notary and have the filing fee waived Ive seen this done many times now as far as legal seperation I have no idea about this but I do know that she can do a do it yourself divorce or as they will call it pro se and if there are legal fees such as court cost involved since her husbands being so difficult she could either ask that they be waived or ask that the judge orders him to pay the reasonable court costs.

Answer 3

Yes... it will vary form state to state. Usually the have those forms at the court house for very little money. Or she can go to a legal self help store. If she can do an unconested divorce it would probally be best. A contested divorce will cost more. Uncontested means they both agree with what is in the divorce decree and contested is when a judge or mediator helps them decide or decides for them. Also there are many lawyers that will give free consultations. I recomend that she sits down with one. Divorce isn't easy.

Answer 4

You can file without a lawyer but if your friend's husband is going to be mean about it, some sort of representation is a good idea.
Try a Mediator. It will cost some money but not nearly as much as a lawyer.
D

Answer 5

One can file the divorce petition and plead oneself without engaging a lawyer, after going through the relevant provisions of . law of the State. It is not mandatory to engage the lawyer if you are pleading your case yourself .

Answer 6

Yes. Go to we the people P. S. They're a For Profit orginization that does all the paper work for you and gets it through the courts AS LONG AS you and your hubby are in total agreement over who gets what and where do the kids go and for how long, etc. Here's the number: [phone]

Answer 7

I think you can file without a lawyer but your friend could really get screwed at a trial without one, especially if the other side does have one.

Check out those websites. From what I read they appear to be pertinent to your situation.

Answer 8

Yes its fairly simple longs as other party doesn't contest or there are other issues the two parties are arguing over like Children, house, car etc. Other than that is simple and can be done yourself for about $300.00 which could be waived if you qualify. Check with your county Family Courthouse

Answer 9

yes its legal in most states she would need to call the clerk of courts in her area and ask but its called a "Pro Se" divorce. Basically she gets all the paperwork from the clerk and fills it out, has him fill out his half and turns it back in.

I know when I went to do this however they wouldn't let me file it myself unless it was totally uncontested divorce.

Hope this helps

Answer 10

There is nothing that's free it cost to file you don't need a lawyer but she can try legal aid. Check your county courts. It works