Divorce Without a Lawyer

Some marriages don't last, no matter how hard the people involved in it try, or for the lack of trying. Whatever may be the case, people who want to move on see divorce as the next thing to do. The thought of divorce is then followed by the action of getting one which involves lawyers, custody and financial battles, not to mention the trauma. Although lawyers fight in the best interest of their clients, always striving to get the best deal for them, most couples feel that they can do without them. Some opt for getting a divorce without a lawyer for the financial reasons as well.

How to File for Divorce Without a Lawyer
If a couple wants to get a divorce without a lawyer, then the first thing that they must be ready to do is to negotiate. Whether parting on amiable terms or otherwise, negotiation is the key to diffuse many conflicts, iron out differences as well as settle all financial issues. Most divorce settlements revolve around three main issues: money, property and children (if any). If one can work these out, maybe at certain junctions with the help of an unbiased mediator (family or friend), you both can save yourselves a lot of anguish, time and not to mention the money saved on a divorce lawyer.

In legal parlance, divorce without a lawyer is called a Pro Se Divorce. However, filing for a divorce without hiring any legal help requires both parties to be completely in agreement with each other's view. The court does not accept warring parties as here neither party can contest for the divorce. This means that both have to file for a Pro Se Divorce. It is not accepted by the court that one side engages a lawyer while the other files Pro Se Divorce.

Criteria for Getting a Divorce Without a Lawyer: Pro Se Divorce
Certain criteria need to be met before one can file for Pro Se Divorce, some of which have been listed below.

• Only couples with children who are above the legal age or those who have no children can file for this form of divorce.
• Both parties should be financially independent of each other before filing for divorce.
• Alimony, property and assets contesting is not allowed. Parties need to settle all their financial issues before filing.
• A divorce taken on the grounds of mental and physical abuse by one or both partner cannot come under the purview of a Pro Se divorce.

Procedure for Filing for Divorce Without a Lawyer
Once all the above criteria have been met, a couple can obtain divorce papers from the courthouse. All information must be typed in and must be authentic. Before filing them in the court, two copies must be made and notarized. In Pro Se divorce cases, courts do give a sample of a filled divorce application. Once this is done, the court will have the papers served to the defendant. The papers include complaint, the financial terms, a response form and a waiver to contest divorce. As this divorce is done with mutual consent, the defendant upon receiving the divorce papers, signs the waiver to a hearing and accepts the mutually pre-decided terms. Under some circumstances, if there is any term that the defendant feels like challenging, he/she will fill out the response and return it to the courthouse. A hearing date is scheduled where the court will hear out any pending issues and gives its ruling. Read more on divorce advice.

Although getting a divorce without a lawyer may seem like a daunting task with all the paperwork to be furnished and all legalities that need to worked upon, it is not that cumbersome, as you do get help from the courthouse offices. Plus not to mention the amount of time and money one will save.