Your Divorce could be free:
It is no secret that divorce forms can easily be found online for free. In addition, most courts offer free help with regard to forms. This does not, however, include legal advice which only a lawyer can offer. In effect, the forms are free and help from the court is also free. There is a filing fee for divorce of $435 (in most counties) and this too may be waived by the court based on income. So, there is the possibility that a divorce could be free!
Problems with a free divorce:
Even if your divorce is free, it doesn’t mean that you will be successful in court. A divorce involves a number of steps all of which need to be correct. It is very common for the court to reject paperwork that is incorrect or processed incorrectly. In addition, when there are issues such as spousal or child support, custody, division of assets and debts etc., there is an even greater chance of error. You may not understand court procedure or what is reasonable in your case. The process is tricky and may require repeat attempts. Sometimes, the court rejects the petition which means that your spouse will need to be served all over again.
Problems with a divorce without a lawyer:
There are other sources, besides lawyers, that offer divorce services. Some online divorce document companies prepare paperwork for a low flat fee but do not help with the process. The process involves filing, serving & entering final documents etc. The paperwork, however, may be prepared wrong and may be rejected by the court. Further, the divorce process is difficult & is often where most people fail.
Other non-lawyer sources are paralegals who may complete paperwork and do the process for a flat fee. Paralegals cannot give legal advice and are not overseen by the State Bar. They may prepare paperwork incorrectly or not complete the process and you may not be able to get your money back.
A Flat Fee Attorney will save you money and give you the advice & oversight you need to assure success:
A divorce without a lawyer could cost you a lot—in wasted time, money and a bad outcome! Be advised that attorneys are not always as expensive as you may think! Some attorneys, like those at Legal Action Workshop, offer low flat fees that are very comparable to those of paralegals. Unlike paralegals, a flat fee divorce lawyer can give you legal advice as well as prepare paperwork and handle the process thereby assuring success. This is very important. Legal advice can mean the difference between getting what you want or getting what you don’t want. Further, attorneys are overseen by the State Bar of California which regulates attorney behavior.
In conclusion, when you are considering a divorce it’s best to find a ‘flat fee attorney’ so you can manage your cost while getting the legal advice & oversight that you need. For affordable flat fees, call Legal Action Workshop @ 1-800-HELP-444. We’re here to help!
I was married for 29 years and filed for divorce in April this year. My spouse have not responded to anything and I am now filing for uncontested default judgment. My default judgment was rejected with a note “Wording regarding spousal support is not legal standard” What does this mean? Please help!!
Thank you.
Hello:
When your spouse does not file a response after the 30 day time period, you can enter a default. If you are wanting spousal support (and you stated that on your petition) then you will need to go before the judge to request that. It’s best that you call us so that we can look at your paperwork and the rejection notice to determine what was wrong. We can be reached at 818-630-5503.
Thank-you for contacting Legal Action Workshop!