New York Divorce Report - New York's Divorce and Family Law Blog

Shannon Cavers in The Houston Texas Divorce and Family Law Blog details her observations of a litigant who retained one of the so-called “do-it yourself” divorce services to secure a divorce and then encountered problems. These services routinely advertise over the internet about how they are the supposed low cost alternatives to a divorce lawyer. Typically, these services prepare the divorce papers so the litigant can appear “pro se” (without legal representation) and file the papers in court as an accommodation. I have long wondered why these services are not prosecuted for the unauthorized practice of law. Although these services... More

Mark Wortman in the Missouri Divorce and Family Law Blog supplies multiple answers the question, why do you need a lawyer. Among the reasons given are:  The attorney can take much of the burden off of the litigant, reduce the length of the case, and hopefully negotiate a settlement where everyone wins and nobody goes to court. You wouldn't perform your own surgery, why would you try to take on the court by yourself. Divorce lawyers are here for a reason. Whatever your argument, the judge has heard it before. The attorney knows how to pick the battles and keep... More