Free Divorce Kits
From LoveToKnow Divorce
Free divorce kits have their place, but if you and your spouse are not able to agree on the terms of your divorce yourselves, this isn't the right choice.
Who Should Use Free Divorce Kits
If you are considering using one of the free kits available, you need to consider the following before you go ahead and use the forms:
- Is your divorce relatively simple?
If you don't own a home or have children together, you may be able to fill out the divorce forms without a lawyer. If there are issues around custody or visitation, then you are better off paying for the services of an attorney.
Another situation where you may be able to use a divorce kit rather than consult an attorney is when the marriage was relatively short-lived. In a situation where you and your spouse agree that you have both made a mistake and all you want to do is cut your losses and get on with your life, then this may be the right choice.
- Do you feel comfortable filling in the forms yourself?
Part of the reason people hire an attorney to represent them in a divorce is for the body of knowledge that the attorney has. Filling out the forms is only a small part of the attorney's services. You are hiring him or her to give you advice about your situation and to recommend the actions that will benefit you most. The attorney can also negotiate on your behalf and since they are not emotionally involved in the situation, they can look at the issues logically instead of with anger or hurt.
- Do you feel that your agreement with your spouse is fair?
Once you sign the divorce papers and file them, you are asking a judge to approve the agreement that you have worked out with your spouse. The judge will only be looking at whether it is legal; it's not his or her job to comment on whether it is fair. If you aren't sure whether you have made the best possible deal in your situation, then it's a good idea to consult an attorney.
Where to Find a Free Kit
If you have given the matter some consideration and talked to your spouse and you want to go ahead and look for free divorce kits, you may want to start by contacting the Court Clerk's office in the county where you will be starting divorce proceedings.
You also have the option of looking for free kits online. Before you go ahead and download forms, make sure that they are the right ones for your state. Some sites will let you look at the forms online at no charge, but if you want to download and use them, you will need to pay a fee.
Where to Get Help
If you decide you want to try using a free divorce kit and you get stuck, where can you turn? You have some options in that situation.
- Have a lawyer review your forms and answer any questions you have about them. When you make the appointment, make sure you explain that you only want this service and that you aren't necessarily thinking about hiring a lawyer to represent you for the entire divorce action.
- Check out legal blogs and web sites to see if you can get the information you need. If you decide to go this route, visit the "About Us" page to determine whether it is a reputable site. Since divorce law varies from state to state, you will want to be sure that you are visiting sites with information that is relevant to your situation.
- Another place to find information is to visit online forums. You have the opportunity to post questions and get answers from other participants. Again, you will want to check out the information you are given with other sources to make sure it's accurate.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 332 times. This page was last modified 11:55, 1 May 2009.
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