Do-it-yourself Divorce (In Pro Per Divorce)
Testimonials
If you are trying to save money on legal costs during your divorce, the only way to make sure you do it correctly is to have us guide you through the process. At The Divorce Help Clinic™, we do just that.
The rate of Do-It-Yourself Divorces has gone up from 50% to 80% in the last year. The misconception is that doing it yourself is easy. As many people discover, without a law degree, trying to understand what to do and how to do it, is too difficult. The process involves more than filling out the paperwork correctly. Learn your rights and responsibilities as a self-represented spouse. Discover strategies that force the other side to do most of the work. Learn the skills and get the tools you need to succeed. Our experienced professional will move you through the confusing Do-It-Yourself Divorce maze to avoiding expensive mistakes and delays. We offer two programs to help you get it done right the first time.
Program 1:
A Little Guidance, Call for Fee
Included in this Package
Initial Dissolution Packet: A 1-hour session where you will be given the Initial Dissolution Packet and a qualified professional will review the entire packet with you, answer any process-related questions and assist you in coming up with your game plan. Under this option, you will be preparing your own court documents, making your own copies and filing your own documents.
Judgment Packet: A 1-hour session where you will be given the Judgment Packet and a qualified professional will review the entire packet with you, answer any process related questions and assist you in how to effectively finalize your dissolution, review any issues that you have encountered at this stage and discuss whether your dissolution has become contested or other potential pitfalls. This option does not include your final settlement agreement.
Court-Related Details: We will provide the necessary cover letters to accompany your documents to the court with initial and final paperwork.
Time for Questions: An extra 1 hour to be used at your discretion. For example, you can utilize an extra ½ an hour session in person, ask questions via email, or make phone calls – adding up to an additional hour of time.
Program 2: Let Us Do the Whole Thing for You, Call for Fee
Included in this Package
A full divorce from start to finish. With this all-inclusive program we manage the dissolution process for you and your spouse from start to finish. This package includes all the items listed in Program 1 plus the following.
We will be in charge of preparing the initial divorce petition, filing the appropriate papers within the proper dates, getting the proof of service when specific paperwork is served, completing the large stack of petitioner and respondent legal paperwork, arrange the details of how and when to have your spouse served the petitioned…all the way to filing the court papers to make your divorce final.
Trying to manage the divorce process on your own isn't as easy as you might think. If you aren’t prepared, you may make the wrong decision, leading you down a path of frustration, unknowingly waiving rights, additional cost as well as more conflict and stress. With our help, you don't need to worry about a thing. We manage the entire process for you and get it done right the first time.
Call: (858) 863-3380 for more details
Note: By choosing to utilize either of the In Pro Per Coaching options, please be aware that these options DO NOT include any mediation of outstanding issued between you and your spouse. You will be required to set forth all of your agreements, either to the court under Option 1 or to The Divorce Help Clinic under Option 2. If you believe that you and your spouse need assistance in coming to an agreement regarding parenting plans, dividing of assets or debts, etc., please visit our Divorce-Mediation-Services for further detail on how to obtain this assistance.
Our Fees Do NOT include the Court filing fees that will be required when filing your documents. There is an initial $435 filing fee and a final $435 filing fee. These checks will be written directly to the Court and are not in any way compensating The Divorce Help Clinic.
Fee Waiver. If you are struggling financially, we will provide you with the Court application to apply for a fee waiver. The Court assesses individuals according to those who meet their criteria for hardship.
Big Problems: The "Do-it-Yourself “ Divorce
Divorce is expensive and for 50% of couples wanting to save money, they choose the “The Do-it-Yourself “ route. Unfortunately, ignorance of the law and lack of financial knowledge, for many, puts them in a bad financial predicament post divorce.
Three Costly Mistakes
Income Taxes. Many people do not understand the tax consequences of transferring certain property (house, stock) with a low cost basis. For instance, one spouse may end up stuck with a huge tax bill.
Missed Assets. When a couple does not fully understand the differences between marital and separate property, some property may be transferred without fully understanding the legal options.
Pensions. Sometimes, retirement accounts are the most valuable marital asset. If a couple does not fully understand the retirement plans, they could grossly undervalue what is to be divided. Some also fail to understand the consequences upon the death of the employee or non-employee spouse. In these cases, benefits could revert to the company rather than the intended beneficiaries.
To avoid being a self-inflicted victim, you will want to use a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) to protect your financial interest in divorce. What is a CDFA?
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Disclaimer: Legal Information Is Not Legal Advice. The Divorce Help Clinic provides information about the law designed to help you safely cope with your own legal needs. Legal information is not the same as legal advice--the application of law to an individual's specific circumstances. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a lawyer if you want professional assurance that our information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular situation.
