A word about Divorce

Florida courts are swamped with divorce cases and the numbers are skyrocketing. 70% of all new cases in Florida circuit courts are divorces and almost 80% of them have one or both parties without counsel (pro se), on account of the high cost. Hiring a lawyer is a luxury item that is simply out of reach of most working people.

The Florida Supreme Court tried to help relieve the crisis by creating special family law rules and standardized family law forms. Family law self-help centers have been opened in each county that sell "divorce form packets", each form with its own "easy to follow" set of instructions.

Here's the deal. The self-help center folks are strictly forbidden from answering legal questions or giving any legal advice, and the forms and instructions are confusing. Believe us, half of our clients come to us with the packets and forms already filled out; yet, dazed and confused. However, it is not really the fault of the self-help center staff, as the program was never intended to be a substitute for consulting with a lawyer.

Our law firm was established, in part, to help relieve the burden on the courts, court clerks and self-help staff and to offer a far better choice to people. Going it alone, including turning to "paralegal" document prep services is foolish. Wealthy people will always have their "hired guns" private counsel, no matter what it costs. Poor people (indigents) may qualify for free legal aid or even for indigent status.

We are about reaching out to the 80% silent working majority, who do not qualify for legal aid, but do not earn enough to be able to afford what most private divorce lawyers charge (usually by the hour). That's a lot of people we can help.

We encourage judges, clerks and self help staffs to refer people to this site, where many of the questions asked of them every day by pro se's are answered. We use technology to reach more people; to educate, advise and represent them, so that their Florida divorce can be gotten, efficiently, effectively and affordably.

DivorceYes in the News