It is possible to do your own divorce, but should you? A fair question, and one just asked of me on the phone so I thought I would tell you what I told this caller.
I told him that technically, it is possible to do your own divorce. I also said that “doing” and “successfully completing” your divorce are two different things.
As self serving as this answer is, we don’t recommend you do your own divorce for several reasons.
First off, lets admit it. This is your first time… And if it is not, it has probably been a while. What I am trying to say is that your are not in the business of filing out divorce paperwork and the paperwork is very confusing.
Even if you think you have figured out how to file the forms properly, I can pretty much guarantee you will make a mistake. I have met some of the brightest people who have struggled trying to complete their own divorce and failed.
Secondly, even if you can figure out the divorce forms, you still have to figure out the process. For instance, what forms need to be filed? Which forms need to be served? Which divorce forms have to be personally served and which ones can you mail? Who can serve divorce papers? Do you file then serve or vise versa? These were just a few of the things that came to the top of my mind and are the most basic.
I can give you all sorts of reason why you should not do your own divorce. But, it is a choice you will have to make.
Here is as simple rule… If you are not working and have plenty of time to go down to the courthouse at least 10 times to the self help center and spend all day there, each day, then go for it and do your own divorce.
But if are working and don’t have the time and have a few extra bucks, have us complete your divorce for you. It is that simple of a decision.
Seriously, you don’t want to go through the divorce process on your own.
