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Self-Represented Parties
If someone has legal grounds to file a lawsuit, there is no legal requirement that they hire a lawyer to go before the court. In fact, the State of Connecticut’s Judicial Branch has a page on its website, specifically for advising parties on how to represent themselves in court. These parties used to be referred to as “pro se,” but now the same parties are called “self-represented.” There is even a “Do it Yourself Divorce Guide” that the State of Connecticut has prepared for self-represented parties. However, self-representation in family law matters can often end in unfavorable results. In a Family Law Quarterly Article, author Richard Painter noted that the American Bar Association conducted a survey on pro se litigation in 2010. The results of that survey reported that 62% of the judges who responded believed that self-represented parties had worse outcomes than the represented parties that appeared before them. Unfavorable outcomes are not the only negative results to come from self-representation.
Problems can also arise after a divorce becomes final. Sometimes these can even occur based on mistakes in the drafting of the final dissolution agreement. If you have to go back to court after being divorced, the reality is that you will have to take more time off of work than you already have, and may need to file more documents with the clerk. The amount of money you spend on these two things alone may add up to more than you would have paid a lawyer in the first place.
You do not need to hire a lawyer for the entirety of the dissolution process to avoid this problem. In fact, if you already have an agreement, you can hire an attorney to prepare or review the agreement before it is submitted to the court. Simply paying for an attorney’s final review could save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
Limited Scope Representation
You also have the option of hiring a lawyer in a limited capacity. This is what the Connecticut Judicial Branch refers to as limited scope representation. This representation can come in many forms. It may be as simple as providing legal advice to a client, or it can be an appearance in court on a particular matter. A lawyer can also be hired simply to draft the pleadings or agreements in your case. This is what is commonly referred to as “ghost-writing.”
The attorneys at Mariani Reck Lane LLC, LLC are well versed in the different methods of limited scope representation. Going to court in general can be expensive. This is especially true if you have a contentious divorce. However, just because all parties are agreeable, does not mean that you should not have an attorney at least review the contents of an agreement before you go to court. A simple mistake could cost you more than having counsel from the outset. Additionally, knowing that you had a trained attorney review your agreement also gives you a certain peace of mind. This is the same peace of mind you might have if a lawyer appears with you in court on your final hearing date. Contact the office of Mariani Reck Lane LLC, LLC if you think this might be the best option for you.
Self-Represented Parties
If someone has legal grounds to file a lawsuit, there is no legal requirement that they hire a lawyer to go before the court. In fact, the State of Connecticut’s Judicial Branch has a page on its website, specifically for advising parties on how to represent themselves in court. These parties used to be referred to as “pro se,” but now the same parties are called “self-represented.” There is even a “Do it Yourself Divorce Guide” that the State of Connecticut has prepared for self-represented parties. However, self-representation in family law matters can often end in unfavorable results. In a Family Law Quarterly Article, author Richard Painter noted that the American Bar Association conducted a survey on pro se litigation in 2010. The results of that survey reported that 62% of the judges who responded believed that self-represented parties had worse outcomes than the represented parties that appeared before them. Unfavorable outcomes are not the only negative results to come from self-representation.
Problems can also arise after a divorce becomes final. Sometimes these can even occur based on mistakes in the drafting of the final dissolution agreement. If you have to go back to court after being divorced, the reality is that you will have to take more time off of work than you already have, and may need to file more documents with the clerk. The amount of money you spend on these two things alone may add up to more than you would have paid a lawyer in the first place.
You do not need to hire a lawyer for the entirety of the dissolution process to avoid this problem. In fact, if you already have an agreement, you can hire an attorney to prepare or review the agreement before it is submitted to the court. Simply paying for an attorney’s final review could save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
Limited Scope Representation
You also have the option of hiring a lawyer in a limited capacity. This is what the Connecticut Judicial Branch refers to as limited scope representation. This representation can come in many forms. It may be as simple as providing legal advice to a client, or it can be an appearance in court on a particular matter. A lawyer can also be hired simply to draft the pleadings or agreements in your case. This is what is commonly referred to as “ghost-writing.”
The attorneys at Mariani Reck Lane LLC, LLC are well versed in the different methods of limited scope representation. Going to court in general can be expensive. This is especially true if you have a contentious divorce. However, just because all parties are agreeable, does not mean that you should not have an attorney at least review the contents of an agreement before you go to court. A simple mistake could cost you more than having counsel from the outset. Additionally, knowing that you had a trained attorney review your agreement also gives you a certain peace of mind. This is the same peace of mind you might have if a lawyer appears with you in court on your final hearing date. Contact the office of Mariani Reck Lane LLC, LLC if you think this might be the best option for you.
