There are many reasons
why spouses want to go it alone and figure out how to get a cheap uncontested divorce in
Georgia without a lawyer. In some cases,
the parties don’t have the $500 or so it takes to hire an uncontested divorce
lawyer. In other cases, the parties have
been separated for many years, have no property and don’t want anything from
each other. And in yet other cases the
spouses believe they can figure out what to do and have the time and patience
to go back to court several times until they get it right. In many states 80%
of new divorce filings without children are pro se.
There is nothing wrong
with filing an uncontested divorce representing yourself (pro se) so
long as the parties understand the risks involved. Even in cases without
children, understand that division of property and debts in Georgia is
non-modifiable. If you make a mistake, it likely cannot be fixed. If children
are involved or the other party is represented by counsel, then the best advice
is to hire your lawyer.
If you wish to represent
yourself, a few simple steps will help you obtain a better outcome.
- Read the information available online for uncontested divorce resources. Almost every law firm has posts and blogs dedicated to the subject. Divorce for Dummies cost a couple of dollars used on Amazon.
- Schedule a free consultation with a divorce attorney. If you catch one with some free time you can get very valuable information for your specific case.
- Do not pay for online forms. Nearly every county in Georgia provides FREE divorce forms that are available online. The forms sold online are usually near-generic forms developed for use in all 50 states. The “free” advice given by phone is by an overworked paralegal with no specific knowledge of the laws in Georgia. They are document preparation services who are not licensed to practice law.
- Make sure you have filed all the correct forms and bring a Final Judgment and Decree to the final hearing for the judge to sign.
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