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Is Pro Se
An Option For Me?
The phrase “pro se” is Latin meaning “on one’s own behalf.” When you proceed with a divorce without an attorney, you are proceeding pro se, meaning you are representing yourself. Divorce forms and paperwork are accessible online or at the courthouses. You will be responsible for completing all the necessary forms to submit to the court.
The number of people who represent themselves during divorce is continually rising. If you are going through a complicated divorce with child placement, support payments, or business complications, representing yourself is not in your best interest. Divorce law can be tricky, filled with many intricacies that may not be known to pro se parties. Many times people who initially proceed pro se in court end up having to return to court later on to renegotiate issues that were not fully resolved. Hiring an attorney from the start can save you time and money in the long run.
We do offer guidance on the pro se process. Our professionals can help you select the correct documents and provide legal advice without requiring full representation. Please contact Divergent Family Law to consult with an attorney regarding these options.
What About
Legal Separation?
Legal separation provides a middle ground for when a different-sex couple or a same-sex couple doesn’t want to divorce but also doesn’t want to continue living as married.
In Wisconsin, legal separation follows a similar process to divorce but leaves the marriage intact. There are still matters of property, debt, child custody and spousal support to work out before the court grants your separation.
If you reconcile with your spouse, a legal separation can be revoked. A judge can also convert a legal separation into a divorce after a year, or possibly sooner if both parties agree.
A divorce lawyer can help you when what begins as legal separation becomes a divorce when you and your spouse disagree on the details of the separation, or if you need help determining the best type of divorce to pursue.
We have family law offices throughout Wisconsin to assist you with any type of divorce.
What Is A
Default Divorce?
To begin a divorce the non-filing party must be served with the Summons and Petition. If the non-filing party does not respond to the Petition and the filing party has taken all measures to engage them in the action, the court can proceed with granting a divorce judgment. This is referred to as a default divorce.
A default divorce does not happen very often. When it does, the filing party will be granted all the terms that they are requesting from the court, so long as the court can justify the terms according to the laws.
