Can I File For Custody Without A Lawyer?- Hiring a lawyer, some people address it as an expensive job. Not all justice seekers come from a wealthy background, some are poor. And it becomes hard for them to first hire a lawyer then go often in court and pay the lawyer. And even if you win the custody there is no fixed amount of payment for a lawyer.
Talking about another thing, spending on the lawyer will be worth it or not. They cannot even forecast the final cost of their work and many things. Most people agree on ignoring the legal issue because of its high proficiencies. If it is a simple case of custody then it would not be costing a lot, they can offer you flat fees.
Many people get worried by the thought of representing themselves in court. And many people want to file custody without hiring a lawyer, why? As I mentioned to you earlier, some people don’t want to suffer through the whole procedure of the court, don’t want to spend a lot of money behind seeking custody. Some so many single parents want to file child custody without hiring a lawyer. And if you hire one then you can go through the whole proceedings on your behalf.
How To Get Custody Of Your Child With Or Without Divorce?
- There is no need to get divorced for your custody of your child. You can file a case of legal separation on your behalf. If you don’t want to go through the whole tiring procedures of the court, it’s ok, just file a case of separation and present the grounds on which you want to seek a separation. The grounds can be whatever happened with you in the course of your marriage. After the separation, you still will remain as a husband and wife but you have to mention the reasons behind your separation.
- Mother has the privilege to retain her child custody if the child is under the age of five. And if the child is above the age of five, to whom the custody should give it is a decision of the court. The court decides it based on which parent has good conduct and ability to think child’s welfare. Even if you are unemployed you can get custody of the child because the welfare of the child is the main responsible factor of custody.
- And if the child is above age 14, then he is categorized in an adult stage. Here the decision court delineates to the child whether he wants to live with his mother or father. Your only way to win your child is good to conduct towards your child.
- In the case of where both husband and wife share an open mind and understanding. They can grow their child under both paternal and maternal love and care even about getting separated. In such circumstances, the most single parent doesn’t even file for their child custody but raise their child with equal love.
Procedure Of Getting Custody Of A Child Without A Lawyer
- First of all, you need to contact your local family court. Then for further more information on the filing papers and other documents. You need to contact a court clerk, and through his advice, you will be able to prepare all the required papers on your own. Then format those papers on your computer and print them right. Because you need to go physically to the court and represent those papers to the court for your child custody.
- Before you hit the court go and do a fine study of the custody laws in your state. The more you would gather information and knowledge, the more the case will bend towards you. Leaving no loophole in your case will make your side stronger.
- Whatever may happen with your marriage, if you still have some hope of understanding from each other then don’t rush out of emotions. Don’t file sole custody. Because you have to work for the child too, it should not lend you the stress of single parenting. Then keep all the options under consideration.
- If you don’t want your ex interfering in your own life and your child’s then provide the court with the right proof of calls, emails, messages between you and your ex, it would help you to gather proofs for restraining.
- Be punctual about the dates and times of your hearing before the court. And don’t lose confidence while representing the facts of your case. And be polite, in the urge of getting something, sometimes we rush out and lose our temperament. It’s not anyone’s fault the procedures of the court are quite lengthy and challenging your patience.
- Lastly, don’t give up. Because it is the case of your child, you don’t want to lose this now. Filing custody without a lawyer is a very difficult and time-consuming thing, so don’t give up that easy. You know nothing comes easy.
Things To Know Before Starting Legal Proceedings
Before taking legal actions, one should not seek for where he is not reasonable. Before stretching things out to legal action you should first think about the alternative dispute resolution. In the case of divorce, before filing a divorce case, if things are not worsened yet then with the help of certain counselling dispute can be resolved. When you take some dispute to the court without the help of lawmen, the whole proceedings become very time consuming and stressful.
You need patience because the court proceedings take a lot of time, sometimes several months or even years too. And if you don’t have a clear idea of exactly what you want, then you should consult any legal expert. Another fact is cheating on your partner do not trace any effects on the custody of the child. Above 14 years old child has rights to choose his custodial parents and the court considers the wishes of the child about custody. Before leaping to any procedure, always give a fore step to the resolution of the dispute.
