Pro Se Divorce & Custody | communitylawyersiowa

Self-Help (Pro-Se) Assistance with Divorce & Custody

A person who is representing themself in a legal proceeding is referred to as a Self-Help or "pro se" litigant. The Iowa Supreme Court has approved forms for divorce that can be used by individuals who cannot, or choose not to be represented by an attorney. This does not mean that the process is easy. There are more than 20 different forms, some of which you may need, others which you may not. The stress that often accompanies divorce only adds to levels of anxiety and confusion, and a mistake could end up being very costly, or even impact the outcome of a custody ruling.

If you are trying to decide whether representing yourself is the right decision for you, you might consider attending one of our Self-Help Divorce Seminars (see below), or schedule a consultation with one of our attorneys before making the decision to jump in with both feet. Below are some of the services CLI is offering to assist Pro Se litigants navigate this complex and often critically important process.

$200* Self Help (Pro Se)

Divorce - No Children

For your $200 investment, a CLI attorney will sit down with you in a one-on-one consultation to help you understand and select which forms are appropriate for your case. We will walk you through the step-by-step process of:

Creating an account for electronic filing with the Clerk of Court
Completion of all forms necessary for filing of the original notice and petition.
Review of all the other forms that you may need to finish your divorce.
Legal advice about how to best prepare your case to achieve your goals and complete the divorce.
Access to ongoing legal advice on your case through our 24/7 client-portal.

If at any point during your case you decide that you need representation, you may want to consider hiring CLI for a limited-scope purpose (representation in mediation, for example), or to represent you in the entire case. If so, this would require a separate retainer agreement. You can view more pricing details HERE.

*Our fee does not include filing fees or other costs charged by the Clerk of Court. CLI reserves the right to adjust our fee for households with income greater than 210% of the federal poverty guideline.

$300* Self Help (Pro Se) Divorce - w/ Children

For your $300 investment, a CLI attorney will sit down with you in a one-on-one consultation to help you understand and select which forms are appropriate for your case. We will walk you through the step-by-step process of:

Creating an account for electronic filing with the Clerk of Court
Completion of all forms necessary for filing of the original notice and petition.
Legal Advice and guidance on child-specific issues, including legal custody and physical care decisions, parenting plans, "Children in the Middle" requirement, child-support guidelines and calculations, and advice about how the Court will evaluate these issues.
Review of all the other forms that you may need to finish your divorce.
Legal advice about how to best prepare your case and achieve your goals.
Access to ongoing legal advice on your case through our 24/7 client-portal.

If at any point during your case you decide that you need representation, you may want to consider hiring CLI for a limited-scope purpose (representation in mediation, for example), or to represent you in the case. If so, this would require a separate retainer agreement. You can view more pricing details HERE.