Justices of the Texas Supreme Court thought they would be helping the indigent population of Texas with their divorce cases when they approved do-it-yourself divorces last year. Unfortunately the result of the DIY Divorce Forms being approved in the state of Texas has been more crowded courtrooms and isolation for Texas poorest populations at a difficult time in their lives.
Many of the people divorcing who can’t afford an attorney are turning to the DIY Divorce Forms, and often this leads to more confusion and despair.
Several weeks ago a divorce case in Houston showed a glaring example of how these DIY divorces can backfire. A woman indicated on the form that she had no children, but the judge fortunately remembered that she had been involved with a Child Protective Services case previously. She explained that the form asked “How many children are involved with the divorce?” and she had checked zero, as she’d been very careful to not involve her children.
Proponents of the DIY Divorce Forms explain that these forms have been available for years and that the only difference recently is that the Texas Supreme Court has officially sanctioned them. Opponents of DIY Divorce Forms explain that the poor population of Texas believes this means that the Supreme Court is looking out for their welfare.
We believe, as do many family lawyers in the Houston area, that consulting with a lawyer is your best bet when facing a divorce. We’re happy to offer a complimentary consultation to anyone who would like to learn more about the divorce process in Texas. Contact the Pellerin Law Firm today to set up your free consultation.
Source: The Houston Chronicle, “Divorce Forms will Burden Lower Courts with Teaching Litigants the Legal System,” Diana Friedman, February 8, 2013