Are online divorce sites legit?

@ravinskye (8237)
United States
February 22, 2012 8:30am CST
I've been looking at sites for divorce that claim they can help you file for divorce and avoid paying thousands to lawyers. For like 300 dollars they get you through all the paperwork and help you with how to send it in to file. I'm just wondering if it is a legit way to do things. Does anyone have any experience with sites like that?
2 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
22 Feb 12
You know I'm always here to talk.. send me a message on FB or I'll send you my e-mail addy if you want. Personally I'd probably avoid divorce at the moment and just seperate and see where it goes from there. There's really no reason to rush down to the lawyer's office unless one of you wants to get re-married right away. I know when you're angry it can seem like you just want to get through it and prove you're really over it by filing for the divorce because that sort of solidifies things, but in reality you've got kids to think about and when you're struggling to make it on your own, the cost for a divorce lawyer is pretty steep, even if you get a cheap one. Besides that, I probably wouldn't settle on one of these internet lawyers, especially when you have the kids to think about. What if you get scr*wed over and he gets full custody of the kids and you never see them again? Like I said, if you can for now, just seperate and the two of you can work out an arrangement for the kids together. The more amicable the split, the better it will be on them. Later down the road when the dust has settled and you're making it on your own, you can look into decent lawyers to help you out who may not charge an arm and a leg. Besides that, once the dust has settled and nobody is angry anymore, the divorce proceedings will be much easier. If you're able to work out an arrangement for the children and alimony/child support without lawyers now, it will be that much easier when it comes time to file the divorce, you'll probably just agree upon whatever arrangements you already set in place during the separation.
1 person likes this
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
22 Feb 12
Well, this isn't really something we decided in anger. We decided two months ago. I wasn't intent on pushing the divorce. I wanted to take time with things so we could get finances together and stuff like that. Now he wants it now so he can start dating. I kind of have no choice to do something. I think we could do it amicably but I don't know how to do it without lawyers.
1 person likes this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
22 Feb 12
Basically...if theres no custody involved regarding kids...you sit down and agree to who gets what...write it out...and then take it to lawyers or a mediator...to get it legally written up and signed so the papers can be filed. You do have to include lawyers for the signing.
• United States
22 Feb 12
Well if that's all he wants, tell him he can go ahead and start dating while you work on getting yourself on your own two feet. You just need to set some ground rules with the dating, such as not bringing his dates around you or the kids at this time.
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
22 Feb 12
I know here in canada that if you contact a mediation service provided by the govt...you can go through and come to an agreement and then only pay for the lawyers to sign paperwork. You spend way more money if you have to take things to court.