What to Do: No Money for an Attorney?
Whether you’re in the middle of a divorce battle or just need to serve the papers to your spouse without an attorney, there are many different ways to serve the divorce papers. The most common method is publication. This involves placing a notice in the local newspaper for a specified length of time. You may be required to pay for the newspaper ad and must reimburse the other party for the cost. If you’re unable to find a newspaper ad, you can post your notice at the courthouse.
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Legal Aid and Low-Cost Legal Attorney
If you have no money for an attorney, what should you do when you are served with divorce papers? If you cannot afford an attorney, you may consider getting divorce counseling or mediation instead. Although these methods may not help your marriage, it is better than throwing good money after bad. If you can afford divorce mediation, your attorney will likely not require a retainer. You may need to hire an attorney for a few hours of work.
Filing a divorce with an attorney
Filing a divorce with an attorney is possible in some circumstances. Typically, you must pay a filing fee, but there are ways to get a fee waiver if you can prove extreme financial hardship. The Supreme Court can provide more information on fee waivers. You must also serve the divorce papers personally, or have someone deliver them to the Defendant. The divorce complaint is the primary document in this process.
Alternative ways to serve divorce papers
If you are short on cash and need to serve divorce papers without an attorney, one of the options is to hire a process server. The process server, who is usually a friend or family member, will need to fill out the proper paperwork and serve the papers to the spouse. The process server must follow the rules and regulations of your state. You will need to give your spouse at least 60 days’ notice to respond to the divorce papers.