As the economy went south, everyone sought options to trim his or her budget. Some people skipped Starbucks and began brewing their own coffee. Others found creative ways to recycle their grocery bags. Still others completely transformed their driving habits to achieve better gas mileage. But one pronounced trend in the legal community has been the amount of people who decided to represent themselves in family court.
Unfortunately, there are often consequences to a party’s decision to save money and appear pro se (represent him or herself). I have had many litigants come into my office after attempting to proceed with no legal counsel and finding that (a) their case had been dismissed or they face contempt of court because they did not follow proper procedure, (b) they wasted their hard-earned dollars on unnecessary fees and “money saver” programs that became obsolete once the opposing party began contesting the matter, and/or (c) their case has dragged on because they did not know how to bring their matter to conclusion. But, alas, not everyone can afford an attorney to fully represent them.
Thankfully, Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.040 provides a cost-effective option: limited representation, also known as unbundled legal services.
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