What to do when can't afford divorce lawyer?

You're in a state with few resources for women. A shame.

Suggestions...

1. If he is fighting the divorce, represent yourself in court PRO SE. It's not like you have that much to haggle over.

2. If he is not fighting the divorce, you could do the paperwork yourself. There must be a template online. Or go to one of those places with the sign in the window that says DIVORCE $400.

3. Move to a state where there ARE decent resources for women and where emotional abuse is considered abuse. That would be most coastal and northern states.

4. Find a retired lawyer or judge to represent you PRO BONO.

It might be time to start over. Sell everything and see where that gets you. Or move back to the old hometown and bunk up with whatever relatives who still are alive. The kids will follow, at least for weekends/holidays.

Go to your local court house and ask for a divorce kit. Fill the forms out and file the papers back at the courthouse. There is a fee for filing though but it is much less than a lawyer (where I am it's $250 to file.) Once you file, he will be notified and a court date will be set. There is not a whole lot of point getting legally separated unless your state requires it before divorce. Some states do require a couple to live apart for 1 year before a divorce will be granted.

Depends. Some states will actually provide a lawyer, especially if there is a child involved. Also, some lawyers will do a divorce for a flat fee, sometimes as low as $500-$700. Unless there is a child involved, what's his worry? Are there huge amounts of assets or something? And to those who speak of those on welfare "sucking tax dollars", there are many single moms on welfare who paid into the system for a long time before getting any bennies. They are probably taking some time out to raise the kids they are left with after their husbands walk out on them, at least until they go to court and get some child support. A couple of years home with mom can work wonders on the outcome of a child. Sticking young children and babies in daycare does way more damage to your precious system than a few years of cash. These kids of stay at home moms will come out more secure, stable and better educated, and far more likely to get jobs and contribute instead of ending up young parents themselves, or as delinquents or convicts.

If you can't find a lawyer, the courts should appoint one to you, though, they might not be that great. Also, you have to be separated for a certain number of months before you can officially be divorced, and if money is as bad as a problem as you say it is, you'll probably have to continue to live with him.

Urs is a mutual consent divorce so there is not a huge money involved...get ur papers ready urself and submit them to the court...on hearing u will need a attorney...but it will be for a single or double date, at the most...if both of u are ready for this, u will get it within 2-3 dates...so not a big amount is needed, u can also take help of the Advisory Body of the court where consultancy is free, plus they will help u to submit the papers...

If there is no children involved then go to the probate court and ask for divorce papers. You sign them he signs them and submit it to the court with filing fee of like $80.00

A court date is set up and you both appear and agree and it's over.

There is help out there, contact a local womans support group and they should be able to help :)

I think you just go to court

if its uncontested you can either get all the paperwork and do it yourself or get a paralegal to help fill it out

these are good answers---there are kits that you can file on your own