Where can I get help with my divorce in New Jersey?

Divorce is already a stressful situation and navigation the legalities can seem like a minefield to some people. The high cost of divorce lawyers encourages many people to attempt to represent themselves pro se -- at least, initially. If you want to represent yourself in a New Jersey court when you file for divorce, consider help to ensure you're going about it the right way.

Helpful Websites for DIY Divorce

There are a number of resources that offer divorce help to residents of the state of New Jersey who perform their own divorces. The divorce help resources teach you about the divorce process and can help you find family and divorce lawyers who can facilitate the process. The New Jersey Courts websites offers information both for filing for your own divorce and for using the assistance of an attorney.

DivorceNet is another website that provides information specific to each state and can help to shed light on some of the legal terms and processes that are pertinent to any divorce or civil union dissolution. Finally, DivorceLawInfo is a website that can provide details about divorce legalities and stipulations that New Jersey residents should know.

Additionally, many divorce lawyers provide basic information about the divorce process free of charge on their websites. While residents may be able to call a divorce attorney to get some information without a fee, not every attorney is open to this practice.

Books to Read About Divorce

If you prefer hardcopy, "Divorce in New Jersey: A Self-Help Guide" is a book written specifically for residents of New Jersey who want to file for divorce with little to no involvement from a divorce lawyer. The manual will walk you through differences in procedure based on the reason for divorce as well as considerations that you must make because of property and children.

New Jersey residents should be aware that generalized resources may not provide information relevant to their state. For example, because New Jersey does not recognize same sex marriage, there are different steps to get a same sex divorce. It's important to highlight divorce help resources that are written by and for New Jersey residents.