In family law, a majority of litigants are self-represented. Not by choice — because they cannot afford counsel. The result is predictable: people fill out the wrong forms, miss deadlines, and end up with judgments that don't reflect what they would have negotiated had they understood the system.
What software can do
- Walk a litigant through a form, asking the questions in plain English and producing the filled PDF.
- Generate first drafts of declarations, agreements, and proposed orders that the litigant can edit and submit.
- Flag deadlines, statutory requirements, and the specific local rules of the courthouse where the case is filed.
What software can't do
- Make strategic judgment calls about whether to settle, when to push, what to concede.
- Cross-examine a witness.
- Predict what a particular judge is likely to do on a particular day with a particular set of facts.
The right model is software that handles the routine and an attorney who handles the judgment. Done well, it makes representation accessible to people who would otherwise have none.
Why this firm exists
I built this practice to be one of the firms doing that work — combining good lawyering with software that meaningfully reduces the cost of access. The journal is part of that mission: plain-English explanations that help readers walk into the system with their eyes open, whether or not they hire me.
This essay is general information, not legal advice. Every case turns on its specific facts. If you're facing one, talk to an attorney about yours.