Posted: Sunday, Jul 06, 2008 - 02:05:06 pm CDT
New Supreme Court rules aimed on access to courts in family matters begin
https://www.newstribune.com/articles/2008/07/06/news_state/178state15rules.txt
Want to represent yourself in court in a family law case?
On July 1, the Missouri Supreme Court established new rules designed to help self-represented litigants understand the challenges and procedures to be followed in the state courts, in family law matters.
One rule requires those who are not represented by legal counsel to complete a “litigant awareness program,” which helps self-represented litigants understand the legal process involved in family matters.
The program also talks about the risks and responsibilities associated with self-representation.
Information on the program is available in the “Representing Yourself” link on the right side of the state courts' Web site, www.courts.mo.gov.
Other rules that went into effect Tuesday focus on self-represented litigants' access to legal assistance on a limited basis.
Rules explain how a lawyer and a self-represented litigant may enter into an agreement where litigants representing themselves - who need legal assistance on particular aspects of their cases - can obtain that assistance from licensed attorneys without the attorneys undertaking the entire representation in the case.
It's part of an effort to make it simpler for people representing themselves to prepare certain parts of their case and, under the rules, hire attorneys to represent them only in the more complex aspects of their cases - to make the whole process more affordable.
The court is also in the process of reviewing and approving forms for self-represented litigants in domestic relations cases.
Although not yet approved as “official,” the latest versions of these forms are available on the courts' Web site.
Once the forms are approved, all self-represented litigants will be required to use them.
These forms are designed to help a litigant properly frame the issues, and adequately meet the legal requirements of the state courts to help make cases run more smoothly.
They would replace forms that people find on the Internet, which do not comply with Missouri laws.
More complex cases, such as those involving child custody or contested dissolutions, will require additional information and pleadings that may be included in a standardized form.
Other resources available on the Web site include an online tool consisting of a series of questions to help Missouri citizens assess whether their cases and their individual capabilities make them good candidates for self-representation.