People who represent themselves in court are considered "pro se" litigants. In New Jersey, it is the right of the individual to represent himself/herself in court, if desired. For most family law matters, you are able to obtain a "pro se packet." This should be available in the county courthouse that you will be filing. This packet should have all the papers necessary to file or respond to your own motion or divorce.
Representing yourself has positive and negative aspects. The most apparent positive, of course, is that you will not incur legal fees. Another positive is that pro se litigants should be given the same consideration by the court as those that are represented by counsel. The negatives of representing yourself in court can be that you will need to be certain that all the paperwork is handled properly and you will need to try to handle the emotional aspect of speaking in court on your behalf, which can be difficult for some depending on the circumstances. Additionally, if there are complicated matters, you will need to understand the law and know how to best present your case to the court on your behalf. If you hire an attorney, the attorney will handle all the paperwork, know the currrent applicable laws and will handle presenting your case in the best possible way for your individual situation.
When considering whether to go forward pro se or represented by counsel, consider the positives and negatives and determine what would be best for your individual situation. What's best for one person is not what is best for all persons. Family matters are as unique as the individuals themselves.
For more information on New Jersey Family law, please visit our website at http://rowenlegal.com/
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