August 2011 updated guides available on GlobaLex: International Sports Law by Amy Burchfield Guide to Legal Research in Belarus by Tatyana Khodosevich & Nadia Shalygina; Update by Nadia Shalygina An Introduction to Colombian Governmental Institutions and Primary Legal Sources by…
Posts Tagged ‘Guide’
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Forms
22
Aug
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Free filing forms and 42 page how to file bankruptcy guide. Difference between chapter 7
and chapter 13, common mistakes
How to Fight a Traffic Court Civil Assessment When You Can’t Get a Court Date
20
Jul
If you missed a court date and the court added a civil assessment under Penal Code sec 1214.1 – then denied you a court date, there is a way to fight it. Here is an updated Step By Step Guide to trying everything this experienced criminal defense attorney can think of. Continue reading
GlobaLex Research Guides
25
Jun
Recently released updated guide: An Introduction to Venezuelan Governmental Institutions and Primary Legal Sources by Antonio Ramirez. [JH}
CRS Issues Legislative History Research Guide
23
Jun
From the summary of Legislative History Research: A Basic Guide (June 15, 2011): This report provides an overview of federal legislative history research, the legislative process, and where to find congressional documents. The report also summarizes some of the reasons…
Inforgraphic: Anatomy of a Librarian – A Dissection of Modern Librarianship
04
Jun
Source: Master Degree Guide [JH]
Illinois DUI Quick Reference Guide If You Are Stopped
06
Apr
The simplest way to avoid a DUI conviction in Illinois is to refrain from driving if you have been drinking. However, this is not always the case. Every
Should I ask my friend for advice about my divorce?
04
Mar
Should I change my hair? What car should I buy? What movie should I go see this weekend? What gym should I join? What should I do about this issue I’m having at work?
We seek advice from our friends and family to learn how to approach a new situation. Our goal is to go from knowing “nothing” to knowing “something.” And who better to prepare us for this than a group of people we already know and trust?
I know I have a group of friends I lean on for advice. But there are some situations when one needs to evaluate if our friends are the appropriate and qualified source of information about important life issues that vary from person to person, based on their own experience.
Take divorce for example.
Why should I be careful when seeking a friend’s advice about divorce?
Author Susan Pease Gadoua wrote a great article on this subject titled, Beware When Seeking A Friend’s Advice About Divorce, for the Huffington Post. She says that you shouldn’t learn about divorce from someone like a friend, family member, neighbor, or co-worker, and this group of people alone. They should not be your only source for learning about everything that can happen as you move through the often-confusing legal process.
Gadoua cites three main reasons to support her claim:
- You are learning about divorce through someone who may not fully understand what happened or why.
- Your friend/acquaintance may not tell you about special circumstances in his case that may have influenced a particular outcome.
- Everything about you and your case is different from anyone else’s case or circumstances.
Everyone reaches out to his or her network to seek advice and learn from the experiences of their peers. That’s okay. But your peers’ lives and situations are completely different from what you are going through right now.
For example, if you are reading this, you are considering or have already decided to represent yourself and are looking for ways to “do-it-yourself” and learn how to do it right. You know that you need help and are looking to team up with someone to get the help you need, when you need it.
How can I learn more about divorce, if not from my friends?
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t ask your friends for advice about what they went through with their divorce, but keep in mind that what they are telling you is different from your situation and there are details they may be omitting from the story that you’re unaware of.
So what can you do to learn more about the divorce and legal process? I recommend that you learn as much as you can, and books by accredited lawyers are a great resource. Here are a few to get you started:
- Nolo’s Essential Guide to Divorce by Attorney Emily Doskow
- Contemplating Divorce: A Step-by-Step Guide to Deciding Whether to Stay or Go by Susan Pease Gadoua
Once you have educated yourself as much as you can, build the list of questions that those books have not answered and schedule an appointment with a professional who knows the intricacies of the law specific to the court system where you live.
We are here to help – you can sign up for the next free 30-minute Attorney Appointment, register for a Pro Se University Workshop, or look into other services that match what you’re looking for.
Just because you don’t know what you don’t know, doesn’t mean you have to go it alone.
