Tell your spouse goodbye without saying hello to a lawyer
The information in this column is intended to provide a general understanding of the law, not legal advice. Readers with legal problems, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult attorneys for advice on their particular circumstances.
Q: My wife and I have been living apart for several years, and we want to get divorced, but the problem is we have no money to pay for the divorce. How can we get divorced if we can’t afford it?
A: You don’t need a lawyer to get divorced. To find out how, go to texaslawhelp.org.
Click on the down arrow next to the topic called “Family, Divorce and Children” and then on the narrower topic “Divorce.”
You will then be guided through a series of choices depending on your circumstances. There are forms and instructions, as well as answers to frequently asked questions.
There also is an article you can read called “Court Fees & Waivers” which explains how you can ask the court to waive all the fees you would otherwise be required to pay.
Generally, you should be able to have the fees waived if you receive government benefits such as food stamps, Medicaid or SSI, or if you otherwise don’t have enough money to pay for your household’s basic needs.
If you have questions while handling the divorce yourself, you can obtain help from staff attorneys with the Houston Volunteer Lawyers, which is a service provided by the Houston Bar Association.
The HVL’s website is makejusticehappen.org.
In addition, the HVL offers free in-person assistance from attorneys at two locations.
One is on the 17th floor of the Civil Courthouse, located at 201 Caroline, and it is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
The other location is in the basement of the building where the Harris County Law Library is located, 1019 Congress, and it is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon, and from 1 to 5 p.m. Help is provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
The attorneys will not give you legal advice, but instead they are available to explain the mechanics of getting divorced and to review the forms that you are filing with the court.
The HVL also offers Self Help Divorce Clinics by appointment. You can find out more about these clinics on the HVL website.
You must have sufficiently limited assets and resources to qualify for free legal representation.
You can complete a questionnaire on its website to sign up for this service, or you can call the HVL at 713- 228-0732.
Another option you could consider is Lone Star Legal Aid. It is another nonprofit organization that provides a full range of legal services, including assistance with divorces.
Just as with the HVL, you can’t earn or have too much money, or you won’t qualify. Call Lone Star on Mondays between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., as these are the hours it devotes to family law matters. The number is 713-652-0077. Additional information is available at lonestarlegal.org.