What Can a Paralegal/CLDP do in Family Law Matters, which is the Same as an Attorney?

Paralegals/CLDP’s can meet with the person, provide general information regarding joint or sole custody, figure child support, provide information and help figure spousal maintenance, complete all the necessary documentation to file and/or respond to a petition for divorce, separation, annulment, modification to child custody or child support, respond or create discovery, and anything else necessary, as long as she does not give legal advice or appear in court. 

One of the biggest questions is what happens if your spouse, the other parent, has an attorney and you  don’t have an attorney and/or don’t have the funds to hire an attorney.  Of course, it is always better to be on the same “playing field” with attorneys on the other side; however, it is not always feasible to hire an attorney.  Also, sometimes, it appears that the costs increase exponentially during the discovery process (where you are required to produce records, etc.) and trial, when there are attorneys involved.  You might give the attorney $2,500 - $5,000 up front, but then that escalates over a period of time, which may be double or triple the initial retainer.

As long as you are aware that the paralegal/CLDP cannot appear in court and/or give you legal advice, you may hire he/she to do all your document preparation, even if the other side is represented by an attorney.  It is always best to use a paralegal/CLDP than prepare the documents yourself to make sure they are completed correctly and that you have responded to all inquiries, statutes, and orders appropriately.