DIY Divorce Ireland

Watch out for solicitor backed agencies. Some members of the legal profession have finally woken up to the demands of clients for a quick, easy, non contentious and reasonably costed divorce. However, could you rely on them that your circumstances will continue to warrant consent or will it be that with the first sign of difficulty you are referred to in-house solicitors?
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Watch out for Dublin based agencies that claim to cover all 26 counties. The court procedure for Dublin varies, considerably in some cases, from other counties. We have a separate database for each county and considerable successful experience with assisting applicants from all counties, including Dublin.

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Watch out for agencies that claim to handle all the paperwork with the courts and save you time. The courts will not accept agents acting for applicants without a licence from the Law Society. And unless you are travelling to the service provider to have your Affidavits signed and witnessed by a solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths, in your presence, then your procedure is flawed and your divorce will ultimately be invalid. "All Affidavits shall be made before a Commissioner for Oaths or a Practising Solicitor by the person making the Affidavit. Every person taking an Affidavit shall express the date upon which and the place where he (she) takes such Affidavit otherwise the same shall not be held authentic nor be admitted to be filed without the leave of the Judge". (Circuit Court Rules 2001, Order 25)

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Watch out for agencies that claim to provide the full back-up service. Will they know what to do if any of the following events materialise:

a) The Respondent spouse fails to accept the papers sent by registered post.

b) You attempt personal service (by hand) but the Respondent spouse will not accept the papers and/or refuses to give you a letter confirming acceptance.

c) Your Family Law Civil Bill or Affidavit of Means or Affidavit of Welfare has been served on the Court and your spouse but contains wrongful or inaccurate information due to your inexperience or misunderstanding of what information is sought or needed to satisfy the requirements of the judiciary and your spouse and/or his/her solicitor requires amendments.

d) Your spouse hires a solicitor which changes the documentation and the procedure. Has your chosen agency provided you with the necessary documentation to continue and can they assist you with a changed procedure?

e) You require information, documentation and assistance on pension provision:

f) The Courts require a Section 6 Certificate?

g) The Courts require you to appear before the County Registrar prior to your court hearing?

h) Your spouse lives outside the E.C.

i) Your spouse’s solicitor enters an “Appearance” but no “Defence”.

j) The Courts require additional Affidavits or Grounding Affidavits for various reasons.

k) After serving your Civil Bill your spouse lays down conditions for agreeing to a no contest divorce, etc.

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Watch out for agencies that supply you with blank pages for you to fill out your income, assets, expenditure and debts and leave you in the dark about what is required to satisy the Courts in regard to proper provision. You have submitted your Affidavit of Means. You are now required by the County Registrar under their new Statutory powers to vouch all assets, income, expendiutes and debts. Has your chosen agency misguided you or left you with a lot of explaining to do? Why take the risk of a contested divorce because of insufficient information, poor presentation and a non existant back up service?

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Watch out for agencies that offer a service that says all you have to do is sign the paperwork and wait for a court date, they will handle the rest, no need to worry about the information contained in the documentation or about the court procedure.
In the first instance all Affidavits including, Affidavits of Means and Affidavits of Welfare must be sworn in the presence of a Solicitor or Commissioner for Oaths. Will you be present? Secondly, if you are not involved and actively participating in the preparation of your documents then there is a greater likelihood of misrepresentation of you and your spouse’s circumstances that will ultimately lead to disagreement and conflict. Thirdly, you will be questioned about the information and about your procedure by the Judge hearing the case. If you have not actively participated in the compiling of the information and followed the procedure you will be at a complete disadvantage at the court hearing. Remember the agency will not be there representing you. You will be on your own. So it is very important that all information is presented in such a way that you are aware of it and have no difficulty defending it if called on. 
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We provide a proven back-up service comparable to no other agencies that are presently operating in the State. We have clients recommended to us from the Court Services, Citizen Information Centres, Mediation Services, past clients
and even Solicitors. We have assisted many clients who were in difficulties with their documentation and/or procedures and who were abandoned by their agencies because the agencies were incompetent and only quick buck merchants.

Our clients are encouraged and assisted in the manner in which their personal information is handled and with the court procedures so that when they arrive in court, unrepresented, they are aware of exactly what information is required to satisfy the court, know the documents they have signed and handled and have had witnessed by a Solicitor/Commissioner for Oaths, and can confirm on Oath to the Judge on the procedures they have followed. That is why we are the most successful provider of Divorce and Judicial Separation services in the State.