Hiring an attorney and formally litigating family law issues can be expensive and stressful. It may also have a chilling effect on your relationship with your spouse. Especially where children are involved, you may wish to handle your case in a more informal, cooperative way.

O’Neill & Baldwin offers a wide range of limited representation options. We can simply review your documents, letters and settlement proposals for clarity and apparent problems or omissions, or we can guide you through the process of representing yourself. We can assist you in developing a comprehensive case plan and settlement options and let you handle the paperwork and settlement talks on your own.

However, we must clarify what you would like done for you, and what you want to do yourself, at the outset of the representation. Unless the representation is specific and limited, you may pay more attempting to represent yourself because it is generally faster for an attorney to do a specific task than it is for the attorney to teach you how to do it.

In some circumstances, parties are not able to communicate effectively at the end of a relationship. In this situation it may not be possible for you to effectively communicate with your spouse or former partner, and you may instead make settlement more difficult or unlikely in attempting to communicate. Sometimes a willing mutual friend can assist, and sometimes an attorney fully representing you may be the best option despite your desire to be reasonable and cooperative, where one or both parties are not able to conduct settlement negotiations in a polite, business-like manner.

For more information, contact us at 503-585-0157 or [email protected]. We offer *FREE one-half hour consultations, and would be happy to discuss your case and answer your initial questions.

NOTICE: The above summary is meant for informational purposes and is not intended to be legal advice. It is meant merely as a broad overview of the rules applicable to the majority of cases, and does not diminish the need to consult with a professional regarding your specific circumstances.