Parents in Family Court in Maryland Can Get Help Choosing Correct Form and Filling it Out With New Online “Automated Custody Interview”
Legal Services E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Author: Christina Doran
Source: The Daily Record (MD)
Date: September 30, 2008
The Daily Record states: "Filing for child support, visitation or custody can be a daunting task for a parent who doesn't have a lawyer - and there is no shortage of them. The state recently estimated that three out of four family-law disputes in Maryland involve at least one unrepresented party. Forms can help, but wading through the 30 or more options to find the right one can be difficult for even a seasoned attorney. Choose the wrong one, or fill it out improperly, and the complaint can be dismissed or denied. Now, with two new online tools, Maryland's [LSC-funded] Legal Aid Bureau Inc. hopes to make the process easier for parents and attorneys alike. Unrepresented (pro se) parents can use the Child Custody and Visitation Interview Web site to complete the forms needed to begin custody proceedings. Dubbed an online ‘automated custody interview,' the user-friendly site guides the parent to the appropriate form . . . . Legal Aid decided to bring the computer program to Maryland after seeing clients whose original complaints were denied because of form errors, [Manager of IT Application for Legal Aid, David] Demski said. The Web site aims to eliminate those errors and simplify the process . . . . While the site currently focuses on custody matters, Legal Aid hopes to expand it to include all domestic law forms, Demski said."