I AM L.I.P

I AM L.I.P

I am a Litigant In Person

Our Purpose

 

WHAT IS A LITIGANT?

A litigant is a person involved in legal proceedings.

WHAT IS A LITIGANT IN PERSON?

A litigant in person is a person involved in legal proceedings and is not represented by a solicitor or barrister.

WHERE ARE DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS HEARD?

Divorce proceedings are heard in the family court. Very often child arrangement proceedings and financial settlement proceedings are held in different family courts. 

WHO IS THIS WEBSITE FOR? 

This website has been created as a guide for the following individuals:

1) For all litigants in person. If you cannot afford legal representation and have to sort out your divorce, child arrangements and financial settlement yourself then this website will help you. 

2) For those of you who cannot get legal aid, maybe because you have equity in your home. This website is also for you.

3) If you have a solicitor working for you, this website is still for you if you want to save money somewhere in the divorce process, you need some background reading or knowledge when you talk to your solicitor.

Please note that although this website is about divorce, if you are in a civil partnership and want to apply for a dissolution then the process is the same and this whole website applies to you. 

WHY WE STARTED THIS WEBSITE

The term ‘the only winners in a divorce are the lawyers’ didn’t come from nowhere. We started this website so you and your family could be the ‘winners’. In a divorce, you need help but not from someone who has an agenda to bleed you dry. Many of you will know what it feels like to want to divorce, start again and be happy, but there are so many frightening stories around that the process seems daunting. Solicitors & barristers fees’ are astronomical (and according to us – seriously abnormal). They can easily get out of control with people selling homes and assets to pay these fees. And of course, the courts are a law unto themselves and difficult to navigate.

At the mention of a divorce, everyone around you will say ‘you need a good lawyer’. Initially, you may think – okay that’s the way forward. I’ll be fine. But it’s scary when lawyers get involved. You want to believe they’ll keep the costs low but before you know it, they’ll drink your money like water as if a thousand pounds here or there means nothing.

Many of us behind this website wish it had been around when our family members were divorcing. We saw them suffer at the hands of the judicial system which is outdated and frankly not fit for purpose. The judges were completely out of touch with reality. Lawyers, barristers and judges were governed by a system that doesn’t really work, especially if you find yourself fighting an acrimonious divorce.

We believe our whole family judicial system needs an overhaul.

  • Judges’ attitudes need to be brought up to date and they need to be retrained in how to deal with ‘real’ people.
  • Courts need to be more ‘user’ friendly and less scary.
  • Call waiting times need to be cut drastically.
  • Legal costs need to be reviewed, brought down A LOT and CAPPED.
  • Any solicitor or barrister that engages in abuse by proxy WILL BE struck off.

LINK TO OUR L.I.P HELP GUIDE ‘BULLYING BY PROXY IN DIVORCE’

WHY DID WE WRITE OUR I AM L.I.P (divorce) HELP GUIDES?

We wrote our L.I.P help guides because we did not want anyone to feel the way our family members did when they were litigants in person: lost, alone, confused, scared, overwhelmed and let’s not forget – everyone makes you feel like a nuisance, leaving you open to be bullied, intimidated and manipulated. One of them was forced to scour the internet trying to find the information she needed, lining up for hours at the citizens advice bureau and contacting charity after charity desperate for even the tiniest bit of help. Often all she needed was the number of a form to fill in, yet time and time again she had “sorry I’m not allowed to give you legal advice” thrown in her face even when she wasn’t actually asking for legal advice. It just seemed a convenient way to get rid of her. Our help guides will help you navigate your divorce fully informed and with the knowledge to steer your divorce to benefit you and your family and nobody else.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF OUR I AM L.I.P (divorce) FORUM?

Legal aid cuts have created an overwhelming amount of litigants in person, facing similar issues. Yet they feel alone and think they are the only one. Our L.I.P forum will bring you all together so you can educate one another, share your experiences and impart knowledge. You can support one another. All litigants in person are a family. Dealing with the courts, barristers and solicitors can be made a whole lot easier with community backing.