Hello Divorce FAQ's
?'s about Hello Divorce
How do I sign up?
Choose the membership option you would like above. If you choose Starter Membership, you will be asked to enter your email address. We also ask you a couple of optional questions about where you are in the divorce process to help us customize your experience. If you choose DIY Divorce, Divorce Plus or Divorce with Benefits, you will be asked for your email address, personal information and payment information.
Why fixed fees for legal services?
Too often, lawyers are considered the only option for legal resolution, and most lawyers charge retainers (a deposit on services) and then bill all work on the case in tenths of an hour. If your retainer is exhausted, an additional retainer is demanded or bills become due as incurred. With a flat fee, you know exactly what the cost will be – no hidden or unpredictable fees.
Looking for help or advice now? Purchase
legal services at this link – you could be talking to a lawyer today.
What is a legal document assistant and why use one?
A legal document assistant is your tour guide through divorce – they provide helpful information and prepare and process all documents required for a divorce. Our LDA’s are accessible through the “Divorce Plus” and “Divorce with Benefits” membership levels. Please note, LDA’s are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice. If you need or want legal advice, you can access experienced lawyers at this link.
How do I know what level of membership I need?
If you’re not sure which one is right for you, sign up as a free
Starter Member. You’ll get a free 15 minute strategy session with one of our experienced Hello Divorce professionals who will talk to you about where you are in the process, how complicated (or not) your divorce is and what your personal and financial goals are. From there, they will help you decide on the course of action that works for you.
How exactly do Divorce Plus and Divorce with Benefits work?
Watch our
5 minute video to get the low down.
In short, you complete a guided, online interview and then your legal document assistant takes the lead and will complete all the paperwork required to get you divorced. Throughout the process, she will coordinate service (delivery) of the documents to your spouse and ensure that everything is properly processed with the court. Divorce is a process, not an event, meaning, it doesn’t happen overnight, but rest assured, we will make it as hassle-free as possible.
What is the Divorce Navigator?
People don’t usually think of DIY as a divorce option, but it is now through our
Divorce Navigator app.
Whether your divorce is contested or not, you must complete the 20+ mandatory forms required – but why pay high attorney fees to fill out forms you can easily do on your own? The Divorce Navigator guides you through these forms with easy to understand, step by step instructions.
Additionally, if you would like attorney help for the more complicated issues or to plan your divorce strategy, we offer
access to attorneys at on-demand, transparent, flat-fees.
Watch this
video to find out more.
The divorce process feels so overwhelming. Will I be able to navigate the process on my own?
Yes, you can. First, you aren’t alone — we’re here when you need us. Second, we break down each stage into manageable, guided steps and provide strategy and support from start to finish. With our
Divorce Navigator, you will be able to track where you are in the process and what you need to complete before you will be officially divorced. That being said, it does require you take initiative and stay the course. If your case becomes particularly complicated or overwhelming, as a Hello Divorce member, you can purchase LFLG attorney services at discounted rates.
When do I pay?
Our starter membership is free. You do not pay unless you sign up for one of our premium memberships or purchase an a la carte legal service. You pay for a month of premium membership at the outset of that month and monthly on the same date. You can cancel DIY Divorce membership at any time. Payment is due for our a la carte legal services in order to commence services. Once you complete the check out process, you will be sent a link to an intake form and/or online scheduler.
How do I cancel or downgrade my membership?
You can cancel your DIY Divorce membership at any time by visiting the
My Account page and choosing “Cancel” where DIY Divorce is listed. While you can also cancel your Divorce Plus or Divorce with Benefits membership, if you are on the installment plan and you choose to cancel, you will no longer receive the legal services associated with that membership.
Can I just stick with a la carte services?
Sure! Just purchase a
flat fee service and you’ll be on your way.
How is Hello Divorce different from other websites that prepare divorce forms?
After helping 100s of clients through the difficulties of divorce, our founder created Hello Divorce as a way to offer real, heartfelt, strategic support in a more accessible and affordable way. Unlike most websites that offer forms or legal advice, we provide you all these options and more – from our best-in-tech DIY Divorce to access to experienced, flat fee lawyers who work within the HD platform. We’re about keeping you empowered while offering all the support we can.
Can legal coaching and/or mediation be done by telephone?
Yes. All consulting, coaching and mediation services can be done by telephone or online video conferencing at times that are convenient for you. You book online and choose from day and evening options.
Can I schedule a call with a lawyer to discuss my divorce?
Absolutely. Book a session with a lawyer at this
link.
My divorce is contested, can I still use Hello Divorce?
Yes – contested or not, there are 20+ mandatory forms you must complete for the divorce process. Our
Divorce Navigator guides you through these documents with easy to understand, step by step instructions.
We also offer many resources and tools to help you strategize your best position, see where you have leverage, review tips for negotiations and court hearings and prepare your documents. If you don’t want to go the full DIY route, we offer document preparation and review or you can purchase legal coaching with an LFLG attorney. Of course, if your divorce gets super complicated and/or you have domestic violence in your relationship, we recommend you consider using Hello Divorce only for second opinions and instead opt for full representation.
Are there any additional fees or costs?
Fees to third parties are excluded from our membership price (although we are happy to facilitate payment). California courts charge a filing fee for a divorce petition and response (currently $435) unless you qualify for a fee waiver. If you utilize a process server to deliver your filed documents to your spouse, you should expect an additional fee of approximately $75 – $100.
My spouse and I are interested in online mediation, how do we sign up?
The first step is to get a flat fee quote for
LFLG mediation services. LFLG will respond with a quote and more information. From there you can discuss with your spouse and decide whether mediation is right for you.
Is the Hello Divorce Divorce designed for couples?
No. While both partners can sign up, the process is designed for individual journeys. That being said, we encourage both of you to work cooperatively and be transparent throughout the divorce process. If you and your spouse need assistance working out an issue, we provide access to LFLG and/or affiliate online mediators.
I have another question that isn't answered here. How can I reach you?
Feel free to email us at hello@hellodivorce.com. Please note that we do not provide legal advice or strategy but are happy to advise you on our process and services.
?'s about Corona Virus / COVID-19 and Divorce
I’m quarantined due to coronavirus/COVID-19, but I’m in the middle of divorce negotiations with my ex. How do we move forward if I can’t even leave the house?
Actually, if you’re working through Hello Divorce to complete your divorce, you’re already set up to complete the entire divorce process without leaving your house. You and your ex can complete your divorce paperwork, including financial disclosures, online via our
Divorce Navigator, at your own pace, from wherever you want. And, our
Divorce Plus and Divorce with Benefits packages will continue as usual, with a legal document assistant preparing all of your divorce documents for you and then sending them for you to sign digitally via our e-signature tool. You (and your ex) can also access our flat-rate
legal coaching and
mediation services by phone, video, text or even online chat – all from the comfort of your own homes.
If you’re using a traditional lawyer or your own mediator, you should feel free to ask for a phone or video consultation to keep negotiations moving forward. Most firms are set up to provide these services to their clients.
What will happen to my divorce case if I have to go to court, but my ex or I get sick with coronavirus/COVID-19 before our appearance?
It goes without saying that if you have (or think you have) coronavirus, you should not appear in court. As of today, the California courts remain open – but that could change.
If you get sick several days in advance of your court date, you should contact your spouse to find out if s/he will agree to a continuance. Assuming they have even an ounce of integrity, they will agree and the two of you can submit a form requesting that the court change your hearing to another date. If not, you should contact the court clerk in the courtroom that you have been assigned and let him or her know that you are sick.
Another option in many courts is to appear by “court call,” which typically requires sign-up through a third party provider. You usually need to get permission to appear by telephone, but that requirement may be suspended in light of coronavirus.
One thing is (unfortunately) certain: most courts have not yet embraced technology to the point that remote work is possible for personnel and judges. So, if they close down you should expect serious delays.
Sometimes local courts have different instructions, so it’s a good idea to call the general line for the family law clerk to find out what those are. And, finally, if you are in California, you can
check this link to find out if the court is even open.
If you wake up that morning with symptoms, call your doctor first, and then your lawyer (if you have one). If you don’t, contact the court per instructions above.
Of course, the good news is, if you’re working with Hello Divorce, our goal is to keep you out of court altogether. So, if you’re starting the divorce process now and just assume you’ll have to appear in court, that’s not necessarily true; we’ll do everything in our power to work with you and your ex to keep your case out of the court system.
Could the California court system close down due to coronavirus/COVID-19? What would that mean for my divorce case?
Yes, the courts could close. And, in fact, it is very likely. It’s important to
check this link for updates on the California court system and any instructions they provide. It is likely that once court is back in session, cases will continue with court dates as scheduled, and the cases that were missed will be rescheduled with a notice being sent to you from court. So, make sure you have your correct address on file with the court. We don’t entirely know how this will be handled yet, but do check back on this blog and we’ll update you as more information surfaces.
As an alternative to the California court system: you could also consider appointing a private judge to handle your case, or work with an online mediator – of course, provided your ex agrees.
My job is at risk / my small business has already taken a huge hit from coronavirus / COVID-19. Can I adjust child and support payments now? Can I adjust payments based on my projected losses?
Your best course of action is to talk to your ex directly and explain the situation. We’re entering new ground as a nation and many of us will suffer the economic impacts of this virus. Many of us are feeling the impact already. So: make honesty your policy, and make it clear to your ex that you want to maintain communication during these uncertain times, and that you plan to readjust payments when business picks up again. Probably also a good idea to demonstrate that you’re making adjustments in your own daily life, to demonstrate to your ex that you’re also making sacrifices to try to continue support payments as normally as you can. But, in general, keep in mind that any adjustments made to spousal and child support payments will need to go through the court to become enforceable.
If direct, straightforward conversation is not an option for you and your ex, then you might consider filing a motion with the court to preserve the right to modify support back to the date your income took a hit. You may not get a court date to make this adjustment immediately, but hopefully when you do you’ll see some financial relief.
Also, if you and your ex can come to agreement on support adjustments between now and a future court date, a stipulation can be prepared and filed so that no court appearance is necessary. If you go this route, keep in mind that the agreement must be in writing and prepared as the court requires. If you need or want help, Hello Divorce has lawyers and legal document assistants who are ready to help. (Request a quote
here.)
What will happen to the kids if I get coronavirus/COVID-19? How will that affect my shared custody agreement? Will I be able to make up my lost visitation time with them after I’m healthy again?
Legally speaking, it’s all going to go back to your co-parenting agreement. If you have concerns about that now, you should bring them up with your ex and suggest amending your agreement. Being proactive about this now will save you worry, concern and heartache later, if this becomes an issue for you.
What happens if one of our kids gets coronavirus/COVID-19?
Once again, this is a scenario that you and your ex should discuss now. In theory, when you agreed on your co-parenting agreement, you discussed procedures to follow if your child gets hurt or needs medical treatment. That process will stand if one of your children contracts coronavirus.
What you probably didn’t plan for is where that child should stay should they be quarantined. This is a conversation to be having with your ex now.
A few things to consider: If you have more than one child, you and your ex may wish that the healthy child reside in one home, while the other parent cares for the sick child. Or, if one of you lives with an aging parent or someone else in a high-risk category, you may decide that the children (who likely interact with more people at school than the aging parent does in your home) should reside with the other parent, to prevent even the possibility of bringing home and spreading the virus.
How do we handle co-parenting with school closures due to coronavirus/COVID-19?
A school closure would typically be viewed similar to a Monday holiday – but definitely look to your child custody agreement if you have one. What does it say about how to handle things when the kids are sick or when there’s no school due to a teacher workday or a single-day holiday? That can be a guide.
And of course, work with your ex. Talk. Communicate. Agree that in all of this uncertainty the one thing that will remain rock solid is your commitment to making sure your kids are safe, happy, and know they are being taken care of.
I don’t really want to escalate things. But what if my ex is taking health risks, or not taking coronavirus/COVID-19 seriously enough in a way that could impact the health of our kids?
If you are really, truly seriously concerned about your ex’s ability to safely co-parent, you should seek legal guidance right away. If your ex has come into contact with the virus or puts themselves in risky situations, a lawyer can advise you on how to handle the situation and keep your kids safe.
If you’re in California, Hello Divorce can help. You can book legal coaching support in as little as
30-minute increments.
Of course, what we all hope is that this won’t be as awful as we are worried it will become. If you find yourself now homebound (i.e. telecommuting), but still healthy, maybe this is a good opportunity to start focusing on your divorce. If divorce is where the relationship is headed, it’s better to just move forward than stay in limbo;
here’s why. However, please note that assets could be significantly impacted (think: temporary decrease in value) so you might want to consider a new strategy or approach. As an example, if you were planning to use your stock portfolio to ‘buy out’ your spouse’s interest in property, that option may not be available to you now. Be flexible or “wait it out” – depending on the specific circumstances of your case.
These are uncertain times for all of us. Frankly, it feels like a weird science fiction novel where we’re all planning for and preparing to battle an enemy we can’t see. But as history has shown us, uncertain times can bring us together, too. Which is why honest, open communication with your ex – even if you’re not friendly toward one another – about the “what ifs” is so important. Now is the time to get clarity and agreement on how to proceed with paperwork or negotiations; how to make adjustments if one or both of you takes a hit financially, and how your co-parenting might need to change in light of the virus and extreme measures of caution being taken worldwide.
