Q: I need to file a libel defamation of a minor case and I'm not sure where to find the forms needed. St Louis, MO
I really need help and my attorney doesnt do anything. My ex is claiming terrible thing in writing about my minor child and filing false police reports against me to make me look bad to our judge. He and his wife are in contempt of several orders, my attorney wont bring the evidence.
Where could I find the forms I need to file myself since im not getting help from my attorney?
A: The St. Louis County Circuit Court’s webpage has some common forms online. A defamation petition is not common nor something that pro se litigants generally file and successfully litigate. For example, do you know the essential elements of a defamation cause of action in Missouri? The inability to prove actual damages often dooms defamation claims in Missouri. If the defamatory statement was about your minor child and you want to sue on behalf of a minor then you’ll need to get authorized as the child’s next friend. You are free to sue pro se but you’ll increase your chances of a positive outcome if you hire a local attorney who knows defamation law in Missouri. If you are willing and able to pay for this costly litigation, I believe you’ll be able to find an attorney. Most family law attorneys are unfamiliar with defamation cases.
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