Q: Is contesting my divorce out of the question if I don’t have a lawyer?
A:
One may contest a divorce with or without a lawyer. In California of course, it is a "no-fault" divorce state. Thus if one party seeks a divorce, the divorce will be inevitable, unless your partner changes their mind.
The disposition of assets and custody arrangements can be negotiated or if unable to agree, you may file a Request for Order for the judge to decide with or without counsel.
Upwards of 80% of divorcing parties do not use the assistance of counsel to solve their differences.
I believe all 88 CA counties have a no-cost self-help center at the courthouse. There one can make an appointment and gain assistance with and access to all of the judicial council forms necessary to go through the process. Some counties even have no cost mediation available. If your case involves contested custody cases, there is a Family Court Services branch of the court's family law department that assists parties in coming to agreements.
Because knowledge is power, I minimally recommend going to an experienced and recommended family law attorney for a consultation concerning the facts of your case. Many people leave money on the table or make choices they later regret. Seeking advice along your path of self-help is highly recommended.
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