"The judge will see right through them."
Judges see hundreds of cases. They need evidence, not emotions. Coming prepared with documents matters far more than how wronged you feel.
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Family court cases now involve at least one person representing themselves. You are not unusual. You are not alone.
"I wish I had known I could bring someone with me. I sat there alone, terrified, not understanding half of what was being said."
You can bring a McKenzie Friend — a trained lay person who can sit beside you, take notes, and quietly advise.
Paul H.
Nobody told me I could ask for an adjournment if I wasn't ready. I sat through a hearing completely unprepared because I didn't know that was an option. The system assumes you know things it never actually tells you.