FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Maricopa County System Helps Cut Divorce Costs
As many as 9 in 10 county residents try to divorce without help from an attorney
MESA, AZ, (Jan. 27, 2015) – Access Legal, a new automated system is now available for Maricopa County residents to create customized divorce and family law documents without the services of an attorney, is now online in beta mode. The first 100 people to use the document software will receive free personal assistance from a Certified Legal Document Preparer.
In Maricopa County alone more than 100,000 individuals are involved in a family court case each year, which can include divorce, child custody modifications, enforcing orders or establishing or modifying child support. For the 80,000 or more who try to do it on their own, the personal consequences of mistakes can be life-altering.
“That’s a ridiculous number of people who are struggling through a frightening and complicated situation that’s not a one-off deal,” said Billie Tarascio, the Mesa attorney who designed the Access Legal docs system. “This is a group of people who have been ignored by the legal profession because they can’t cover the average $20,000 cost for divorce.”
The Access Legal document system is user-friendly and can be applied by anyone who may need to file family court paperwork in Maricopa County. It creates documents that are identical to those used by attorneys.
The cloud-based system being rolled out locally is akin to a “Legal Zoom” model that allows individuals to use a simple question-and-answer wizard to create and customize the complicated legal documents necessary in a divorce. Current online document providers (like Legal Zoom) do not offer family law documents.
For the first 100 customers, Access Legal is offering an in-office appointment, assistance with the software, and document review by a certified legal document preparer. In exchange, the company is seeking feedback in order to test and validate the software before implementing a wider, go-to-market launch outside the county.
The new self-directed system includes county-specific documents for changes in child support, requests for temporary orders, creditor or health insurance notices, and petitions for divorce with or without children. The filer’s information is saved securely online and will automatically populate in new paperwork as needed.
“It’s comparable to using a tax preparation program to file your taxes without the added cost of a tax preparer or accountant,” said Tarascio. “The legal system is not designed for do-it-yourselfers, yet the vast majority of people are forced to go it alone. Access Legal’s mission is to empower each customer to “Be a Legal Ninja” and improve self-representation. The system creates access to justice for people who couldn’t otherwise afford it.”
Visitors to the website will also find a family law forum to connect and share with others, a list of referrals to professionals like process servers and private investigators, and articles with helpful information specific to self represented litigants in Maricopa County.
Media Contact:
Billie Tarascio
(480) 649-2905
1 North MacDonald, #201, Mesa, AZ 85201
www.AccessLegalDocs.com
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To become one of the first 100 people to use the system at 50% off the already reduced price, email your request to docs@accesslegaldocs.com or call 602-457-5798 to schedule an appointment. Access the website for legal documents, the family law forum, articles, and a list of legal professionals and divorce support.