Access to Justice
Family Law Information Center:
The majority of divorces filed with the Clerk of Courts list no attorney for either party. In these cases, called pro se divorces, individual litigants represent themselves through critical family law proceedings without legal assistance. Portage County is not unusual in this circumstance; statewide court statistics demonstrate a dramatic increase in pro se proceedings. Family law proceedings involve complicated procedures and rules which can challenge even well trained lawyers. When individuals come to court unfamiliar with the process and unprepared, they are unable to provide complete and accurate
information to the judge. This creates costly time burdens for the
courts, and lessens the likelihood that the parties will receive an
optimal result.
To offer assistance, Justiceworks and the Portage County Legal Aid Society pooled resources, volunteer efforts and funding to open a family law information center in 2007l. The Portage County Legal Aid Society has provided pro-se assistance for some time at the CAP Services location on West River Drive to those households who meet the federal qualifying income criteria. The Family Law Information Center expands this service to individuals of any socio-economic level.
The State Bar of Wisconsin awarded a grant to Justiceworks working together with the Portage County Bar Association and the Legal Aid Society to support these efforts. The grant provided initial funding to purchase equipment, and pay for the setup costs to create an information center where trained volunteers assist individuals confronting these problems. To house the center, Portage County agreed to remodel the courthouse law library where computerized methods of legal research have allowed volunteers to remove over 4000 out-dated law books. The center is staffed by volunteer attorneys and community members that have gone through a volunteer training process.
Family Law Information Center
Location and Hours of Service:
Justiceworks Office
Pfiffner Building (across the street from the Portage County Courthouse)
1547 Strongs Avenue
Monday –Friday Noon to 1:00 p.m.
Other hours by appointment: call 344-3677
Additional links:
Family Law Self-Help Resources:
Wisconsin Court Access:
www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/index.htm
State Bar of Wisconsin Legal Explorer
Wisconsin Court System
Self-help Center
Circuit Court Forms
Self-help Web Sites
Self-help Family Web Site