Can I represent myself in court?

[Anonymous]

Long story short. I have a custody hearing coming up. I am not happy with my lawyer. What is the process to represent myself in a MD court? I do not have enough time to find another lawyer.

Any advise?

[Anonymous]

Ask for a continuance. "He who represents himself has a good for a client."

[Anonymous]

Yes, you can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask for a continuance. "He who represents himself has a good for a client."

"Fool" for a client.

[Anonymous]

My dad represented himself in court and lost the house to my mom. Good for my mom and us but not for him. So I would never do this.

[Anonymous]

Lawyer here. Don’t do it.

[Anonymous]

My ex's lawyer didn't show up for our hearing, but this was in Fairfax. Since we already had all the details hammered out and the court hearing was just a formality, he signed something and my lawyer represented us both. I don't recommend this if you are not in agreement about all the terms or you think your ex might try to screw you over.

If I were you, I'd probably find another lawyer. A friend of mine represented himself in his divorce case, and he ended up paying out an absolute ton of money to his ex wife. If he'd spent the money on a lawyer, he probably would have saved himself a couple hundred thousand.

[Anonymous]

Get a lawyer and ask for a delay. The court will extend the date by a month or two.
Or ask ex to go to mediation and try to come to an agreement

[Anonymous]

Ask for a continuance.

My brother did this because he didn’t have money for a lawyer. He was ordered to pay $1,200/month child support plus 1/2 of child’s daycare costs, which amounted to $700. He also only got 1 weekend per month visitation because his ex and the child moved to PA, which he allowed due to ex’s job moving. He works in the restaurant industry. Those numbers were based off when he had a job in DC. When they went through the divorce and custody hearing, he was working at a restaurant in VA. A lawyer regular of his who found out that he represented himself pointed out all the different things a lawyer could have done to change his outcome. The lawyer took on his case pro bono and they headed back to court. Child support was adjusted down to meet his current salary. He still pays 1/2 of daycare costs. But the biggest change was that bc she had to move for her job and my brother allowed it, his ex has to transport their child to VA two weekends per month plus 1 month during the summer.

[Anonymous]

Not recommended. Ask for more time.

[Anonymous]

It depends on what stage you're in. If you are merely attending a final divorce hearing with a signed settlement agreement you don't need a lawyer as long as all of the paperwork is in order and you have your witnesses in attendance. Otherwise, ask for a continuance to get a new lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It depends on what stage you're in. If you are merely attending a final divorce hearing with a signed settlement agreement you don't need a lawyer as long as all of the paperwork is in order and you have your witnesses in attendance. Otherwise, ask for a continuance to get a new lawyer.

Sorry -- I posted this response then realized you said you have a "custody hearing." Definitely ask for a continuance --- you need to have a lawyer help you out.