Going through the process of divorce can be stressful and overwhelming, but using a family law facilitator is one of the ways you can take a load off your shoulders while ensuring you are taking the right steps forward. The courts in the state of Georgia offer family law facilitators to provide support and assistance to people dealing with family legal issues. The Superior Court in Georgia employs them.
These facilitators are not your personal attorneys. However, they are lawyers who can provide education and information without giving actual legal advice or counsel. Additionally, the court employs them to give these services to people for free. Family law facilitators can also provide guidance and information to people who choose to represent themselves in court. Keep reading to learn more about what you can and cannot expect from family law facilitators.
What Family Law Facilitators Can NOT Do for You
It’s important to restate again that the family law facilitator cannot work as your attorney. Therefore, there will be no attorney-client relationship in which you receive confidentiality for your case. When you speak with the facilitator, your conversation is not necessarily private or confidential. This means, if the facilitator is subpoenaed to court, there would be no attorney-client privilege protecting your conversations and keeping what you have said confidential.
However, the facilitator is a neutral legal party available to the public who can help both you and the other party to access the information and resources you need during your case preparation. Because they cannot help you with legal strategy, you will need to consult with a personal family law attorney for legal advice. The facilitator cannot be held responsible for the outcome of your court case.
How a Facilitator Can Help You
A facilitator can provide guidance and assistance in the following ways:
- Help you to fill out court forms and documents.
- Provide you with resources you may need during the legal process, such as legal aid clinics or lawyer referral services.
- Connect you with self-help law organizations if you are self-representing.
- Explains your legal options without providing specific legal advice or counsel.
- Some family law facilitators will meet with you individually, while others prefer a group/seminar situation through which to offer assistance.
- If you cannot afford professional legal counsel from a family law attorney, a facilitator may be able to get you contact information for low-cost legal clinics or low-cost lawyers.
If you need to more information about working with family law facilitators, Reeder Law Firm is here to help. We’ll answer your questions and walk you through the process. Connect with one of our Alpharetta family law attorneys at Reeder Law firm today.
