OK, I posted once before and got no help. So here goes again, I will try to update and give a overview and update of what is going on.
I had trouble divorcing my husband. With his many mental health issues, and my financial situation, I was not able to divorce right away after our separation. I had no intentions of meeting someone new, but things happen and I met a wonderful man. I attempted to divorce him once, but he was "mentally incapable" of legal decisions so I waited. Round 2 I had just found out I was pregnant (my first child), and my husband was not the father. I had no clue that a pregnant woman could not get married. If I am not in a state where I am considered "capable" of making that kind of life decision, they shouldn't let pregnant women get married either.
So I moved from Kansas to Missouri, and since nothing in our divorce is contested we decided that we would file pro se to save money since I lost my job because I went on maternity leave. The court clerk informed me that there would be 2 cases heard together. One for the dissolution of marriage, and a second for judgment of paternity. My dissolution is fine (I think). But there is a problem with my judgment of paternity. The court clerk said that I needed to go to the law library to find what I needed to alter the paperwork to fit my situation. In a standard judgment of paternity there is a custody agreement, parenting plan, visitation schedule, and child support agreement. But we do not need those things since we are living together and raising our child.
I went to the law library and spent 3 hours staring at the Missouri Statutes. The clerk told me that the law librarians would be super helpful and that I could find what I needed in the statutes and case law. No one spoke great English and no one seemed to understand what I was wanting, so no one could help me find case law. The court clerk said that I should ask for "information regarding paternity in Missouri, and any requirements for Judgments of Paternity" and that they would direct me to any statutes as well as any relevant case law. I didn't find anything about the requirements for Judgment of Paternity, and didn't see any case law relevant or not.
At a loss I called legal aid, as well as 7 private law firms. No one can/will help me. They said that since I have already filed my case with the courts there was nothing they could do for me unless I wanted to dismiss my case and start over. I can't afford a lawyer, so I can't afford to lose my nearly $200 in filing fees and notary public costs.
Does anyone know where or how I can find this information? I would spend a whole day in the UMKC law library if necessary. Thanks again and sorry for the double post. I was going to break down and try and find a lawyer since I know that if someone is familiar with the system and process it is probably a 5 minute thing, so I was really upset when I found out that supposedly no one can "legally" help me.
I had trouble divorcing my husband. With his many mental health issues, and my financial situation, I was not able to divorce right away after our separation. I had no intentions of meeting someone new, but things happen and I met a wonderful man. I attempted to divorce him once, but he was "mentally incapable" of legal decisions so I waited. Round 2 I had just found out I was pregnant (my first child), and my husband was not the father. I had no clue that a pregnant woman could not get married. If I am not in a state where I am considered "capable" of making that kind of life decision, they shouldn't let pregnant women get married either.
So I moved from Kansas to Missouri, and since nothing in our divorce is contested we decided that we would file pro se to save money since I lost my job because I went on maternity leave. The court clerk informed me that there would be 2 cases heard together. One for the dissolution of marriage, and a second for judgment of paternity. My dissolution is fine (I think). But there is a problem with my judgment of paternity. The court clerk said that I needed to go to the law library to find what I needed to alter the paperwork to fit my situation. In a standard judgment of paternity there is a custody agreement, parenting plan, visitation schedule, and child support agreement. But we do not need those things since we are living together and raising our child.
I went to the law library and spent 3 hours staring at the Missouri Statutes. The clerk told me that the law librarians would be super helpful and that I could find what I needed in the statutes and case law. No one spoke great English and no one seemed to understand what I was wanting, so no one could help me find case law. The court clerk said that I should ask for "information regarding paternity in Missouri, and any requirements for Judgments of Paternity" and that they would direct me to any statutes as well as any relevant case law. I didn't find anything about the requirements for Judgment of Paternity, and didn't see any case law relevant or not.
At a loss I called legal aid, as well as 7 private law firms. No one can/will help me. They said that since I have already filed my case with the courts there was nothing they could do for me unless I wanted to dismiss my case and start over. I can't afford a lawyer, so I can't afford to lose my nearly $200 in filing fees and notary public costs.
Does anyone know where or how I can find this information? I would spend a whole day in the UMKC law library if necessary. Thanks again and sorry for the double post. I was going to break down and try and find a lawyer since I know that if someone is familiar with the system and process it is probably a 5 minute thing, so I was really upset when I found out that supposedly no one can "legally" help me.