How to File for Divorce in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia (Legal Survival Guides)

Rating:
Summary: Provides ok background, but don't rely on it
Review: Feel free to look through this book to learn the basic concepts that you'll need to know if you're going through a divorce, but do _not_ rely on this book alone without consulting an expert, _even_ if your divorce is simple and uncontested.

One of the most important things that this book provides is sample documents for filing in the various jurisdictions. However, it does not do that well.

I attempted to use the sample "Bill of Complaint" to file in Virginia. However, I found out _after_ I got to court that the sample form is completely inadequate. It fails to make key requests, such as that the Court grant a divorce, and that the Court merge a settlement agreement into the Divorce Decree. Fortunately, the Court Clerk was kind enough to point this out to me so I could redo my papers.

My advice to the do-it-yourselfer: Instead of buying this book, go to your local Courthouse, request to see other divorce files (which are all public records, by the way), and look at enough examples until you are comfortable enough to do your own. There's no shame in copying language from a lawyer's filings in a substantially similar case.

Rating:
Summary: This came along at just the right time!
Review: I had decided that enough was enough, but was concerned as to whether I could be on my own and still take care of the children. After reading the information provided in this book, I realized that there were legal ways to make my husband help. I was not interested in destroying his life----just taking our children and starting over. Having information that was specific to my state of Virginia gave me the cnfidence I needed to move forward and talk with an attorney.

Rating:
Summary: Legal Survival Guides
Review: This is a sure fire way for MD., VA., & DC residents to learn how to file their own divorce cases. If you don't have a phone, you may not have a lawyer, but if you can read and follow instructions and you have the cost of this book, you can, if certain requirements are met, be your own lawyer and lean to obtain your own uncontested divorce.

Rating:
Summary: Good Book But Needs More Military Information
Review: This was a good book in terms of the steps to follow, etc. but it leaves out that if your spouse is in the military, he/she must sign a Soldier's and Sailor's Civil Relief Act Waiver.