Early need-based attorney’s fee awards are part of the new CA Rules of Court.

The need-based fee awards area of of family law is undergoing the most critical changes in more than a decade with the recent passage of Family Code Section 217 and the revision of other codes sections along with new California Rules of Court that will become law in January, 2012.

Given the lifelong impact of family law matters, legal assistance in these cases is critical. Unfortunately, over 70 percent of litigants in family law cases are unrepresented by counsel. While many cases involve parties who are all unrepresented, in some of these cases one party can afford counsel but the other cannot. These cases pose significant difficulties for the unrepresented litigant, the attorney, and the judicial officer. Representation for parties can be significantly improved in some of these cases if courts make early need-based attorney’s fee awards.

For more information about self-represented assistance contact Barbara Hammers bhammers@hammersbaltazar.com