Frequently Asked Questions

Services

  • U Do It Legal provides accessible, user-friendly tools and resources for individuals seeking to manage their California family law cases without a lawyer (aka., ‘self-representing litigants’ or ‘SRLs’). Our services include guidance on family law, court form and document preparation, and legal procedures. Note, our services do not include legal document filing or service.

    U Do It Legal will first serve parties in Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO) proceedings in California (both petitioners and respondents) and in Request for Order (RFO) proceedings to change or end Restraining Orders After Hearing (ROAHs/DVROs). That said, we aim to scale our services to a variety of family law cases and jurisdictions outside of California, so sign up for our mailing list to be notified when we launch new services!

  • Our platform offers a wide range of guided interviews that use your answers to plain English questions to prepare your court forms and documents, which you can then download and edit as needed upon the completion of each interview. The guided interviews help you accurately complete and file necessary paperwork for various family and civil law proceedings within California by offering a simplified and guided DIY experience for legal proceedings similar to what TurboTax provides for tax preparation.

  • While we offer tools and resources to help you navigate your legal matters, U Do It Legal does not replace professional legal advice. Our services are designed for self-representing litigants (SRLs): persons (parties) who advocate on their own behalf before a court, rather than being represented by an attorney. We highly recommend seeking attorney representation for prospective litigants who can afford it, but we are aware that attorney’s fees and costs are unaffordable for many Californians.

  • Potential users are strongly advised to opt for attorney representation over self-representation if their case involves any of the following circumstances:

    • Users Who Are Represented by an Attorney: If you're already represented, it’s important to follow the guidance of your attorney to ensure legal consistency across your case.

    • Proceedings Involving the Joinder of a Third Party or Parent: Our software is not designed to accommodate the complexities that arise when additional parties, such as child support agencies or other relatives, are involved in cases, often related to child custody and visitation orders. While potential users can utilize UDIL to help draft their court forms and documents, they will need to manually edit their forms to include any third parties/parents as necessary.

    • People Who Have Missed Their Court Hearing: Missing a hearing can have significant legal repercussions, requiring specialized legal advice to navigate potential remedies or appeals.

    • Appeals: The appeal process is highly procedural and requires thorough legal expertise to challenge and present the case effectively in higher courts.

    • Significant or Complex Asset Division: Dealing with substantial or intricate asset divisions, especially those involving business interests or substantial property, can be legally complex.

    • Cases Involving Serious Criminal Conduct: While domestic violence is a core aspect of many DVRO cases we handle, if there are allegations of severe criminal behavior such as aggravated assault or child abuse with potential criminal proceedings, these situations require specialized legal expertise. It is advisable to seek an attorney who can navigate the complexities of criminal law and provide the necessary legal defense.

    • Interstate or International Custody Issues: Different jurisdictions can have conflicting laws, making legal guidance essential for handling these cases.

    • High-Conflict Cases Involving Mental Health Issues: Legal strategies might need to adjust to accommodate the complexities of mental health conditions affecting the family dynamics.

    • Modification of Orders Due to Significant Life Changes: Major changes in circumstances, such as financial shifts or relocations, may necessitate a complex reevaluation of existing orders.

    • Cases Involving Substantial Evidence Disputes: When the amount of disputed evidence is significant or expert testimony is needed, legal expertise is crucial.

    • Protection of Business Interests: If restraining orders impact business operations, legal advice can help in safeguarding these interests.

    • Involvement of Multiple Legal Issues or Multiple Parties: Cases that span various legal issues or involve more participants than the immediate family require detailed legal analysis. While our software is equipped to handle DVRO proceedings that include additional protected parties (such as the protected party’s children, roommates, or other family members), we recommend seeking attorney representation in scenarios where the complexities of multiple legal issues intersect, to ensure comprehensive and legally sound management of the case.

    • Historical Legal Complications: Previous legal disputes or court orders that affect the current situation might need a lawyer’s insight for resolution.

    • Language Barriers or Disabilities: If challenges such as language barriers or disabilities complicate access to justice, an attorney can help ensure proper representation and fair proceedings.

Accessibility

  • Absolutely! Our platform is built for individuals at all levels of legal expertise, including those with no prior legal knowledge. We provide clear instructions, definitions of legal terms, and procedural instructions and support to make the court process as straightforward as possible.

  • Yes, our web application is designed to be fully accessible and functional across various devices. Whether you're using a desktop computer, a tablet, or a mobile phone, you can easily access our platform via your preferred web browser. This ensures you have the flexibility to manage your legal matters on-the-go or from the comfort of your home, making your legal process as convenient and stress-free as possible.

    While we are compatible on various devices, we recommend that our users access UDIL on a desktop or laptop computer due to the large amount of writing needed to complete the required court forms and documents.

    Note: U Do It Legal does not have a separate mobile app for IOS or Android devices. You can access UDIL’s web application through your phone’s web browser app (such as Safari, Google Chrome, etc.).

  • Getting started is simple. Visit our website, click “Let’s get started” or “Take the Eligibility Quiz,” and follow the on-screen instructions to begin.

Pricing

  • Our pricing model is designed to be affordable, offering access to legal tools and resources at a fraction of the cost of hiring a lawyer. Specific pricing details for various services are available on our website after users complete our Eligibility Quiz. Each of our current service packages are priced at a flat fee, starting at $49.

  • Unlike a court self-help center or law firm, U Do It Legal does not have the triage capacity to sit down with each of our potential customers in a virtual or in-person consultation to determine their eligibility for our services.

    That said, it is our ethical responsibility as a legal service provider to determine prospective clients’ general eligibility for the services they intend to purchase, before they make the purchase.

    This is why we designed our web app so that users must first take a short (less than 1 minute) ‘Eligibility Quiz.’ Once you have cleared the initial eligibility check, our software assesses a few of your case's circumstances to ensure you're then routed to the UDIL package that best fits your legal needs.

  • While it's true that free resources are available, navigating legal procedures on your own can be complex and time-consuming.

    Similar to how services like TurboTax and H&R Block simplify tax preparation with guided assistance and expert insights (which you can also, technically, file yourself for free), U Do It Legal offers a streamlined approach to handling your legal matters. Our platform provides clear, step-by-step guidance and explanations of family law, tailored to your specific needs. This not only enhances your understanding but also boosts your confidence in managing your case effectively.

    Just as many choose professional tax services for peace of mind and better outcomes, U Do It Legal ensures you're fully prepared to represent yourself with the same level of assurance.

  • One of our co-founders, drawing on her experience staffing various self-help legal centers in both Northern and Southern California, specifically designed U Do It Legal to address some of the challenges typically encountered at these centers. While free resources provide invaluable help, they often come with limitations such as restricted operating hours that conflict with most people's work schedules, long wait times, a lack of privacy, and frequent understaffing. Similar to the DMV, services are generally offered on a first-come, first-served basis, and there's no guarantee you'll receive assistance during your visit at most pro bono (free) legal clinics.

    U Do It Legal offers a convenient, accessible alternative that you can use on your own schedule, providing clear, guided assistance to streamline and demystify the legal process. This approach not only saves time but also ensures that you can prepare your case with confidence, without the stress of navigating crowded and overburdened legal centers.

Security & Legitimacy

  • Yes, protecting your privacy and security is our top priority. We use industry-standard encryption and security measures to ensure that your personal information and documents are securely handled.

  • Absolutely, U Do It Legal is a legitimate company committed to democratizing access to justice with the power of technology.

    Our bootstrap (self-funded) approach has meant a more deliberate pace to our launch compared to larger tech companies’ ability to rapidly release new software. This deliberate pace has been critical, allowing us three years to thoroughly develop and test our web application to ensure it meets the highest user experience standards for our target audience: self-representing litigants dealing with California's family and civil law cases.

    We recognize the value of traditional legal counsel and ethically advise those who can afford it to seek and retain professional legal representation. However, we also acknowledge that this isn't a viable option for every Californian. Therefore, U Do It Legal was specifically designed for individuals for whom hiring counsel is not financially feasible or accessible.

    Our dedication to offering an ethical, user-centric alternative to conventional legal services is steadfast. U Do It Legal isn't merely a business to us; it's a mission-driven company that employs a group of people who are extremely passionate about increasing access to justice by making the legal process as accessible and navigable as possible for everyone.