Tracking of Paternity and Divorce Project Report: Litigant Follow Through at the Van Nuys Self-Help Legal Access Center

Abstract

This research project was launched with the goal of identifying the factors preventing self-represented litigants from completing their divorce or paternity cases. The results are a compilation of responses from 76 self-represented litigants who visited the Van Nuys Self-Help Legal Access Center between November 2011 and February 2012 to complete their initial paperwork, i.e. petition and summons. The focus of this study is on the move between this first step of the divorce or paternity to the second step of the process. The results indicate areas that need improved quality and consistency of information given to litigants. This includes improved information that troubleshoots non-paradigm cases, i.e. cases in which the litigant is unable to file or serve the other party.