A coalition made up of the Jefferson Circuit Court Clerk's Office, Louisville's Legal Aid Society, Jefferson Family Court, and the Louisville Bar Association is offering the $10 packets, designed for couples separating amicably.

The packet includes all the paperwork and instructions necessary to obtain a divorce decree, provided there are no issues that require litigation.

If the parties are unable to agree on the terms of the separation - such as child custody and division of property - they will have to take the traditional path, complete with court hearings and attorneys fees.

Kentucky has long provided for so-called "uncontested divorces," where one party hires an attorney, generally at a cost a few hundred dollars, who then prepares the paperwork for both parties. The other spouse is then asked to sign a response to the petition, waiving his or her rights, and a separation agreement.

Though the attorney in theory represents the interests of both parties, the responding party is generally loosely advised to seek his or her own counsel, though few do so. Such cases often involve the opposing party being unable to afford counsel, or unaware of his or her rights and the benefits of retaining their own attorney.

The new practice, by eliminating the attorneys and court appearances outright, represents a move towards a more efficient and cost effective end for troubled marriages. If the project is a success, we may well see overburdened courts in other cities try their own low-cost divorce process, sans lawyers.

What do you think? If you were heading into a divorce, would you be willing to bypass the attorneys and take the $10 quickie?

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